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City looking to sell naming rights for new pool

Request for proposal process expected to take 90 days
Your Name Here Pool
The City of Prince George is looking to sell the naming rights to the new aquatic centre being built downtown.

The City of Prince George will be looking to sell the naming rights for the new aquatic centre currently under construction downtown.

City council voted to issue a request for proposals for naming sponsors. City manager Walter Babicz said he expected the process to take roughly 90 days.

“There is a market for this, but we would be doing it internally,” Babicz said. “This presents an opportunity to potentially generate revenue. (But) there is no obligation for administration or council to approve any one option.”

Coun. Frank Everitt, who moved the motion to start the naming rights proposal, said the city already has a successful track record, having sold the naming rights for CN Centre and Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.

In March 2020, the city and CN Rail renewed the naming agreement for CN Centre. Under the five-year deal, CN Rail pays the city $75,000 per year for the naming rights

In January 2016, Rolling Mix Concrete signed a five-year deal with the city and the Spruce Kings for the naming rights of Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Under that deal, the company provides between $15,000 and $20,000 worth of concrete and $10,000 cash per year towards the construction of the Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery house.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said he hopes a permanent name could be integrated into the sponsor’s chosen name, to maintain continuity for the community. When Rolling Mix Concrete bought the naming rights to the former Coliseum, he would have preferred that it became the Rolling Mix Concrete Coliseum instead of Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.

“(But) I think it’s a great opportunity to generate some revenue and give (the successful bidder) some exposure in our downtown core,” Sampson said.

There are several major corporations with a business presence in Prince George who would be a good fit for the naming rights, Coun. Brian Skakun said.

Coun. Susan Scott said she hopes the process attracts multiple interested bidders, and potentially result in the naming rights of the Prince George Aquatic Centre being sold as well.

“I want a bidding war over the two,” Scott said.