City gets multiple bids for Essar Centre naming rights

After coming up dry on its initial request for proposals, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has now received multiple bids for naming rights to the Sault's premier sports and entertainment centre.

After the deadline for the city's second try passed at 4 p.m. Friday, Tim Gowans, purchasing manager, told SooToday that three sponsorship packages had been received.

Names of the bidders were not initially disclosed, but the three proposals will be examined by city staff to determine eligibility, then turned over to City Council for a final decision, most likely on June 11.

The city's current $1.5-million sponsorship agreement with Essar Steel Algoma Inc. ends July 31.

The building will be officially renamed on Aug. 1.

The city issued a second request for proposals after no responses were received from its initial request, but a half-dozen businesses inquired after the first deadline closed.

Any new naming sponsor must agree to including the words 'Memorial Gardens' in the new name.

The successful naming rights sponsor will receive perks including use of a luxury suite with eight suite season tickets for Soo Greyhound home games, two rent-free event days per year, two VIP parking passes in the luxury suite parking area, two public-address announcements per Hounds home game, two rink board advertisements in diagonally opposite corner positions and the event centre name or logo featured at centre ice.

An illuminated sign near the front entrance of the building must be be designed and created by the naming sponsor.