The O2 Arena in London retains name in record deal

Article posted by Coliseum, November 2^nd, 2026

O2 has retained the naming rights to The O2 arena in London in a deal with Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) thought to be worth in the region of £200 million.

The Guardian said the 10-year agreement is the largest renewal of its kind in UK history and will extend O2’s relationship until at least 2038.

It cements the sponsorship as the second longest-running UK venue naming rights deal after Arsenal’s partnership for the football club’s London ground with Emirates.

O2 is thought to be paying about £20 million a year in the wide-ranging partnership, an almost 50% increase on the annual amount under the existing deal which was due to expire at the end of next year.

It is more than triple the £6 million a year O2 paid in its initial 10-year deal when the future success of the O2 and surrounding site was far from certain.

The 20,000-seat The O2 Arena, locally referred to as The O2, is a multipurpose indoor arena in the center of The O2 entertainment district on the Greenwich Peninsula in South East London, England (UK).

The new deal comes following a series of record-breaking years for The O2 and ahead of the venue’s 20th anniversary in 2027.

Owned and operated by AEG, The O2 has grown into the world’s most popular live entertainment destination, welcoming more than 100 million visitors and hosting over 6,800 events since opening in 2007.

Paul Samuels, President of Global Partnerships at AEG International, said: “The renewal of our partnership with O2 reflects the enduring strength of a relationship built on trust, innovation and a shared ambition to deliver exceptional live entertainment experiences.

“Over the past two decades, The O2 has become one of the world’s most successful and recognisable entertainment venues, and this landmark agreement ensures we can continue investing in the venue, enhancing the fan experience and setting the standard for premium live entertainment for many years to come.”

As well as boosting the number of tickets available to shows at The O2 through Priority Tickets by 50%, O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers will, for the first time, enjoy Priority access to shows at indigo at The O2 under the new agreement.

The inclusion of indigo at The O2 expands the partnership’s support for emerging talent, providing O2 customers with access to performances from artists at an important stage of their development before they progress to arena-scale shows.

Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said, “Live entertainment is in O2‘s DNA, and for nearly two decades The O2 has been at the heart of how we reward and excite our customers, giving them access to world-class experiences through Priority they simply cannot get anywhere else. We are thrilled to extend our partnership for another 10 years.

“Our contract renewal with AEG reflects our confidence in the future of The O2 and our commitment to the UK’s live entertainment industry. We’ll continue supporting artists at every stage of their careers, from indigo at The O2 through to arena headliners, bringing our customers closer to what they love and helping them create memories that last a lifetime.”

Newly published accounts show that the O2 enjoyed the best year in its 19-year history in 2025. Pre-tax profits surged 18% to £76.5m, while revenues climbed 14% to £148.6m, as music fans put aside cost-of-living concerns to see acts including Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Radiohead and Usher.

The record year resulted in a £27.5 millon dividend being paid to its US parent company.

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