[thenry]

Manchester United has sold the naming rights to its training ground as part of a sponsorship deal with insurance firm Aon estimated to be worth $230 million, a further sign of the Premier League leader's off-field money-making abilities.

Aon's name currently appears on United's main match kit in a $130 million, four-year deal, but General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet division takes over that sponsorship in a $559 million, seven-year deal from the 2014-15 season.

United bought out its previous training kit sponsorship deal with express delivery and freight firm DHL early in a bid to secure more cash, with that agreement having been worth around $65 million over four years.

Although United is now also selling the naming rights to its vast training center at Carrington in south Manchester, the club has no plans to sell the rights to its main stadium. "Old Trafford will not be sold," United's executive vice chairman, Ed Woodward, said Sunday.

United, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, recently forecast record revenue this season of at least $537 million.

Forbes said in January that United's enterprise value, which subtracts debt from equity value, has risen to $3.3 billion, the highest for any sports team in the world.

http://www.chron.com/sports/article/...on-4416314.php