Surrey CCC have agreed a new sponsorship deal with Mr. M.A.R. Galadari, which will see the new stand at The Kia Oval named as The M.A.R. Galadari Stand.
The M.A.R. Galadari Stand will incorporate the Peter May Terrace, Laker Terrace and Lock Terrace – paying tribute to the some of the great heroes of Surrey’s all conquering 1950s teams.
The M.A.R. Galadari Stand will increase the capacity of The Kia Oval by 2,700 seats whilst also providing brand new Members’ facilities, a Roof Terrace with panoramic views of London and new rooms that will bring about huge enhancements to the Club’s Conference and Events business.
Completed shortly before England took on Sri Lanka at the ground on Thursday July 1st, Members have already been using The M.A.R. Galadari Stand this season, with the 175 Suite (named after the Club’s 175th anniversary in 2020) opening for the LV= Insurance County Championship games with Middlesex and Gloucestershire and the Duchy Suite (named to honour the Club’s historic connection with the Duchy of Cornwall) opening to Members for the first time during the Vitality Blast match between Surrey and Glamorgan.
Mr. M.A.R. Galadari has a long association with the Club, generously supporting the construction of a new entrance to the Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion in 2012, supporting the Club’s work in the local Lambeth community and helping with refurbishments and improvements to the Club’s museum.
Surrey CCC off spinner Amar Virdi was also the recipient of the Saoud Galadari Scholarship in 2016, an award that enabled him to spend more time training with the professional squad as a young player. He has since taken 111 wickets for the Club at 28.54 and toured India with England earlier this year.
The new deal is a multi-million pound investment that will benefit the Club for years to come and also allow further investment into the Club’s community and charitable projects.
With the naming of the M.A.R. Galadari Stand, the Club now have three long-term deals in place. The new agreement joins ongoing deals with Kia Motors UK for the Club and ground sponsorship and with J.M. Finn for the large stand at the Vauxhall End of the ground
An entrepreneurial businessman, Mr. M.A.R. Galadari has investments in a wide range of London property and is the owner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Blackfriars.
Charlie Hodgson, Surrey CCC Interim Chief Executive, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Mr. Galadari back into the Club and to name our new stand The M.A.R. Galadari Stand.
“Mr. Galadari has been a very generous supporter of Surrey County Cricket Club and The Kia Oval in the past, and we very much look forward to renewing this relationship and seeing him around the Club for many seasons to come.”
Mr. M.A.R. Galadari added: “I’m proud to partner with Surrey County Cricket Club, a Club who place an emphasis on and share my interest in giving back to the community. The club has a rich history of doing this through their sponsorship program and the extensive work they are doing with local Lambeth community.”
