The Events Centre has been without a naming rights partner for over 18 months, but city administration says it has spoken with several companies and hopes to find a sponsor soon.
The Mosaic Company partnered with the City of Moose Jaw when the latter opened the Multiplex in 2011, with the venue known for a decade as Mosaic Place. The 10-year agreement was to expire in January 2022, but city hall convinced the potash company to extend the contract for another year while officials searched for a new partner.
City hall established an in-house naming rights committee in May 2021 that consisted of the mayor, city administration, and Spectra Venue Management Services, with the committee providing an update to council during the June 14, 2021, executive committee meeting with an in-camera — behind closed doors — report.
City administration presented this report in private because it contained information about sensitive ongoing negotiations.
City hall was unable to find a new sponsor during that extra year, so on Aug. 31, 2022, the contract expired and the venue became known as the Events Centre. Interestingly, municipal workers began removing all logos and signs pertaining to “Mosaic Place” earlier that month.
To find a new partner, on June 13, 2022, city council hired contractor Performance Sponsorship Group (PSG) for $29,000 and agreed to provide a commission of 20 per cent every year of the new agreement.
After council originally discussed this issue, residents involved in the original fundraising for the Multiplex came forward and asked if they could help instead of giving a 20-per-cent commission to a contractor. The committee met with those stakeholders, shared ideas and decided to take another run at finding a naming sponsor.
Despite its best efforts, this larger group was unsuccessful, so on Dec. 12, 2022, council re-hired PSG for $29,000 and a 20-per-cent commission.
City hall said very little about this issue for more than a year, but following the March 11, 2024 regular council meeting, city manager Maryse Carmichael updated the media about this situation.
“We’ve had a number of leads over the last few months. I’m really hoping now that with the announcement (on March 8) with the world’s curling (tournament coming here in 2025) that it will motivate some corporation or entity to come and have their name on this building and get international recognition,” she said, noting city administration is still working with PSG.
Carmichael agreed that the world curling championship would benefit the naming rights search campaign, pointing to the recent men’s Brier championship in Regina and how important sponsorship was for that event.
Based on a rumour it has heard, the media asked the city manager whether residents might soon be calling the Events Centre “CAE Stadium.”
CAE Inc. — formally Canadian Aviation Electronics — is a national manufacturer of simulation technologies, modelling
technologies and training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, health-care specialists, and defence customers. It is also a major contractor at 15 Wing Air Base.
In response, Carmichael said, “It could be CAE Arena, it could be a number of them, absolutely. It’s open; if anyone is interested, come see me. We’re actively looking … .”
The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 25.
