Calgary-based Pengrowth Management Ltd. was named as the
new arena sponsor for the Flames. The arena will now be
known as the Pengrowth Saddledome. The sponsorship will be
effective tomorrow, subject to City Council approval.
Pengrowth's season tickets will be made available for
donations to charities, schools and junior hockey clubs in
Alberta. Meanwhile, Pengrowth purchased 200 season tickets
to put the team past its season-ticket equivalent sales goal
of 14,000 (Flames). In Calgary, Phil Novak reports that
financial terms were not "disclosed," but sources said that
the team's previous 20-year naming rights deal with Canadian
Airlines (CA), signed in '95, was worth C$20M (CALGARY
HERALD, 6/30). Also in Calgary, Ethan Baron writes that
Flames owners, who met with city and provincial officials
yesterday, "still could sell the club." Flames co-Owner B.J.
Seaman: "It could be a possibility because we need to get
more revenues or less costs." Baron adds that a "twist of
fate" brought about the naming rights deal, as Pengrowth CEO
Jim Kinnear called the team office "looking for a suite," but
Flames President Ron Bremner said that "none were available."
Bremner, on the deal with Kinnear: "We had a conversation and
he said, 'Well, if I can't buy a suite, can I buy the
building?' He wasn't kidding." Baron notes that officials
did not release the "exact length," but Kinnear said, "It's
longer than 10 years but shorter than 100" (CAL. SUN, 6/30).
Also in Calgary, Nova Pierson writes under the subheader,
"Calgarians breathe easier after Flames reach magic ticket
mark." The Alberta Economic Development Authority estimates
that the Flames' economic impact on the city is C$45-65M per
year, as the team creates an estimated 1,100 jobs, and their
games "create spinoff work" (CALGARY SUN, 6/30).
FLYING HIGH: Air Canada (AC) announced yesterday that AC
will take over CA's sponsorship as Official Airline of the
Flames in a five-year deal effective July 14 (AC). Meanwhile,
in Calgary, Eric Francis writes that Flames Vice Chair Harley
Hotchkiss suggested the deal "more than replaces the loss of"
CA (CALGARY SUN, 6/30).
