The Predators and Bridgestone Americas on Thursday “announced a five-year extension for the Bridgestone Arena’s naming rights that will go through 2019,” according to Andy Humbles of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. The announcement came “less than two years into the existing five-year contract." One of the benefits to the continuing partnership between the two “could be bringing a National Hockey League All-Star Game to town, perhaps in two or three years.” Predators CEO Jeff Cogen said the team has “already had informal discussions with the NHL about hosting an all-star game for either the 2013-14 season or the 2014-15 season.” The Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas is the league’s official tire and “is the title sponsor of the popular Bridgestone Winter Classic.” The announcement of the extension “was made during a ceremony to commemorate the arena’s 15th anniversary” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/16). Terms of the agreement were not released (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/15).
NAME CHANGE: In Raleigh, David Bracken reported the Centennial Authority, owner and developer of the RBC Center, has “granted initial approval for the arena in West Raleigh to be renamed the PNC Arena.” The new naming-rights agreement is “expected to take effect in March, after Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group completes its $3.45 billion acquisition of Raleigh-based RBC Bank.” Any costs associated with renaming the arena “are the responsibility of the holder of the naming rights” (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 12/15).
