Cronulla Sharks lose stadium naming rights sponsor following Crime Commission revelations on drugs in sport

THE Cronulla Sharks have lost a multi-million-dollar stadium naming rights sponsor due to the drug scandal that has rocked Australian sport.

Phil \"Buzz\" Rothfield
DailyTelegraphFebruary 19, 201310:38am


Cronulla Sharks lack of sponsorship at their home ground in Cronulla, Sydney. Until recently the ground was named Toyota Stadium. Picture: Brett CostelloSource:The Daily Telegraph

THE Cronulla Sharks have lost a multi-million-dollar stadium naming rights sponsor in the first sign of collateral damage from the drug scandal that has rocked Australian sport.

A major company had agreed to replace Toyota as the Sharks' home-ground sponsor before it was revealed the club was one of six NRL teams under investigation.

Sharks commercial boss Patrick Woods told News Limited yesterday how the crisis had ruined the deal.

"I'd been in discussions with a stadium naming rights partner for the past month," he said regarding the Sharks, who still don't know why they are being investigated.

"As a result of the drug accusations, they've walked away from a multi-million-dollar deal in the last few days."

The Sharks have also been stalled in negotiations to find a major jersey sponsor because of the crisis.

With a high-profile team including big names Paul Gallen, Todd Carney, Beau Ryan and Luke Lewis, officials had been hopeful of securing big sponsorship deals before the kick-off in two weeks.

"Unfortunately, the timing of these allegations has really hurt us," Woods said.

"We've spent the last six months preparing for the most anticipated season in recent memory for the club.

"Membership is tracking almost 100 per cent up on last year, corporate hospitality is up nearly 50 per cent.

"The final piece of the puzzle was securing the right brands for the right term and right investment.

"There's no doubt some of the phone calls people were taking from me are no longer being answered.

"That's not a reflection on the Sharks brand. It's just the perception out there from some businesses about all sport."

The Sharks will now kick off the season without a stadium, jersey or sleeve sponsor, worth around $1.5 million a season.

Other clubs named in the Australian Crime Commission report have been in regular contact with their nervous sponsors.

On the field, the Sharks have been boosted by news that skipper Paul Gallen looks set to return in a trial match against the Knights in Tamworth on Saturday night. The Blues Origin skipper and Sharks enforcer hasn't been sighted since the drug allegations rocked the code and his club.

"I've got nothing to say. We're just getting on with it," Gallen said yesterday.

Coach Shane Flanagan will make a decision on his skipper later in the week.

"This is our last trial, so it's important he gets some game time," Flanagan said.

Originally published as Sharks first victim of drugs probe

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