TECO Arena Announces New Naming Rights Sponsor
Published on June 1, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
TAMPA, FL - TECO Arena management today announced a new naming rights sponsor. Arena President and General Manager Craig Brush announced that the arena's new name will be "Germain Arena," after Germain Motor Company, with Florida locations in Naples and Sarasota. Germain Motor Company also operates several dealerships in central Ohio and in 2003, purchased the naming rights to a large amphitheater in Columbus.
Commenting on the former TECO Arena, Bob Germain of Germain Motor Company said, "It's a beautiful facility with great visibility and we will be proud to have our name on it. But more than that, we're extremely excited about helping to promote the arena and the events that take place there."
TECO Energy's Peoples Gas unit purchased the arena naming rights in 1999. Serving more than 300,000 customers throughout most of Florida's major metropolitan areas, Peoples Gas has invested millions of dollars in capital improvements for pipeline expansion allowing residents of Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties to have the opportunity to use natural gas service. TECO Arena was an important marketing tool to introduce the Peoples Gas and TECO Energy brand to the southwest Florida market.
Germain Automotive approached TECO Energy in 2003 to see if there was any interest by the company in stepping out of the long-term naming rights contract. Such inquiries are not unusual. Because TECO Energy has quickly become an established brand in Southwest Florida the company decided to step away from the agreement. The value of the new contract was not released.
"The arena has been an important part of the expansion of our natural gas business into Southwest Florida," said Peoples Gas president Bill Cantrell. "Since that time we have successfully established our company and our services in the community. We have had a great relationship with the arena management and we look forward to continuing to provide superior gas service to our customers in Southwest Florida."
Arena President and General Manager Craig Brush added, "We have a very positive relationship with TECO Energy. Now, with Germain, we will continue providing sports, leisure and other enjoyable activities as Southwest Florida's premiere entertainment venue."
TECO Energy is a diversified energy-related holding company headquartered in Tampa. Its principal businesses are Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas System, TECO Wholesale Generation, TECO Transport, TECO Coal and TECO Solutions.
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