Tough sheet must have offered more money. I think it's right that sponsorship should be with businesses not public sector/semi public sector institutions in any case (think Bury & Trampmere being sponsored by their councils). If you asked a member of the Wanderers Board or the Local Authority Cabinet they would consider the university an anchor institution in any case.
UCLAN is mainly in Preston not Lancaster anyhow. If you asked folk in East Lancs they would probably complain about resource being sucked into the county's administrative centre Preston anyway. Just like we complain about resource to Manc or Horwich/Westhoughton/Farnworth moaning about Bolton.
Not sure what the rebadge achieves, just put in your marketing literature you can get to manc fairly easy.
It's still a fucking Mini Metro and you'll still end up living near Gibraltar Street.