The Emirates sponsorship deal expired in 2020 and the tower reverted to its original all-white paint scheme and name in April 2021.

It can be seen from the Isle of Wight, the Manhood Peninsula, Highdown Gardens and Cissbury Ring in Worthing and Nine Barrow Down in the Purbeck Hills, Dorset.

Barry Smith, the project's legal advisor, also retired after being suspended on full pay,[16] mostly because of controversy over the contract with the builders, which at one point would have cost the council more to cancel than to complete.

The Spinnaker Tower has suffered from a number of issues since opening, including a malfunctioning external glass lift.

[17] During the final construction phase, a protester from the rights group Fathers 4 Justice scaled the tower wearing a high-visibility jacket and unfurling a banner in the process.

Once open, the tower attracted crowds in excess of expectations, despite only the internal lift working, with more than 600,000 people visiting it in the first year.

The Spinnaker Tower, being a landmark of southern England, features in the title sequence of the BBC South Today news programme.

[28] In May 2015, as part of a wider effort to "generate additional revenue by using the advertising potential of council-owned land and other assets", Portsmouth City Council proposed selling the tower's naming rights to a commercial sponsor.

[33] Councillor Luke Stubbs said: "It's clearly a very good deal for the city and shows the benefit that Portsmouth is deriving from the America’s Cup...

"[34] The tower was to be repainted in a red and white colour scheme—similar to that of local football rivals Southampton F.C.—as part of the rebranding but following a petition with over 10,000 signatures, Portsmouth City Council decided to rethink the change.

Tim Clark, President and CEO of Emirates said: "We listened to the feedback and worked with the council to adapt the designs in order to create something that Portsmouth residents will be proud of.

"[38] In April 2021 the tower was repainted its original all-white colour, as the five year sponsorship deal with Emirates had ended on 30 June 2020.

[39] On 5 May 2023, Portsmouth City Council announced a new partnership with the Macmillan Cancer Support, with the charity becoming the tower's new sponsor beginning in June.