The City of Grande Prairie is proud to announce a new 10-year naming rights agreement with Bonnetts Energy Corp. for the Downtown Events Centre & Arena.
With this new naming rights agreement, the Downtown Event Centre is being renamed to Bonnetts Energy Centre to be dedicated in early September.
"Bonnetts is proud to have been selected for the naming rights of the downtown arena, now known as Bonnetts Energy Centre. Being locally owned, Bonnetts is committed to supporting the Grande Prairie community. Grande Prairie is a special place to call home and Bonnetts Energy Centre will continue to grow with this great city and the good people in the area,” Murray Toews, Bonnetts CEO.
“We’re excited about this announcement, and its timing in the community. As COVID protocols allow us to re-open our doors to events and patrons from sporting events to concerts and trade shows, this new agreement is full of potential for creating a strong and vibrant future for the facility. We look forward to working with Bonnetts and continuing to be the premier destination for events and entertainment in the Peace Region,” Catherine Ridgeway, Events & Entertainment Manager.
Business branding through the agreement is being integrated through branding of the building, branded content (websites, social media, radio, tickets etc.), engagement marketing initiatives, customized activations to reach targeted audiences, and other City assets and initiatives.
The City issued a Request for Expression of Interest for Naming Rights of the Downtown Events Centre on March 23, 2021 and completed a competitive review to ensure access and fairness to all interested parties. The agreement aligns with Council’s priority to explore alternative revenue strategies by identifying opportunities for revenue generation outside the existing tax base.
The City of Grande Prairie thanks Revolution Auto Group for their successful partnership over the past 6 years.
About the Facility
The Downtown Events Centre and Arena is home to the AJHL Storm Hockey team and the largest concerts in the Peace Region.
On the arena side, there is seating capacity of 2939 for sporting events and over 4500 seats for concerts; the events centre side has 18,000 square feet of versatile event space with newly renovated outdoor space and capacity for 700 guests banquet style or 1400 with a concert set-up.
In 2019, the facility hosted 16 major concerts and 36 events ranging from trade shows, graduations, fundraisers, banquets, and more. In total, the facility welcomed 327,307 visitors.
About Bonnetts Energy Corp.
Bonnetts Energy Corp. is a well respected and established energy company operating in the Peace Region. In 2022, the company will be celebrating 50 years of service. Bonnetts Energy Corp. has supported the Grande Prairie region with countless jobs and philanthropic initiatives.
The Bonnetts Energy Corp. team, led by CEO Murray Toews, wanted to make a substantial commitment to the City of Grande Prairie for their 50th anniversary and consolidate their sponsorship efforts. The naming rights partnership exemplifies the company’s commitment to giving back to the community and their passion for the sport of hockey demonstrated through their avid support of the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm hockey team.
The City looks forward to the success of the partnership and the many opportunities for events and entertainment it supports for the Grande Prairie region.