Northampton Saints Announce Council Deal to Develop Business Opportunities in Region

English Rugby club Northampton Saints have announced today that they have agreed a partnership with Northampton Borough Council that will promote the town’s culture, leisure and business opportunities.

Tying in with the successful ‘Love Northampton’ campaign, this new partnership is aimed at bringing more away supporters into Northampton, encouraging more home fans to make their day in Northampton more than just about rugby, and promoting the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone to the national and international business community.

Over the coming year the club and Council will work closely together to create bespoke packages for rugby supporters which will include match tickets at Franklin’s Gardens and a variety of other offers and events.

The partnership will also lay the groundwork for both the Saints as a club and Northampton as a town to capitalise on the long-term legacy that will be brought to rugby union by the return of Rugby World Cup to England in 2015.

Saints chief executive Allan Robson commented on the partnership: “A healthy relationship between a sports club and the local Council can be very beneficial to all concerned,” he said. “We have been proud to carry the town’s name throughout our 130-year history, and in many places across the globe the word ‘Saints’ is one of the first things people say when you mention ‘Northampton’.

“This partnership will help not just the club, but our supporters and the town’s businesses as well. Supporters from every club who attend matches at Franklin’s Gardens will be able to enjoy special offers from a range of businesses, who in turn will benefit from increased footfall.

“With the Rugby World Cup coming to the East Midlands in 2015, we have to be ready to reap the rewards of the increased profile and attention that the sport will have. This does not only mean having more supporters for the Saints, but also making sure that these gains are felt across Northampton, too.”

Northampton Borough Council leader David Mackintosh says that this new partnership represented a furthering of the positive relationship that the Council and club have developed over the past three years.

“Northampton has many great brands to be proud of and the Saints is one of the biggest.

“The club is important to the town and I am really proud that we have been able to enter into this major new partnership with them to work together and promote the best of Northampton on the widest possible stage.

“We want visiting supporters – wherever they come from – to stay and spend time in Northampton and this partnership is a great way to take our tourism strategy forward.”