Council has voted to not open naming rights to the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC).
A committee report from Peterborough city staff at a Dec. 2nd General Committee meeting explored selling the naming rights, but voted against it after multiple councillors defended origin of the name.
City staff prepared the report after they received an unsolicited offer to purchase the rights for the city-owned building, which had never previously been for sale. Staff estimates that selling the rights could generate net revenues between $750 000-$1.5 million over a 10-year term.
Councillor Gary Baldwin gave an in-depth, and passionate, speech advocating for PMC retaining its name and declining sponsorship opportunities because of its importance to Peterborough’s history.
“It was an arena that was built by the community, for the community, as a memorial for the veterans,” said Baldwin. “It’s the Peterborough Memorial Community Centre and I think it should stay that way.”
