United Wireless Buys Naming Rights To Dodge City Events Center

United Wireless has offered to pay at least $60,000 a year to have its name linked to Dodge City’s new events center.

The Ford County Commission voted 2-0 Monday to approve the company’s naming-rights proposal for the complex. Commissioner John Swayze was absent.

Commission Chairman Kim Goodnight said he was satisfied with the proposal.

The proposal was also submitted to the Dodge City Commission, which was scheduled to consider it Monday night.

The contract calls for United Wireless to pay Global $60,000 this year and $62,400 in 2011. The amount increases each year of the 10-year contract, ending with an $86,219 payment for 2020.

The United Wireless name and logo will appear on the building face and on the east and west side. In addition, the name and logo will appear on exterior signs and all promotional materials for the events center, including clothing, advertising and tickets.

The company will also enjoy exclusive marketing rights within the building for cable, telephone, Internet and wireless service.

The arena’s name will appear on the ice surface until Global finds a tenant team, according to the contract. Once the team is found, its name will appear on the ice, surrounded by the arena name.

The payments will go into a city-managed fund, and the money will be used to defray the events center’s operating costs