KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) has entered a partnership with English football club Queens Park Rangers to secure naming rights for its stadium, Loftus Road.
Located in London and with a seating capacity of 18,000, the stadium will now be officially known as the Matrade Loftus Road Stadium, effective immediately, for a duration of three years until the 2025/2026 season – though the price paid for the naming rights was not disclosed.
In a statement, QPR’s chief executive, Lee Hoos, said their partnership with the national trade agency under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry will enhance the club’s portfolio of partners.
“This club is always looking at ways to increase our portfolio of partners,” Hoos said.
He added that the decision was made with the commercial interests of the club at heart, and that they were looking forward to working with Matrade.
Meanwhile, Matrade chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican said that partnering with the London-based club aims to elevate the agency’s global reputation over the long run.
“When I initiated the proposal for Matrade to rebrand itself after 30 years of its establishment, I saw that the new naming rights partnership was an opportunity for Matrade to elevate our brand visibility on the international scene.
“By leveraging QPR’s long-standing history in English football, Matrade will be able to enhance its global recognition as a trusted agency to connect trade between our two countries.
“We look forward to a successful partnership with QPR,” said Reezal.
QPR co-owner Ruben Gnanalingam also sits on the board at Matrade.
In 2011, Malaysian entrepreneur Tan Sri Tony Fernandes acquired a 66% stake in QPR, purchasing it from Bernie Ecclestone for a sum of £35 million (RM214.6 million). In July this year, Fernandes sold all his shares in the club.
The airline supremo helped QPR secure a return to the Premier League after a 15-year absence through the signings of prominent players such as Shaun Wright-Philips from Manchester City, Djibril Cisse from Lazio and Bobby Zamora from Fulham for the 2011/2012 season.
QPR currently find themselves 23rd out of 24 teams in the Championship, the English second tier. – October 28, 2023