Cronulla Sharks Unveil Ocean Protect Stadium In Fitting New Deal

The Cronulla Sharks have announced a landmark deal that will see Ocean Protect become the naming rights partner of the club’s stadium for the next three years, in a move hailed as both commercially significant and deeply symbolic.

The partnership, which officially begins in 2026, aligns the club with an organisation dedicated to protecting the waterways that define the Sutherland Shire.

Over the last two decades, Ocean Protect has become a leading force in preventing stormwater pollution from entering Australia’s oceans and waterways, making them a natural fit for a club whose home sits on the doorstep of some of the country’s most iconic beaches.

Fittingly, the partnership was launched at Cronulla Beach on Tuesday. On hand to mark the announcement were Sharks Group CEO Dino Mezzatesta, Ocean Protect CEO Michael Wicks, NRL head coach Craig Fitzgibbon, NRL players Blayke Brailey and Toby Rudolf, NRLW players Emma Verran and Jada Taylor, and club legend Andrew Ettingshausen.

Mezzatesta described the agreement as a major milestone for the club.

"It's a significant day as we join forces with Ocean Protect, emphasising our commitment to collaborating with impactful and innovative organisations," he 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."

Sharks General Manager of Partnerships and Hospitality, Kylie Lucas, said the club is eager to see the partnership come to life on the field.

"We look forward to celebrating plenty of on-field success at Ocean Protect Stadium throughout this exciting long-term partnership."

For Ocean Protect CEO Michael Wicks, the deal carries a personal connection to the club and its home ground.

''This is a full-circle moment for me and for Ocean Protect. I've been a lifelong Sharks supporter, growing up in the Sutherland Shire and playing in the junior rugby league for years, including some games at Ocean Protect Stadium.

''The company started here in the Shire 23 years ago, and to have our name on the stadium now feels surreal,'' he said.

Ocean Protect Director and NSW/ACT General Manager Harout Tcherkezian echoed the sentiment, noting how closely aligned the two organisations are in purpose and passion.

''This is a significant and meaningful milestone in Ocean Protect's journey, bringing our love for healthy waterways together with the spirit of sport," he said.

"I'm proud of our mission and even prouder to share it with the Sharks, whose passion and energy match our own."

Signage will be rolled out in the coming months, ahead of the stadium’s official rebadge as Ocean Protect Stadium. The first official fixture under the new name will be a blockbuster Round 1 NRL clash against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

With both organisations sharing deep roots in the Shire and a forward-looking vision, the newly named Ocean Protect Stadium marks the beginning of what both parties hope will be a legacy-defining era.