Naming rights for XL Center expire; venue likely to change name in 2025.

[Hoophound]

Does anyone else remember back in the day sports center used to refer to it as the “civic center mall”?

They called it The Mall. A lot of people didn’t know why they called it that and didn’t think anything of it. Lots of arenas have nicknames and in the old days a mall was an outdoor area with shops around it, which seems like a good place for an arena.

The arena having a mall and restaurants was actually pretty cool. I never understood why anyone thought it was weird. It was busy, vibrant and awesome for the first 15-20 years.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

@CL82 calling it the Excel Center was probably the last straw. Who wants to pay a lot of money for naming rights when people still have no idea what XL is?

I used to work at the company that sponsored / got the naming rights for the XL center. XL Catlin. Knew nothing about the deal, but clearly a lot of people don’t associate the company with the deal so not surprised the deal wasn’t renewed. Even if the deal is ultimately renewed down the line, I would still expect the name to change, given a huge insurer (AXA) bought out XL Catlin a few years ago (the two are now called AXA XL fyi).

 

[auror]

I'm sure someone could prove me wrong, but I've never understood how selling off/changing the name of your home venue makes business sense for any school/franchise. That's precious currency for your brand that you're just giving away.

(It probably matters less in UConn's case since they're split between the two venues anyway)

You're literally not just giving away though, at least not in the implied context of "just giving it away for free".

The idea is you do more with the money to grow your brand than whatever you lose by losing the authenticity of the name.

 

[UCann]

I will look back fondly at the XL era. 5 Final Fours. 4 National Championships. It even hosted a conference championship tournament.

And NCAA Tournament games!

 

[UCann]

I hope one of the local big insurance companies buys the rights…Traveler’s Center, Aetna Center, The Hartford Center, United Heathcare Center, Cigna Center. Maybe even Pratt Center or United Technologies Center. Or how about ESPN steps up? ESPN Center or Sports Center lol!

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I hope one of the local big insurance companies buys the rights…Traveler’s Center, Aetna Center, The Hartford Center, United Heathcare Center, Cigna Center. Maybe even Pratt Center or United Technologies Center. Or how about ESPN steps up? ESPN Center or Sports Center lol!

“The Hartford” Civic Center

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Can't we suck up a little and call it the Big12 Center for a year? Kidding off course.

 

[Khal Drogo]

I hope one of the local big insurance companies buys the rights…Traveler’s Center, Aetna Center, The Hartford Center, United Heathcare Center, Cigna Center. Maybe even Pratt Center or United Technologies Center. Or how about ESPN steps up? ESPN Center or Sports Center lol!

Speedy Car Wash Center

 

[Khal Drogo]

Connecticut Tax Payer Center

 

[Khal Drogo]

Cancel your XL insurance policy Center

 

[king conn]

Can't we suck up a little and call it the Big12 Center for a year? Kidding off course.

Allstate Arena

 

[Dove]

Bo-Toxic Arena


Since it keeps getting face lifts...and as a hat tip to the fans.

 

[ucp990411]

I hope one of the local big insurance companies buys the rights…Traveler’s Center, Aetna Center, The Hartford Center, United Heathcare Center, Cigna Center. Maybe even Pratt Center or United Technologies Center. Or how about ESPN steps up? ESPN Center or Sports Center lol!

ESPN Center? That’s funny. After all they do to help the state university (nothing) in the state that gives them tax breaks to stay here.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I hope one of the local big insurance companies buys the rights…Traveler’s Center, Aetna Center, The Hartford Center, United Heathcare Center, Cigna Center. Maybe even Pratt Center or United Technologies Center. Or how about ESPN steps up? ESPN Center or Sports Center lol!

UTC doesn't exist.

 

[HooperScooper]

UTC doesn't exist.

RTX Center?

 

[Deepster]

Bo-Toxic Arena


Since it keeps getting face lifts...and as a hat tip to the fans.

Shut up, Dove.

 

[temery]

"The Boneyard" would be an awesome name for any venue.

 

[CL82]

"The Boneyard" would be an awesome name for any venue.

Wedding reception venues?

 

[temery]

Wedding reception venues?

honeymoon suite maybe.

 

[UCLJ0211]

"The Boneyard" would be an awesome name for any venue.

Also for an hourly motel

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Wedding reception venues?

That’s the Graveyard.

(Don’t tell my wife I said that)

 

[CONN78SEJ]

It's still the civic center to me.

I hope they change the name to the BG Center or FH2…..(Before Gampel…..Field House 2)… or the UTBHW Arena.

 

[WrenchFan69]

“The Hartford” Civic Center

This is the most obvious choice to me. The Hartford should absolutely be doing this

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Hoophound]

For those that can’t read it, who’s lining up?

 

[knicksin7]

Be interesting to see where Oak View takes this…



-> Weiss said the timing of the name change is ideal because it gives a new company an opportunity to associate its brand with what will soon be a newly upgraded facility.

“My hope is that within a year we'll have a new brand associated with the building,” Weiss said. <-

How much is the contract per year? The XL contract that is.

 

[HooperScooper]

How much is the contract per year? The XL contract that is.

From the Courant article:

Michael W. Freimuth, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority, said the XL Group naming rights contract ranged from $450,000 to $500,000 a year. The value dipped during Covid and when University of Connecticut’s basketball program left the Big East, Freimuth said.

 

[HooperScooper]

For those that can’t read it, who’s lining up?

Oak View Group, or OVG, which manages the day-to-day operations of the venue, is in early discussions with a handful of potential sponsors, Weiss said.

Weiss declined to name them.

“The conversations that we are having right now are from recognizable, regional and national brands,” Weiss said.

 

[CL82]

“The conversations that we are having right now are from recognizable, regional and national brands,” Weiss said.

"Bob's Discount Furniture Arena"

 

[JerseyAlum]

We can resurrect Gumby's Pizza with "Gumby's Arena (Dammit!)"