Basketball venue renamed Verizon Wireless Arena
On its 10-year anniversary, the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center has been renamed the Verizon Wireless Arena. The arena houses the portion of the Siegel Center where VCU volleyball and both men’s and women’s basketball play.
On its 10-year anniversary, the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center has been renamed the Verizon Wireless Arena. The arena houses the portion of the Siegel Center where VCU volleyball and both men’s and women’s basketball play.
The Verizon Wireless contract gives VCU $850,000 over the next five years, said Robby Robinson, the associated athletic director for corporate partnerships. Robinson said VCU sought several different companies because Alltel’s 10-year contract ran out this year, but in the current economy it was not an easy task.
“It was difficult,” Robinson said. “We’re really excited to see that Verizon had the foresight to see what the value was.”
Scott Day, the director of athletic communications, said Alltel’s previous contract for the name of the arena amounted to $1.2 million over 10 years.
Robinson said the 7,500 seating arena has wide exposure, and in the past year has been on television for six games, including three that were nationally broadcast. VCU Athletics will still maintains the building, and Robinson said the sponsorship helps with scholarships and funding for team travel.
“We’re proud to be affiliated with the university,” said Melanie Ortel, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless. “It’s a great way to connect with faculty and students.”
In January, Verizon Wireless bought out Alltel in a purchase valued at $28.1 billion, according to a Jan. 9 Verizon Wireless press release.
Day said the first event to take place at the newly named venue will be an exhibition game on Oct. 7 between the Washington Wizards and the Memphis Grizzlies.
