Sport

AO Arena to screen remaining England Euros games in what will be Europe’s biggest fanzone

Road to Victory is coming to the iconic venue.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 30th June 2024

The AO Arena is set to transform into a giant Euros fanzone and will show all the remaining England games.

Manchester’s leading arena will be teaming up with Road to Victory to create what will be the biggest fan park in Europe.

The family-friendly fanzone will be a fully immersive football experience, complete with beer pong, penalty shoot out and table football areas.

It’s also promising to serve discounted pints.

Each Euros screening at the AO Arena will include live performances at a half-time show, and interactive games before and after the match.

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Road to Victory was previously hosted at Depot Mayfield during the 2022 World Cup but is now moving into Manchester’s iconic venue the AO Arena.

All games from the quarter finals onwards will be shown to massive crowds, combining high-scale production with interactive technology, creating a multi-sensory Euros adventure.

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The first Road to Victory event at the AO Arena will be on Saturday 6 July when England face Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

The news comes hot off the back of Southgate’s squad sailing through the round of 16 and defeating Slovakia 2-1.

Road to Victory also has an over-18s fanzone experience over at Diecast, which will remain throughout the summer.

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Its AO Arena fanzone will be its first that’s suitable for all ages.

The Mezz, which is the arena’s luxury restaurant and bar, will be a family zone with face painting and sign making.

Tickets are available to purchase at roadtovictory.co.uk at full time on Sunday.

Read more: Where to watch the Euros 2024 around Manchester

Featured image: The Manc Group

Sport

AO announced as new front-of-shirt sponsor for Altrincham FC

Danny Jones Danny Jones AO confirmed as Altrincham FC's new front of shirt sponsor

In another big step forward for non-league Altrincham FC, local electric retailer AO has been unveiled as their new front-of-shirt sponsor.

As the Greater Manchester club continues in its bid to become a bigger sporting entity and one of the fastest-growing football teams in the region, AO being announced as the new official sponsor of Altrincham FC kits for the upcoming season onwards is a big step.

The Bolton-based brand is recognisable throughout the UK and lends its name to Manchester’s iconic arena, so to get them on the front of their 24/25 strip is a landmark moment for the resurgent side, who will debut the new look this weekend.

Confirming the announcement via social media on Tuesday, 2 July, the club confirmed that AO will replace the J. Davidson logo after 13 years, though the Alty scrap company will remain as the club’s long-serving stadium sponsor.

Being splashed front and centre on the new Altrincham FC strips also marks AO’s fourth North West sponsorship alongside the self-titled AO Arena, this year’s Netball Super League Grand Finalists Manchester Thunder, Bolton Lads and Girls Club as well as Lancashire County Cricket Club.

The partnership will see the distinctive AO smile logo feature on the front of the National League team’s home and away shirts as part of a multi-year agreement.

Alty’s new home shirt will be debuted in their pre-season fixture against Colne this Saturday, 6 July and the away version is set to be worn for the first time next week.

However, the club have now given their fans a first glimpse at the latter:

Looking good.

The new shirt sponsor also comes not long after they received sizeable investment for a club of their size as a number of local individuals and organisations decided to back The Robins.

Last season was one of the most successful in the club’s history, reaching the playoffs and falling just two games shy of securing promotion to the EFL for the first time ever, ultimately missing out in the semi-finals to League Two debutants, Bromley FC.

It’s an exciting time for the town and their football club.

Altrincham FC receive £1.5m cash injection as 20 new investors back the club

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Sam Mackenzie, Chief Executive at Altrincham FC, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with such a dynamic and thriving company as AO. Their values and outlook align closely with ours, making this partnership a perfect fit.

“The longevity and commitment from both sides in this partnership will mirror the successful ongoing relationship we have with J. Davidson. We deeply appreciate J. Davidson’s invaluable contribution and thank them for their continued support as we enter this exciting new partnership.

“The AO partnership is a significant development for the club, particularly in terms of the activation and outreach it will bring. As a national brand with a strong presence, AO will help us grow. Their culture is something I hugely admire – their team have been wonderful to deal with and work alongside.”

As for AO, Group Marketing Director Vicky Monky expressed a palpable buzz about teaming up with the club during such an “exciting time in their history” as they continue to consolidate as a full-time professional outfit. It’s not the only eye-catching collaboration they’ve announced recently either.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — AO (supplied)/Michael Ripley (via Flickr)

Sport

Manchester United confirm appointment of Dan Ashworth as new sporting director

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester United reach agreement with Newcastle for sporting director Dan Ashworth

After months of courting and contractual disputes, Manchester United have finally reached an agreement to sign Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as their new sporting director.

Despite being one of the first names identified by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and recently incumbent INEOS setup, it’s taken months for Man United to get a deal ironed out for highly-rated English sporting director Dan Ashworth, who made no secret of his desire to take the job.

Ashworth, 53, was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United back in February when he made it clear he wanted the move following an official approach and initially demanded a compensation package of a reported £20 million to let him go, with the Tyneside club refusing to budge on the matter.

However, a resolution has finally been found and after the two clubs reached a mutually beneficial agreement – one which reportedly helped the Saudi-owned club stay in line with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) – the former director of elite development at the FA will start work effective immediately.

Ashworth will join recently appointed technical director Jason Wilcox, who joined from Southampton, and ex-Manchester City and CFG executive Omar Berrada, who is also set to officially start work later this month.

The three will operate under the stewardship of co-owner Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, head of the INEOS Sports division and who alongside the likes of Ashworth will help bridge the gap between the footballing side of things and the executive board.

With Brailsford having been part of the British cycling revolution within Team GB and Team Sky cycling (now the INEOS Grenadiers), and Ashworth going from PE teacher to a footballing director at West Brom, Brighton and then Newcastle, there’s some established know-how to the appointments.

Ashworth was also a player himself once – representing Norwich City at youth level before joining non-league Eastbourne Town – and although he’ll be more involved with managing the overall structure, strategy and recruitment than anywhere near coaching or anything like that, there’s an understanding of the game at a core level.

Meanwhile, there is also talk of a coaching appointment that would certainly prove popular with the Old Trafford faithful.

Talks for club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to join Manchester United’s coaching staff ‘advancing fast’

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Both the club and Ashworth were so keen on getting a deal across the line that there was even talk of taking the dispute to court and Ratcliffe himself made a point of pressuring Newcastle, telling BBC Sport: “It doesn’t make sense for [him] to be sat around doing nothing for 18 months”.

Nevertheless, the two clubs have finally ended the stalemate and confirmed the appointment on Monday, 1 July in a joint statement. It reads as follows:

“Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

“The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.” The question is, will his impact be as transformative when it comes to footballing infrastructure as he has been in the past?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — TNT Sports (via YouTube)/The Manc Group

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