The i360 is looking for a new sponsor after British Airways said it did not want to renew its naming rights deal.
The beleaguered tourist attraction – which owes Brighton and Hove City Council £45 million following three years of missed loan repayments – is asking would-be sponsors to get in touch.
British Airways’ original five-year sponsorship deal was extended in August last year for another 15 months and now comes to an end in November this year.
Ian Hart, Chief Operating Officer of Brighton i360, said: “We have enjoyed a really successful partnership with British Airways since Brighton i360 opened in August 2016.
“The globally recognised BA brand helped to catapult Brighton i360 on to the international stage from the very beginning.
“Due to this positive relationship, British Airways extended the original sponsorship term of five years back in August 2021 for a further 15 months. We have now agreed a completion date of 3rd November 2022.
“We are excited about the next chapter for Brighton i360 and what a new sponsor might hold in store for us as one of Brighton’s major tourist attractions.”
Hamish McVey, Head of Brand and Marketing at British Airways, said: “We are proud to have been the first sponsor of the i360 and we look forward to seeing it continue its role as a key tourist attraction on the south coast for years to come.”
The airline’s sponsorship of the i360 has led to it being targeted by protesters angry at British Airways’ involvement in deporting failed asylum seekers.
Those responsible for this loss making white elephant should be held to account. The bottom line is the burden of debt falls on the local taxpayer. There should be a criminal investigation into how this very dodgy project managed to evade due diligence Checks
Agree completely, what sort of quote is that from a COO that has missed three years of payments. Major tourist attraction….
May be dunkin donuts will stup up…
Hope the greens sponsor it. Be great to see them soaring above the city proudly. Launch with Caroline Lucas. Mindfulness sessions in the pods. The dream
I am sure there is still plenty of our residents money they can use without referring it to anyone.
Then they can blame someone else for their financial ineptitude.
Nothing new.
There is only one problem with sending ‘5 Homes’ Lucas up the i360; at some point, she’s going to want to come back-down again…
This is what most of us knew would be the case right from the start. It is time this monstrosity was demolished and sold for scrap, and there should be an enquiry into how this folly, on the part of some arrogant, ignorant council members, was allowed to proceed. Then those responsible for it should be made to pay for it, not the already overcharged ratepayers. But, no doubt the incompetent Greens will bury their heads in the sand and just let it rot, like the West PIer. And future generations will look upon it as a symbol of the way the worst council in living memory was bent ruining a beautiful city.