Seafirst Bank "won the naming rights" to the Univ. of
WA's (UW) remodeled Hec Edmundson Pavilion, in a deal
brokered by Paul Allen's Action Sports Media (ASM) -- a new
firm formed by Allen's sports enterprises, according to
David Schaefer of the SEATTLE TIMES. The arena naming
rights cost Seafirst a $5.1M donation, but its "total
donation" of $9M will also buy signs for the company on a
new Husky Stadium scoreboard and at other athletic
locations on campus. ASM "now expects to put together
sponsorship agreements for colleges and universities around
the country," which will equip football and basketball
stadiums with state-of-the-art scoreboards, advertising and
financial sponsorships." Trail Blazers Senior VP/Marketing
Operations Harry Hutt was named President of ASM. He said
that ASM first signed a deal with UW to install a new video
scoreboard at Husky Stadium, and to find corporate partners
for the other athletic venues. He added that ASM "has
received inquiries from about 10 other universities," but
that the company "wants to finish the UW deal ... before
taking on new business" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/8).
HEC OF A DEAL: The Seafirst-UW deal is "drawing
scrutiny" from WA Auditor Brian Sonntag, who said his office
"is looking into whether the arrangement is a 'gift' or a
'sale of public assets.'" If the donation is found to be a
sale of public assets, restrictions could be placed on the
arena, including "the use of alcohol or even entertaining at
the building" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/5).
