NHL ice hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins has named paint supplier PPG as the new naming rights partner of its home arena after existing partner Consol Energy elected to end its contract.
The venue will now officially be known as PPG Paints Arena until 2036 after PPG agreed a 20-year deal with the Penguins. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, although the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper reported that the deal could be worth between $4m (€3.6m) and $9m a year.
Pittsburgh-headquartered PPG will also serve as the official paint supplier of the team.
Signage will be added to the arena’s interior and exterior in the coming weeks to reflect the name change. PPG branding will feature on all fan entrances and the roof of the arena, as well as on the ice rink and on perimeter advertising boards.
PPG will also receive exposure at the Penguins’ practice and training facility, while a range of fan engagement initiatives such as product promotions and ticket giveaways will be launched. PPG previously served as a sponsor of the team and its products were used during the construction of the arena.
Michael McGarry, PPG chairman and chief executive, said: “This partnership – with one of the most-watched sports franchises on television – enables PPG to showcase our consumer products, including the PPG Paints, Glidden, Olympic paint and stain, and Pittsburgh Paints & Stains brands, to an audience of home-improvement consumers and paint professionals.”
The facility had been known as Consol Energy Center since opening in 2010. Consol, which reported losses in the first and second quarter as it struggles with low natural gas and coal prices, gave up the naming rights six years into a deal which was scheduled to run for 21 years.
The Post-Gazette said Consol will remain as a corporate sponsor under a restructured agreement that will run for 14 years and cost less money.