The Cronulla Sharks have confirmed a significant new partnership, announcing a three-year naming rights agreement for their home ground that will see it rebranded as Ocean Protect Stadium from the start of the 2026 season.
This landmark deal brings an end to the club's existing arrangement with Australian betting firm PointsBet, which has held the naming rights since 2019. The shift comes as the Australian Federal Government faces mounting pressure to introduce stricter legislation on gambling advertisements.
A New Era for Sharks' Home Ground
The Woolooware-based stadium, which has previously been known as Toyota Stadium, Shark Park, and Caltex Field throughout its history, will continue to operate as PointsBet Stadium until the conclusion of 2025. The Sharks revealed their new partnership with environmental company Ocean Protect in a distinctive manner, sharing a digitally altered image on social media that showed waves flowing across the pitch.
This creative announcement prompted humorous reactions from supporters, with some fans joking that the club was installing a 'wave pool' at their home ground. "A wave pool at Shark Park. There's something in that," one supporter commented on social media platform X.
Navigating Changing Sponsorship Landscape
The timing of this sponsorship change is particularly noteworthy, as it coincides with anticipated government action on gambling advertising. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing cross-party pressure to implement new restrictions, with Macarthur MP Mike Freelander recently stating that a new bill would likely pass parliament through a 'conscience vote'.
Rugby league clubs across the NRL have been carefully assessing how such legislative changes might affect their sponsorship arrangements, making the Sharks' proactive move particularly significant.
Sharks Group CEO Dino Mezzatesta expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, describing it as "a significant day as we join forces with Ocean Protect, emphasising our commitment to collaborating with impactful and innovative organisations." He added that given the stadium's location surrounded by iconic waterways, the club feels strongly about supporting Ocean Protect's work in keeping "beaches, bays and rivers clean for all to enjoy."
Fan Reaction and Environmental Focus
While the announcement has been largely well-received, fan reactions on social media have been mixed. Many traditionalists insisted that the ground "will always be called Shark Park," with one critic questioning the practice of frequently changing stadium names for sponsors.
However, other supporters welcomed the move away from gambling sponsorship, with one noting it was "nice to see a sponsor not from the betting or finance industries." Some fans also expressed hope that the new deal might lead to much-needed stadium upgrades.
Ocean Protect, which has specialised in stormwater infrastructure systems to prevent pollution in Australian waterways for the past two decades, described the partnership as "a significant and meaningful milestone." CEO Michael Wicks stated the collaboration brings together "our love for healthy waterways together with the spirit of sport."
The stadium naming rights change represents another major development for the Sharks, who recently announced that their Leagues Club will undergo substantial refurbishment works in 2025, with reopening anticipated in mid-to-late 2026.
