General Motors Centre Naming Rights Update.

A source told me that GM has not payed for this years naming rights, and are also late paying for next years naming rights, thus owing about 140,000$ to the city.

I would guess that the building would be renamed at the end of the season. I can't see GM coming up with the money anytime soon.

With the Economy bad, will the city find a sponsor willing to foot the bill? or will we go with something neutral for the time being?

If there wasn't a sponsor what would be a reasonable name until one is found?

how about the bobby orr centre would be a good choice for a new name i think.

i like it but it won't happen

1) when the economy turns around they will want to rename it agian to make money, thats pretty classless to dedicate the building and then change the name

2) Orr hates money being made off his name

Arenas with sponsored names change all the time. Steelback Breweries was the sponsor for the arena in the Soo but the name changed after the brewery filed for bankruptcy protection.

It was really great for Oshawa to have a sponsor that was not just some company that was advertising but a company with a historic link with the city's growth and development - something people can really identify with. GM is now faced with a situation where the very survival of the company is at risk. They have to logically cut back on advertising.

The arena needs to find a new sponsor if GM isn't paying. Its budget is assuming that revenue from naming rights is in place. If GM isn't able to renew, somebody else will. Unfortunately, I don't know of any company out there that will give the arena an identity in the same way that GM did. In all likelihood, if there is a new sponsor, it won't be as popular a name.