Mediacom buys naming rights for ice park, tennis complex

Springfield City Council on Monday night approved an agreement between the Springfield-Greene County Parks Board and Mediacom, selling the cable provider naming rights to Jordan Valley Ice Park and Cooper Tennis Complex Stadium.

The deal brings in $200,000 a year – $150,000 for the ice park and $50,000 for the tennis stadium – for 10 years. The parks department and Mediacom unveiled the new name during a ceremony this morning at the ice park.

Parks Director Jodie Adams told council Monday night that Mediacom came forward after the parks department sent out a request for proposals through Philadelphia-based Front Row Marketing Services, which specializes in venue advertising and naming rights sales.

Adams said discussion of naming rights has been ongoing since 1999, but work did not begin in earnest to secure a sponsor until the parks department took over management of the facility at the end of 2003.

“In 2005, we were able to acquire the services of Front Row, who analyzed our demographics, attendance, programs and events, as well as what the property’s name would be worth,” Adams told the council Monday. “In April 2007, the park board decided to move forward with negotiations (with Mediacom), and we are here tonight with a final agreement.”

Adams added that John and Harry Cooper, namesakes of Cooper Tennis Complex, are in favor of the agreement, with the intent that the $50,000 for the tennis stadium name will be reinvested in the tennis complex. The remaining $150,000 will go toward retiring the $9 million in debt for the ice park.

See SBJ’s May 26 issue for more City Council news.[[In-content Ad]]