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Microsoft Stadium? Real Madrid seeks sponsors

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Microsoft Stadium? Real Madrid seeks sponsors
The Spanish press has reported that Real Madrid may be in talks with Microsoft, Emirates airline and German automaker Audi. Photo: Rafa Otero

IT giant Microsoft said on Wednesday it was in talks with Real Madrid over naming rights for the Spanish football giant's legendary Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

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"The issue of the stadium has been put to us, as well as other companies. We are talking," Maria Garana, the head of Microsoft's Spanish division, told Spain's Antena 3 television network.

"We have excellent relations with Real Madrid. They are using our technology and that makes us very proud," she said.

Florentino Pérez, chairman of the world's richest football club, has said he wanted to renovate the 85,000-seat stadium.

Perez said the plan was only for the name of a new sponsor to be added to the current name of Santiago Bernabeu, his illustrious predecessor who remained at the helm of the club for 35 years until 1978.

The Spanish press has reported that Real Madrid may also be in talks with the Emirates airline and German automaker Audi.

Naming rights for stadiums are a relatively common phenomenon overseas with Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium being well-known examples.

In Spain, however, the only high profile club to have its ground sponsored in this way is second division team RCD Mallorca. Their stadium bears the name of the Iberostar chain of hotels and resorts.

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