The Warkworth Journal

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Municipality to auction naming rights to new sports facilities

Sponsorship deals with local businesses will help defray costs of the Flourish Campaign projects

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JASON ALDEAN IN CONCERT WARKWORTH FAIR WEEKEND!

Heres what new recreational facilities in Campbellford (left), Warkworth (right) and Hastings (below) could look like if the municipality goes ahead with plans to sell naming rights to them. The pictures of the facilities, which are part of the Flourish Campaign project, are artist renderings only. (Illustrations courtesy of Brent Townsend) CAMPBELLFORD The shovels aren't even in the ground yet, but the new recreational facilities proposed to be built in Campbellford, Hastings and Warkworth as part of the Flourish Campaign could soon have names for them. The Warkworth Journal has learned that Trent Hills municipal officials are planning an auction for naming rights to the exterior of the new arena in Campbellford, the Field House dome facility in Hastings, and the single-storey addition to be built onto the Warkworth Arena. Faced with the high cost of the massive Flourish project which is estimated to be $33-million the municipality is looking for any method of revenue generation to help defray construction costs. Following a time-proven model employed by stadium and arena owners and operators, the municipality will be turning to advertisers to help finance the projects. Michael Rutter, chief administrative officer of Trent Hills, told The Journal that selling naming rights is a win-win situation. We are always looking for new revenue streams, Mr. Rutter said in a recent interview. The money generated from the sale of naming rights will be signifilocal businesses (Sharpes cant and will aid us tremenFoodmart, Bennetts Home dously in funding for these Furnishings, Newmans new wonderful facilities. Insurance, Campbellford And its a nice opporChrysler, Drummonds, tunity for our future busiDoohers Bakery, Precision ness partners to increase Wood Inc. and Kens Stereo their branding and extend & TV) quickly contacted Mr. their visible support in the Rutter and expressed their region. keen interest in purchasing Mr. Rutter said he advertising rights. hadnt seriously thought That prompted Mr. about selling naming rights Rutter to call a special until he was recently apmeeting with other municiproached by local businesspal officials, including Comman Rene Boivin, owner of munity Services Officer Scott Renes Total Home Comfort Rose and Mayor Hec MacLtd. Mr. Boivin was inquiring millan, to discuss the best about the possibility of way to cash in on this buying the advertising rights potential windfall. to the new Wellness Centre According to Mr. Rutter, proposed to be it was Mayor Hec built in Campbellwho suggested ford. The Wellness conducting an aucCentre is the tion. crown jewel of The mayor basithe three new reccally said, if we reational projects in have business ownthe Flourish Camers falling all over paign, and will MIKE RUTTER themselves to fork feature a 5,500-seat out big money for arena, an aquatic centre, naming rights, then lets walking track, tennis courts hold an auction and give it and a spa. to the highest bidder the Mr. Rutter and Mr. Boivin more the merrier. tossed around some numMr. Rutter said bidding bers but there was no for the rights will probably formal deal presented by take place in a couple of Mr. Boivin, nor a letter of months. He also pointed out intent signed. that there will be certain When word spread in parameters attached to any Campbellford that the mudeal. nicipality was considering For starters, all businessselling naming rights, other es interested in bidding for

naming rights must be Trent Hills-based and have strong local connections. The leasing agreements will be 10year terms and the municipality will control all naming rights decisions. Finally, the winning bidders will be responsible for putting up their own signs. The first of the Flourish Campaign projects to be built is the field house dome in Hastings, which is slated for construction in November. The multi-functional facility will support field hockey, soccer and rugby and have a walking track and a fly-casting range. Sources tell The Journal that the La Gondola Restaurant, Hastings Foodmart, Doug Irvine Auto Service, Dodds Bowling Lanes, Reg Browns Auto Wreckers, Lock 18 General Store Inc. and Barts Bait & Tackle Shop are the front-runners for the naming rights to the dome. Meanwhile, in Warkworth, plans call for a huge addition to be built onto the existing Warkworth Arena. It will include a new front

entrance, a 400-seat banquet hall, four new dressing rooms and a Hooters Sports Pub. Among the businesses rumoured to be interested in bidding for the advertising rights to the Warkworth facility are Scotts Variety, Allens Insurance, D&E Campbell Trucking & Excavating Ltd., Warkworth Farm Supply, Don K. Clarke Construction, Metaphorhome and Wrench Brentons Auto Repair. Mr. Rutter also revealed that the municipality is considering selling advertising inside the new facilities for the lobby, dressing rooms, auditorium even washrooms. We will tap any source of revenue we can think of to help fund the Flourish project and provide additional cash flow going forward, Mr. Rutter said. Besides, I think it makes perfect business sense for someone like, say, Kirkland Plumbing, to have exclusive advertising rights to all the washrooms in one of our facilities.