Boreham Wood FC can confirm that our Executive Committee have met, listened and considered the opinions of our supporters and other groups who have expressed strong views about betting companies and their involvement within football, which includes the branding of so many football club’s stadiums, first team shirts and other general brand awareness across our sport.
As such, Wood Chairman Danny Hunter who was himself a heavy gambler in his much younger days, long before it become so accessible; available 24-hours a day at your fingertips. He and his Executive team sat down and have discussed these issues in depth, and as such they have made the conscious decision not to extend our existing stadium naming rights partnership with LV BET and will now look for a new stadium naming rights partner.
The Wood Chairman said, “The existing LV BET partnership was in truth coming to an end and we knew that any further extension of the stadium branding with LV BET would possibly be contentious with our partners and some supporters. I also felt having been a gambler in my youth that there was some merit and legitimacy in people’s thinking, especially with 24-hour gambling opportunities, though I didn’t quite agree with all of it.
“I also know that over the next three years that Sky, BBC, BT Sport, DAZN, Arsenal Player, FA Player, our own in-house BWFCtv and even the National League’s streaming service, will now broadcast almost every home Boreham Wood, Arsenal Women and Arsenal Development fixture played here at Meadow Park both domestically and abroad, and we wanted to do what we considered to be the right thing.
“I think we felt with such strong views aired about the gambling industry’s involvement in football, coupled with the Premier League’s recent vow to abandon front-of-shirt betting sponsorship from 2026/27, that people were telling us that it was time to thank LV BET for their sponsorship, but to move on, and we’ve listened.
“It’s also a fact that betting companies sponsor and brand football clubs throughout the UK, but nobody, whether you’re a director, manager, player or senior staff member connected to a football club, are allowed to bet on any football match anywhere in the world, or you can be banned or suspended by the FA from the footballing industry, so I saw that as conflicting message.
“So, after all things were considered, I believe this is the right time for the club to thank LV BET and now look elsewhere to hopefully find a more suitable community-orientated partner who wants to collaborate with us and brand themselves locally, throughout the UK and around the world through our stadium naming rights package.”
The Wood Chairman ended, “I of course spoke to my commercial team and my senior staff, including our Fan’s Liaison Officer Grant Morris, as well as people I respect at Arsenal, Hertsmere Borough Council, Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council. These are viewpoints I trust, and as such I’ve taken their opinions on board. In truth, this is a very exciting and important period in the club’s history and this decision will create an opportunity for the right partner to involve themselves within our community by growing their brand through the club. I’m slightly worried on the lateness of our decision but I’m hoping that a perfect fit comes along in readiness for new season, but if it doesn’t, then I’ll fill the monetary shortfall in the short-term, as the club should not suffer and it’s the right thing to do.”
Commercial Executive Mandee Morris said, “With the club collectively coming to this decision, I now look forward to actively finding a new stadium naming rights partner that fits our club’s DNA going forward. Finding the right stadium partner is now going to be a very big deal for us, as this particular commercial package on offer is a very big deal for the club, as our ambition is to one day get to the Football League.
“I feel the stadium’s ever growing and ready-made broadcast audience with Boreham Wood, Arsenal Women and Arsenal Development all being televised, makes our Stadium naming rights package one of the best, if not the best, value for money commercial products offered anywhere within professional football, as it’s a fact that our stadium is now the most televised stadium within Non-League football and one of the most televised stadiums across professional football within the United Kingdom.
“My job commercially is to keep progressing the club and our facility in its own right, so we must find the right long-term partner for the next phase of the club’s journey. This really is a perfect opportunity for either a local or national company to ingratiate and immerse themselves within our community, by building their brand through our stadium and facility sponsorship package, as it is the most high-profile and exciting sponsorship that we can offer for 2023/24 and beyond.” Morris concluded.
So, if you’re Interested in becoming our next stadium naming rights partner or want an informal chat about what the package offers, please contact Commercial Executive Mandee Morris on 020 8953 5097 or email mandeemorris10@gmail.com.
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
