ExWHUemployee: No progress made between West Ham United and Betway about London Stadium naming rights
Claims that West Ham United could be set to strike a deal with Betway over the London Stadium naming rights have been “completely denied”, according to ExWHUemployee.
The Mail on Sunday (30 April) reported that Hammers vice-chairman Karen Brady was working a deal with the club’s main sponsors, Betway, about getting their name on the London Stadium roof instead of the shirt.
This arose after recent calls for the Premier League to ban betting companies from being the main shirt sponsor of football clubs – a rule which comes into effect in 2026. [The Guardian, 13 April]
However, ExWHUemployee has quashed these rumours by sharing that West Ham don’t have the right to strike a deal of this nature.
“I have spoken to well-placed sources on this and it has been completely denied,” ExWHUEmployee said on The West Ham Way Podcast.
“West Ham do not have the rights to be striking any deals as this still sits with the LLDC.
“At this stage, there has been no progress made on naming rights and for the foreseeable, the ground will remain the London Stadium.”
Betway future unclear.
With the Premier League set to introduce a ban to betting sponsors on football shirts from 2026, the long-term future of Betway with West Ham United remains a mystery.
If ExWHUemployee is correct, and Brady isn’t in talks to get the Betway name on the London Stadium roof, then the club may need to start looking for new major sponsors.
Brady is obviously trying to think of ways to provide the Hammers with a much-needed cash injection for future sustainability, but with the club not owning the London Stadium outright, this remains a tricky procedure.
However, with betting brands banned from football shirts, is having their name on the stadium’s roof or within the actual name itself much better?
The move would certainly be a controversial one if it ever gained any traction and one that could cause a rift within the fanbase.
For the foreseeable future, though, it looks like it will continue to be named the London Stadium.