The Cronulla Sharks have announced a landmark three-year stadium naming rights deal with Ocean Protect.
The agreement will see the club’s home ground rebranded as Ocean Protect Stadium from the 2026 NRL season, following increased government regulations that prompted a review of their naming rights sponsorship.
The change replaces PointsBet Stadium, which held naming rights since 2019, but was unable to continue in that role due to tighter federal gambling advertising regulations.
PointsBet will remain a club sponsor, but the stadium name change marks a new chapter for the Sharks.
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The partnership aligns the Sharks with Ocean Protect’s mission to prevent stormwater pollution and protect Australia’s waterways, fitting perfectly with a club based in a southern Sydney beach suburb.
Both organisations emphasised their shared commitment to preserving the beaches, bays, and coastal ecosystems of the Sutherland Shire.
The deal was officially launched at a beachside event in Cronulla attended by Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta and Ocean Protect CEO Michael Wicks.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon, players Blayke Brailey and Toby Rudolf, and NRLW stars Emma Verran and Jada Taylor were also present.
Club legend Andrew Ettingshausen joined the event, highlighting the milestone for the Sharks community.
“This is a significant day as we join forces with Ocean Protect, emphasising our commitment to collaborating with impactful and innovative organisations,” Mezzatesta said.
“Our stadium is surrounded by iconic waterways, so we feel strongly about Ocean Protect’s incredible work to ensure our beaches, bays, and rivers are kept clean for all to enjoy,” Mezzatesta added.
Sharks general manager of partnerships and hospitality Kylie Lucas said the club looked forward to celebrating plenty of on-field success at Ocean Protect Stadium.
For Wicks, the naming rights deal is deeply personal, as a lifelong Sharks supporter and local to the Sutherland Shire.
“This is a full-circle moment for me and for Ocean Protect,” Wicks said, recalling his junior rugby league days in the area.
Signage for Ocean Protect Stadium will be installed soon, with the new name officially debuting during the Sharks’ round 1 clash against the Titans on March 7, 2026.
The club and its fans will be hoping the stadium change brings a shift in fortune this season, as the Sharks chase their second premiership in club history and first since 2016.