Latest news with #namingrights
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Who gets to pick the new name for the American Bank Center?
(This story was updated to add new information and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the timeline by which the city of Corpus Christi and OVG need to come to an agreement over the naming rights for the American Bank Center. Whose name will be emblazoned on what is now the American Bank Center has started a renewed round of debate — but one that remains centered on whether the name the building ultimately bears is Thomas J. Henry Law. In news releases issued June 4 and June 5, the high-profile personal injury attorney suggested that his offer for the naming rights — $1.25 million annually for 10 years — made the most sense. Henry has made his interest in the naming rights of the American Bank Center publicly known for more than a year, as well as his proposed bid — in one news release describing the process as 'mired in needless delay and political interference.' 'There is no other company that has offered—nor is willing or able to offer—a deal of comparable value to the taxpayers,' the news release states. 'Every month this process is delayed is another month of lost revenue for the hardworking families of Corpus Christi.' Henry also suggested in the news release that there were 'growing concerns of political bias obstructing a significant public-private opportunity.' In a message to the Caller-Times, Mayor Paulette Guajardo wrote that the city is 'committed to a fair naming process,' describing the American Bank Center as 'a cornerstone of the city's cultural and economic vibrancy.' The contract between the city and OVG, the American Bank Center's management company, calls for OVG to manage the naming rights process with a final decision 'based on feedback and collaboration between OVG, City Council, and City staff,' she wrote. 'Next week, we expect that feedback to be given,' Guajardo wrote in the June 5 message. 'OVG has a process committed to a transparent and thorough evaluation considering all proposals fairly. Any assertions otherwise are patently false and designed to receive media attention.' The dispute over the naming rights for the landmark building has taken on multiple fronts, to include the process in which a decision is reached and who makes the decision. OVG representatives did not immediately respond to a message sent by the Caller-Times, but city officials confirmed that Henry's is one of two proposals for the naming rights. Information was not immediately available about the second company or its proposal amount. American Bank has sponsored the taxpayer-owned entertainment venue on Shoreline Boulevard for about 20 years but announced in April 2024 its intent to end the partnership. It was initially thought the center would shed its American Bank name in September 2024. There have been several extensions since then, City Manager Peter Zanoni told the Caller-Times. In a memo, he wrote that staff was in process of scheduling meetings between City Council members and OVG representatives. They are intended 'to ensure OVG is available to answer questions from City Council Members interested in this topic' and to allow city officials 'to ask more detailed questions about their naming rights process, recommendations, alternatives, and next steps,' Zanoni wrote in the memo. 'Feedback from Council Members is a crucial part of OVG's decision-making process for the naming rights.' He told the Caller-Times that OVG engaged with about 100 entities over the past two years as part of its naming rights process, with less than a dozen considered to be serious contenders. May 31 was the last call for proposals, Zanoni said, adding that the city and OVG need to come to an agreement in the near future. Options described by Zanoni include: selecting a naming rights partner, starting the naming rights process over again, requesting an additional extension with American Bank, forgoing a name entirely or picking a general name for the venue that is not associated with a naming rights partner. The current contract with American Bank expires at the end of August, he added, at which point there will be a 30-day timeline in which signage must be removed. While some council members have voiced support for Henry's offer — City Councilman Eric Cantu issued a news release fully backing the attorney and 'a transformational deal for a city asset that needs it' — others have questioned what they consider to be a push for a potentially hurried process. 'It would seem to me that whatever is the best solution today will also be the best solution next week and next month,' said City Councilman Mark Scott. 'So I'm fascinated by what I perceive to be as pressure to rush to a decision.' Henry's bid far outweighs the other proposal, Cantu said, asserting that politics are obstructing moving forward with the process. In his news release, he pointed out that the 'city of Corpus Christi is facing a serious budget shortfall.' The deficit was last estimated to be about $7 million. 'It's just sad — this man has money from his business and wants to invest in Corpus Christi,' Cantu told the Caller-Times. 'We should be happy that he wants to invest in Corpus Christi and give us that much money to put his name on a building.' Henry's news release named Guajardo, Scott and City Councilman Roland Barrera as continuing 'to stand in the way of progress.' Barrera asserted that Henry is 'utilizing the press to try to manipulate the narrative and manipulate negotiations,' in part referencing statements in Henry's news release accusing council members of 'interference.' 'I just don't know how you negotiate in good faith with a partner that's actually painting themselves as the victim and (making) statements like that,' he said. 'It's just a nonstarter for me.' The exact balance of the roles that OVG and the City Council play in determining the naming rights wasn't immediately clear June 5; however, the management company wrote in an email to the Caller-Times last year that it was 'leading the selection process for the naming rights partner, and the decision will be made in collaboration with the City of Corpus Christi.' Cantu wants the discussion about the naming rights to be held publicly in the June 10 council meeting, and has criticized the contract with OVG, asserting the decision should be solely the council's. Scott said he was seeking to be 'fully informed and make sure the council's fully informed of all the relative data points that lead to a decision.' 'It's not obstruction,' he said. 'I think it's just making sure that we make the right decision with the right information.' More: American Bank is parting ways with American Bank Center This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Who gets to pick the new name for the American Bank Center?
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Edmonton councillors vote no to naming rights of city facilities
Edmonton councillors have decided not to allow the sale of naming rights to city buildings. The decision comes after Mayor Amarjeet Sohi reversed his position on naming rights on city facilities on Wednesday, saying there was pushback from the public. The 10-year sponsorship deal with Booster Juice for the Terwillegar Rec Centre will stay for the length of its contract. The city will allow deals for amenities inside facilities, like pools or rinks, to have a sponsored name. But not for the outside of the building. Sohi said earlier in the week that revenue was not worth the sale of civic pride. Some councillors said the city should be open to finding any revenue source. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City council to decide on sale of facilities' naming rights by week's end
Edmonton's mayor says he has reversed his position on selling naming rights to city facilities after getting pushback from the public. The City of Edmonton has a 10-year sponsorship deal with Booster Juice for the Terwillegar Rec Centre. That deal will stay. City council is now debating whether to allow similar sponsorships for five other recreation centres – Meadows, Clareview, Commonwealth, Kinsmen and the new Coronation Velodrome once it opens. City staff estimate selling naming rights to 25 facilities could bring in about $2 million a year, including the Booster Juice deal. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says that meagre revenue isn't worth the trade-off in civic pride. 'The community they are in, that should be the dominant name on the facility. not at the end of a sentence or a name. That's the feedback I got,' Sohi told media on Wednesday. Other city facilities such as Commonwealth Stadium could still be on the table for corporate naming rights as could smaller facilities such as community arenas. Some councillors say the city should try to find revenue anywhere it can. City council is expected to make a decision on naming rights by the end of the week. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CBC
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Edmonton city council discusses selling more naming rights for rec centres, rinks and pools
Social Sharing What's in a name and what is it worth? Edmonton city councillors wrestled with those questions on Wednesday. Edmonton city councillors debated the pros and cons of pursuing more sponsorship deals for city facilities on Wednesday, with some saying naming rights sales could generate much-needed revenue for the city — about $21 million over 10 years — and others saying facilities built with taxpayer money shouldn't have corporate names. Administration is proposing that councillors pre-approve the naming concept sale for about two dozen recreation centres, rinks, outdoor pools and storage facilities, allowing officials to initiate negotiations without coming to council to obtain permission first. Councillors Tim Cartmell, Sarah Hamilton, Andrew Knack, Aaron Paquette, Karen Principe, Jennifer Rice, Keren Tang and Jo-Anne Wright voted in favour of streamlining the process while Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and councillors Michael Janz, Erin Rutherford, Ashley Salvador and Anne Stevenson opposed it. "We are in significantly deep financial straits," Cartmell said during the meeting. "We need every partnership, every dollar, every opportunity we can." Any potential name sale deals would still have to receive final approval from city council. Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford told CBC News in an interview that even though council has the final say over sponsorship deals, it can be hard for councillors to kibosh them after staff have sunk resources into the negotiations and revenue has been factored into the city budget. "It does feel very much like that end checkpoint is just a rubber stamp approval," she said. Excluding large rec centres Though council voted to give city officials more freedom to explore sponsorship deals, they later decided to reconsider that decision and contemplate excluding some large recreation centres from the list of facilities that could be renamed. Sohi said hundreds of millions of public dollars have been invested in the Clareview, Commonwealth, Kinsmen, Meadows and Coronation rec centres so they should retain their current names. City officials would still be free to negotiate deals for smaller facilities and amenities within buildings, he said during the meeting. City council postponed discussion on the issue Wednesday afternoon and it will be on the agenda for Friday's council meeting. Booster Juice decision The Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre was renamed last year after Booster Juice bought the temporary naming rights for the facility. The rec centre remains municipally run but the company paid for new signs and pays the city a sponsorship fee, which has not been publicly released. City officials told councillors during Wednesday's meeting and a community and public services meeting last week that the change has gone over well, without confusing residents or compromising the city's brand. "We've been rather impressed with the sophistication of our users, that they're very aware of the brand and whose money — theirs — has paid for these facilities," said Jennifer Flaman, the deputy city manager of community services, at last week's committee meeting. Councillors heard on Wednesday that of the thousands of inquiries the city has received from the public about the facility since the name change announcement, only three related to that topic. Public appetite for name sales A city survey in July 2020 found 80 per cent of more than 6,000 respondents were either comfortable or neutral with selling naming rights to offset pandemic-related costs. Another survey, in November of last year, found 65 per cent of more than 4,000 respondents were either comfortable or neutral with selling naming rights to offset operating costs. Coun. Jo-Anne Wright said feedback she received from residents in Ward Sspomitapi while out doorknocking last week reflected the city survey results. Mayor Sohi, however, said he heard criticism from residents who felt the Booster Juice renaming decision diminished community pride — and that the revenue generated by name sales isn't enough to solve the city's fiscal challenges.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'This could be a lot worse' - fans on stadium name
BBC Sport had a strong response from readers to Everton's naming rights deal for their new stadium, which will be called Hill Dickinson is a further selection, with more lower down this page:Jim: Awful. These naming deals are A huge embarrassment to the fans. Do Everton get anything right?Greg: The name sets us up for an awful lot of stick, as if we have not already had enough. But we're going to have to get used to it, whether we like it or Just like Twickenham will always be Twickenham rather than the 'Allianz'. This will always be Bramely-Moore to fans. I get the revenue stream importance, but it sounds more like a For all the ceremony and tears over leaving Goodison the naming of the new stadium shows that sentiment is dead. As Evertonians let's not kid ourselves the new stadium is all about income generation, profit and money. The new match day experience is now all about rinsing us fans of money before during and after the match. What's in a name? Hundreds of millions I hate naming rights deals as much as the next person, but considering some of the monstrous names inflicted on stadiums, this could be a lot worse. It's not an airline, a fast-food chain, or a company owned by an oligarch and the context has some class to it. It'll either grow on us or people will just use 'Bramley-Moore Dock'. But while understandable, anyone who held out hope it might be named after Dixie Dean or Brian Labone or Per Kroldrup was clutching at straws.
