One block from our downtown Everett office is the Xfinity Arena, home to the Silvertips and venue for concerts and other events. Before it was called the Xfinity Arena at Everett it was the Comcast Arena. Before that it was the Everett Events Center. Well, the naming rights are up for grabs again, and the Everett Public Facilities District is preparing to accept proposals for naming sponsorship of the venue, which seats over 8,000 people.
Currently, Xfinity has been paying $300,000 each year for the naming rights and an additional $150,000 per year for advertising and other benefits to the Everett PFD. Whether Xfinity renews its contract or some other company steps in, it is likely that the cost for the naming rights will go up as Everett continues to grow in population and wealth.
Nobody knows for sure who will get the naming rights, but it’s a safe bet that if you go to a Silvertips game next year it won’t be in the Law Offices of Matthew D. Dubin Arena. Maybe after 10 more years, when the naming rights again go up for grabs.