The O2 Arena in London will keep its name until 2038 after AEG, the venue’s owner and operator, and Virgin Media O2 today announced an extension of their naming rights partnership.
The companies did not disclose the value of the agreement. In a joint statement they described it as a “multi-million-pound” deal and the largest naming rights renewal of its kind in UK history.
The announcement, which describes the extension as running for a further 10 years, comes ahead of the venue’s 20th anniversary in 2027.
Under the new terms, the number of tickets to shows at the O2 available through Priority Tickets, the scheme that gives customers access 48 hours before general sale, will rise by 50 per cent.
O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers will also, for the first time, get priority access to shows at Indigo at the O2, a smaller venue on the same site that the companies list as having a capacity of 2,750.
Priority has sold more than 3.9 million tickets at the O2 over the course of the partnership, according to the statement. The companies said adding Indigo would give customers access to artists at an earlier stage of their development, before they progress to arena 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.”
He added: “Our contract renewal with AEG reflects our confidence in the future of The O2 and our commitment to the UK’s live entertainment industry.”
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.”
The venue in Greenwich, the former Millennium Dome, was taken over in 2001 by a consortium led by AEG, the Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment group. It was officially renamed the O2 in 2005 and opened in 2007.
AEG and O2 said the site has welcomed more than 100 million visitors and hosted over 6,800 events since then. Its arena has a capacity of 23,000 and has sold more than 30 million tickets, according to the companies.
The partnership has also covered connectivity at the venue, including an O2 5G mobile network and Virgin Media gigabit broadband Wi-Fi, the statement said.
Virgin Media O2’s owners, Liberty Global and Telefónica, agreed a £2bn deal to acquire the fibre network provider Netomnia in February, and the company opened a North West headquarters in Manchester in December 2025.
Figures published by the companies alongside the announcement put the O2’s contribution to the UK economy in 2023 at £2.8bn in visitor expenditure and £1.5bn in gross value added, supporting 25,000 jobs.
In Greenwich alone, the companies said, the venue supports 6,760 jobs, generates £700m in local expenditure and contributes £380m in gross value added each year.
The statement also cited figures from LIVE and the National Arenas Association showing that UK arenas host 14.5 million attendees a year and generate £1.85bn in total economic activity. Of that, £648m is spent outside venues in local pubs, restaurants, hotels and transport.
For every £1 spent on venue tickets, audiences spend £1.62 in the local economy, according to those figures.
Events for the 2027 anniversary already on sale include performances from Maisie Peters, Jorja Smith and Sombr, with further announcements to follow in the coming months, the companies said.
