Empower secures naming rights for Amphitheater in $4 million deal

The Amphitheater at Lakeview has a new naming-rights holder. The venue is now called the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. In addition, Onondaga County and Live Nation also announced Oct. 20 that country music star Lainey Wilson will perform at the Amphitheater on June 21, 2024. (PHOTO CREDIT: JIM TROCCHIO @hurleyhurley)

GEDDES, N.Y. — Empower Federal Credit Union (FCU) now has its name on a venue that has hosted several high-profile music concerts in recent years and will again next summer. The credit union’s naming-rights sponsorship for the Amphitheater at Lakeview is a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $575,000, Chris Keller, chief marketing […]

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

GEDDES, N.Y. — Empower Federal Credit Union (FCU) now has its name on a venue that has hosted several high-profile music concerts in recent years and will again next summer.

The credit union’s naming-rights sponsorship for the Amphitheater at Lakeview is a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $575,000, Chris Keller, chief marketing officer for Empower Federal Credit Union, told CNYBJ in an email message. That puts the total value of the sponsorship at just over $4 million.

St. Joseph’s Health of Syracuse previously held the naming rights to the Amphitheater.

“Empower FCU was born and raised in the Salt City, and now is among the largest credit unions in New York, with over 250,000 members, over 600 employees and more than $3.2 billion in assets,” Ryan McIntyre, president and CEO of Empower Federal Credit Union, said in a news release. “The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview reflects a commitment to our Central New York roots by creating unique experiences for our members and the local community we serve.”

Country music star Lainey Wilson, who drew a record-setting crowd of 53,200 for her concert at the 2023 New York State Fair, will perform at the Amphitheater on Friday, June 21, 2024. Tickets for that show went on sale at livenation.com on Oct. 27.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) announced the new naming-rights holder and the upcoming Lainey Wilson concert on Oct. 20.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Empower Federal Credit Union on the next chapter for this beloved venue,” Jim Koplik, president of Live Nation’s Connecticut, and Upstate NY division, said. “This amphitheater is a favorite summer destination for music fans, and we look forward to our partnership with Empower FCU.”

Owned by Onondaga County, exclusively promoted by Live Nation, and managed by ASM Global, the Amphitheater at Lakeview opened in September 2015 and annually hosts more than 200,000 visitors.

Eric Reinhardt: