THUNDER BAY — City council voted to approve a request to bypass the usual public advertising process and negotiate directly with a single sponsor for the naming rights to the new multi-use indoor turf facility.
Council agreed with administration's recommendation to grant an exception to the city’s sponsorship and naming rights policy.
Recreation and culture director Leah Prentice stated the potential sponsor met all policy criteria and offered a “significant” financial contribution.
“A sponsor that strongly meets all requirements of the policy has approached the city with a naming rights offer that is significant," Prentice told council. “It exceeds the minimum valuation for this facility and is higher than several benchmark examples."
While the opportunity was not formally advertised, city officials noted that in February, it was publicly announced that the city would be seeking naming rights for several facilities, including the indoor turf venue.
The sponsorship funds will help cover operating costs for the facility starting in 2026, and contribute to the city’s long-term financial sustainability goals under the city's current strategic plan, according to a staff report to council.
The sponsor’s identity and the proposed facility name will be released once negotiations are finalized, the report said. Upon the successful negotiation of a naming rights agreement, the sponsor’s preferred name for the facility will be reviewed and presented to council for approval.
The decision is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to generate new revenue streams for community services through strategic partnerships, the report stated.
