Strathcona County council has voted to explore the options for having corporations being able to purchase naming rights for county owned buildings.
Currently, corporations are only able to purchase naming rights for amenities inside of the buildings (e.g., the Shell Arena within the Sherwood Park Arena and Sports Centre). The new idea would be to allow sponsorship of the buildings themselves, with Ward 4 councilor Bill Tonita saying that it would serve as a way to increase the county’s revenue.
“The arrangement benefits both the municipality and the sponsoring company,” Tonita stated. “The county gains revenue that may help with operating costs, while the company is granted time limited rights to promote its name and brand in the prominent location within the community.”
This increased revenue could also serve as a way to upgrade or enhance the facilities in a way that meets Strathcona County’s ever-growing needs and expectations.
This is something that other Edmonton-area municipalities have done in the past — think the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan or Co-op Place in Wetaskiwin.
The vote passed by a slim margin, with five votes in favour compared to four against. The vote was spit four-four by the councillors, Mayor Rod Frank was called in remotely to levy his opinion.
Ward 1 Coun. Robert Parks, Ward 2 Coun. Dave Anderson, Ward 3 Coun. Lorne Harvey and Ward 8 Coun. Katie Berghofer was those who voted against the bill.
Ward 4 Coun. Bill Tonita, Ward 5 Coun. Aaron Nelson, Ward 6 Coun. Corey-Ann Hartwick and Ward 7 Coun. Glen Lawrence were those that voted in favour, alongside Mayor Rob Frank.
A report will be delivered to the council before the end of the third quarter of this year for further debate and discussion on whether this is a route that the council wants to take.
