VCU’S ARENA GETS A NEW NAME, THE VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA

[xjohnx]

A little late, but here's the official announcement.

VCU’S ARENA GETS A NEW NAME, THE VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA

RICHMOND, Va. – To celebrate its tenth birthday, the building is getting a new name.
Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics is pleased to announce they have entered into a partnership with Verizon Wireless to rename their ten-year-old basketball venue the Verizon Wireless Arena.

“We are thrilled to have Verizon Wireless join our corporate partnership family,” said Norwood Teague, VCU Director of Athletics. “Verizon Wireless has global brand recognition and we feel this does nothing but enhance the stature of our arena.”

The 7,500-seat venue opened in 1999 and routinely hosts more than 150 events a year, including VCU Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, the Virginia High School League basketball and volleyball playoffs, as well as high school graduations, concerts and the annual state robotics competition.

“From a sponsorship standpoint,” Teague said, “We feel that with their name on the building, Verizon Wireless will get an unprecedented amount of exposure and penetration in not only Central Virginia, but with many of our games on one of the ESPN Networks, nationwide as well.”

“As the leading wireless provider in the Richmond market, we’re very proud to have our name on the University’s outstanding arena,” said Mike Maiorana, president of Verizon Wireless in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. “Because of its size and its prestige, VCU is a perfect showcase for our corporate brand, and this relationship shows our continuing commitment to VCU, and the Richmond area.”

The first official event in the newly-termed Verizon Wireless Arena at the Siegel Center will be the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies NBA Exhibition Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

 

[Natty]

Anyone who wants to give VCU a ton of money is alright with me...so if you want my opinion...I LOVE THE NEW NAME!

I'm on Verizon Wireless right now as well....and I won't charge them for that plug. (We do have leader board, billboard, and slate space available however if they are interested)

 

[ram4life]

It's all about money (thank goodness!). We need more sponsorships. There is an impressive list in the new VCU Athletics Annual Report. By the way, the Report looks really neat. Keep up the good work, Norwood!

 

[WhoAreEwe?]

WIth all that crucial sponsorship money coming in, do you think that the Siegel Center could do some basic upgrades, like having a big-boy college scoreboard and adding some upgraded suites/boxes on that overly large and underutilized vacant wall space??

 

[xjohnx]

WIth all that crucial sponsorship money coming in, do you think that the Siegel Center could do some basic upgrades, like having a big-boy college scoreboard and adding some upgraded suites/boxes on that overly large and underutilized vacant wall space??

If i recall, the video portion of the scoreboards was upgraded just 1 or 2 years ago.

Suites/boxes are much easier said than done. I know the issue is being researched, but who knows how far off it is. It would require the majority of the siegel center to be out of commission for quite some time.

 

[ChiaPete]

Did they really give any money for the name change? I figured it just came with buying out Alltell so they naturally bought out the rights to the pavillion. So did we really get anything for it?

 

[Mercury]

Did they really give any money for the name change? I figured it just came with buying out Alltell so they naturally bought out the rights to the pavillion. So did we really get anything for it?

Yes..the Alltell contract was up.

 

[xjohnx]

Did they really give any money for the name change? I figured it just came with buying out Alltell so they naturally bought out the rights to the pavillion. So did we really get anything for it?

Alltel's naming rights were set to expire last year, so I'm sure they had to renegotiate/renew the contract.

 

[M1ke]

Virginia Commonwealth University is getting a new corporate sponsor - Verizon Wireless - for its arena at the Siegel Center. The five-year partnership for the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Siegel Center is worth $850,000, VCU Athletic Director Norwood Teague said.

VCU was seeking a new corporate partner after a 10-year, $1.4 million deal with Alltel expired in June. Alltel was acquired by Verizon Wireless in January.

Soo we got 30k more a year than before.. ($170,000/yr)

 

[Ram it home]

as much as I love the "Stu" nickname I think we need to coin the place "The Cell" or for visiting team's "heck's Cell".

 

[buckwheat]

as much as I love the "Stu" nickname I think we need to coin the place "The Cell" or for visiting team's "heck's Cell".

i sincerely hope not. "the cell" has been done.

 

[Mercury]

as much as I love the "Stu" nickname I think we need to coin the place "The Cell" or for visiting team's "heck's Cell".

i sincerely hope not. "the cell" has been done.

Dude 99.99% of all nicknames have been done who cares

 

[buckwheat]

Dude 99.99% of all nicknames have been done who cares

what other arena is nicknamed "the stu"?

it might be worth ripping off it it actually had "cellular" in the name like the white sox stadium, but it doesn't. i guess i just figured that of all people, vcu folks could be a little more creative.

but you're correct, who really cares.

 

[artRAMinMN]

it does raise the possibility of some kind of "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?" chant

...maybe hand out fake hipster eyeglasses to everyone

 

[DickLawRam]

our crowd doesn't need 'fake hipster glasses'...this is VCU after all!