Did you get our April fool?

Apr 1 2009 by Paul James, The Journal

Happy April Fools' Day! In case you were worried, this story was just our little joke and the Angel won't be getting sponsored by anyone...

GOOD Heavens – the Angel of the North is to be sponsored by airline Emirates and branded with its logo, The Journal can reveal today.

The airline – which also sponsors London football team Arsenal – has been given naming rights for the landmark Antony Gormley sculpture by Gateshead Council. In what is being described as “a ground-breaking deal”, the Angel will be known as the ‘Emirates Angel of the North’ and will include the airline’s name and logo across its wingspan.

The Dubai-based international airline describe the Angel as: “The UK’s best-known public work of art” and “One of the UK’s most sought-after sponsorship properties”.

It celebrated its 10th birthday last year and is seen by 90,000 passing motorists each day as well as rail passengers travelling on the East Coast train line between London and Edinburgh.

And after the re-branding, the new “Angel” will be unveiled by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team wear the airline’s name on their shirts and play at the Emirates Stadium in London. But council chiefs who agreed the deal have been quick to reassure Newcastle fans that no one will be allowed to put an Arsenal shirt on the Angel.

Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president for corporate communications, said: “Ever since we launched our service between Newcastle and Dubai in 2007, we have been searching for a stand-out advertising site which will take the Emirates brand to the North East public and beyond.

“An angel set to fly and our airline is the perfect fit. We are looking forward to a long association. It has taken many months of negotiation and we are grateful to the forward-thinking of Gateshead Council. Initial concerns among Newcastle supporters about the red and white design of our logo being too closely associated with the colours of Sunderland AFC have been addressed, which is why we are delighted Mr Wenger is able to bring the association with Arsenal to the North East.”

Emirates also sponsors the FIFA World Cup, test cricket umpires and rugby referees and even the air traffic control tower at Newcastle International Airport. The amount that it is paying to sponsor the Angel has not been revealed. Gateshead Council leader Mick Henry said: “We are delighted about the deal with Emirates, the Angel of the North is a world-famous symbol not just of Gateshead but the whole region so it is fitting we have an international sponsor with such direct ties to the North East.

“However we have included a clause in the deal so if Newcastle face Arsenal in an FA Cup final like in 1998, it will not be allowed to wear an Arsenal shirt – that would have been a step too far.”