Officials held a news conference Friday to announce the deal that includes naming rights for the War Memorial Arena as the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial. Onondaga County, Upstate Medical University, and the Syracuse Crunch announced an 11-year sponsorship agreement worth more than $4.7 million. (Eric Reinhardt / CNYBJ)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Onondaga County War Memorial Arena has a new name — the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial.
Onondaga County, Upstate Medical University, and the Syracuse Crunch announced an 11-year sponsorship agreement that includes the naming-rights deal.
The sponsorship also includes health programming and Upstate’s continued sponsorship of the Syracuse Crunch.
Over 11 years, the total cost of the arena naming rights is $2,778,236 and the cost for the continued Crunch sponsorship portion is $2,022,594, the Syracuse Crunch said in a Friday news release.
The title sponsor of the Onondaga County War Memorial is the first in the building’s 68-year history.
Officials unveiled the deal during a press event inside the War Memorial on Friday afternoon.
About the deal
In addition to Upstate’s name on major exterior and interior signage, it will be used on websites, social-media outlets, tickets, television and radio broadcasts and other promotional materials. The agreement also includes a foundation established by the Crunch to support initiatives for veterans. The first-year cost for the naming rights portion of the agreement is $228,000.
The agreement also provides Upstate with year-round use of the venue as a site for health programming for the community and special-interest groups, such as veterans and youth.
The other element of the agreement is the continuation of an existing 15-year sponsorship between the Syracuse Crunch and Upstate.
It provides Upstate with opportunities to sponsor hockey games and related events to raise awareness of various health issues, such as “Shine A Light on Lung Cancer” and “Pink in the Rink” for breast cancer.
The deal also includes Upstate’s designation as the official hospital of the Syracuse Crunch. The first-year cost for the sponsorship package is $166,464.
The Crunch will also coordinate with the War Memorial subcommittee to make a monetary donation during each year of the naming-rights partnership to assist veterans with housing, in-home care, medical supplies, food, and continued education.
Building history
The Onondaga County War Memorial Arena opened in 1951 as a multi-purpose auditorium in the U.S.
In its history, the arena has hosted some of the most well-known musical acts from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and served as home to the NBA’s Syracuse Nationals, NLL’s Syracuse Smash, and several AHL franchises.
The building was designated as a state and national landmark in 1988 and received its first complete renovation in 1993 with the addition of The Oncenter.
In 2018, the War Memorial Arena received a major renovation, including the addition of six luxury suites, the premier All Who Served Club, a new scoreboard, and updates to the facility.
The Crunch have been the primary tenant of the venue since coming to Syracuse in 1994.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
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