Exterior View of Rogers Place, Home of the Edmonton Oilers

Naming rights deals for stadiums and arenas are one of the safest and steadiest forms of long term revenue for professional sports teams. With the explosion of the National Hockey League's popularity over the last ten or so years, fans can expect to see the naming rights agreements for NHL arenas to become larger and larger both in incentive and length. 

The only two NHL arenas that haven't sold their home arena's naming rights to an outside corporation are Madison Square Garden (New York Rangers) and Joe Louis Arena (Detroit Red Wings). However, in 2017, the Detroit Red Wings will begin playing in their brand new home arena, Little Caesar's Arena in downtown Detroit.

Here are the most expensive naming rights deals in the NHL to date.

 

The Honda Center, Home of the Anaheim Ducks

1. Honda Center, Home of the Anaheim Ducks.

Honda, an automobile manufacturer, purchased the naming rights to the Anaheim Ducks' home arena in 2005. The sponsorship agreement will expire in 2020 and will pay the Anaheim Ducks $60.45 million or just over $4 million per season.  

 

 

Gila River Arena, Home of the Arizona Coyotes

2. Gila River Arena, Home of the Arizona Coyotes.

Gila River Casinos, which are controlled by the Gila River Native American community, purchased the naming rights to the Arizona Coyotes home arena in 2014. The Arizona Coyotes organization terminated the naming rights agreement they had with Jobing.com at the time. Although the financial terms of the Gila River naming rights deal were not disclosed, experts suggest that the agreement is worth more than the $30 million, ten year agreement the Coyotes had with Jobing.com. The naming rights agreement with Gila River Casinos will expire in 2023. 

 

 

The TD Banknorth Garden, Home of the Boston Bruins

3. TD Banknorth Garden, Home of the Boston Bruins.

TD Bank, which is headquartered in Maine, purchased a 20 year naming rights agreement with the Boston Bruins in 2005. The Bruins' sponsorship agreement with TD Bank expires in 2025 and pays $119.1 million or $5.95 million per season. The agreement is currently the fourth largest naming rights deal in the National Hockey League. The NBA's Boston Celtics also play their home games at the TD Garden. 

 

 

The First Niagara Center, Home of the Buffalo Sabres

4. KeyBank Center, Home of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres organization has fostered a number of naming rights changes for their home arena in downtown Buffalo. First Niagara Bank purchased the naming rights to the Sabres' home arena in 2011, a deal that is set to expire in 2026. Keybank, which is headquartered in Cleveland, has acquired First Niagara Bank and will continue making the payments on the sponsorship agreement. The arena's name will change to the Keybank Center for the 2016-2017 NHL season. 

 

 

Scotiabank Saddledome, Home of the Calgary Flames

5. Scotiabank Saddledome, Home of the Calgary Flames.

Scotiabank, a Canadian multinational bank, purchased the naming rights to the Calgary Flames' home arena in 2010. The naming rights deal will expire in 2030 and will pay the Calgary Flames organization $20 million or $1 million per season. The arena was formerly known as the Pengrowth Saddledome; the term "saddledome" refers to the unique shape of the venue. The ownership group of the Flames are currently pushing for the construction of a brand new arena in downtown Calgary. 

 

 

PNC Arena, Home of the Carolina Hurricanes

6. PNC Arena, Home of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Banking giant PNC Bank took over the naming rights to the Carolina Hurricanes' home arena in 2011 when it bought out the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). The original RBC Arena sponsorship agreement was a 20 year deal that began in 2002 and will expire in 2022. The financial terms for the PNC Arena deal were $80 million or $4 million per season. PNC also owns the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Pirates home ballpark, PNC Park

 

 

The United Center, Home of the Chicago Blackhawks

7. United Center, Home of the Chicago Blackhawks.

United Airlines has owned the naming rights to the Madhouse on Madison since the arena was erected.  In 2014, United Airlines and the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls renewed their partnership for another 20 years. The financial terms of the sponsorship agreement were not disclosed to the public. Journalists close to the team estimate that the naming rights deal will pay out $100 million total or $5 million per season. 

 

 

The Pepsi Center, Home of the Colorado Avalanche

8. Pepsi Center, Home of the Colorado Avalanche.

PepsiCo Inc. purchased the naming rights to the Pepsi Center in 1999. The sponsorship agreement will expire in 2019 at a cost of $68 million total or $3.4 million per season. The Pepsi Center is also home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.

 

 

Nationwide Arena, Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets

9. Nationwide Arena, Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is a financial services company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company purchased the naming rights to the Columbus Blue Jackets' home arena in 2000 when the venue opened. The naming rights deal is the only sponsorship agreement with no expiration date. Nationwide Insurance paid $135 million for the naming rights and is also a majority owner of the team.  

 

 

The American Airlines Center, Home of the Dallas Stars

10. American Airlines Center, Home of the Dallas Stars.

American Airlines purchased the naming rights for the American Airlines Center in 2000. The deal is a 30 year agreement that will expire in 2030 and is worth $195 million or $6.5 million per season. The American Airlines Center is home to the Dallas Stars as well as the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

American Airlines purchased the naming rights to the American Airlines Center in 2000. The 30 year agreement expires in 2030 and pays out $195 million or $6.95 million per season.  The partnership will also be one of the longest running naming rights deals in professional sports. The deal is the second largest naming rights deal in the National Hockey League at the moment. 

 

 

Rogers Place, Home of the Edmonton Oilers

11. Rogers Place, Home of the Edmonton Oilers.

Rogers Place is the newest arena in the National Hockey League. Rogers Communications is a telecommunications company based in Toronto and the company purchased the naming rights to the Edmonton Oilers' home arena in 2013, three years before it's opening. The financial terms of the deal is unknown to the public. Rogers Communications also owns the naming rights to the home stadiums of the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Blue Jays.

 

 

The BB&T Center, Home of the Florida Panthers

12. BB&T Center, Home of the Florida Panthers.

BB&T Bank of Winston-Salem, North Carolina took over the naming rights to the Florida Panthers' home arena in 2012 when it bought out BankAtlantic. BankAtlantic was a banking system headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The financial terms of the deal are unknown, however, experts close to the franchise suggest that the sponsorship agreement pays the Florida Panthers just under $4 million per season. 

 

 

The Staples Center, Home of the Los Angeles Kings

13. Staples Center, Home of the Los Angeles Kings.

Staples, a nationwide chain that sells office supplies, purchased the naming rights to the Staples Center in 1999. The 20 year agreement was in the sum of $116 million or $5.8 million per season. At the time, the sponsorship agreement was the largest in NHL history. It is the only arena in professional sports to host three different teams. Both the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers play their home games at the Staples Center as well. 

 

 

Xcel Energy Center, Home of the Minnesota Wild

14. Xcel Energy Center, Home of the Minnesota Wild.

Xcel Energy is a utility holding company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company purchased the naming rights to the Minnesota Wild's home arena in 1999. The company signed a 25 year naming rights deal that will expire in 2024 and was worth $75 million or $3 million per season.  

 

 

The Bell Centre, Home of the Montreal Canadiens

15. Bell Centre, Home of the Montreal Canadiens.

Bell Canada is a telecommunications company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company has owned the naming rights to the Montreal Canadiens' home arena since 2003. The sponsorship agreement will expire in 2023 and is worth $63.94 or $3.2 million per season.  

 

 

Bridgestone Arena, Home of the Nashville Predators

16. Bridgestone Arena, Home of the Nashville Predators.

Bridgestone America's Inc., a manufacturing company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, purchased the naming rights to the Nashville Predators' home arena in 2009. The current naming rights deal for Bridgestone Arena will expire in 2019. Although the financial terms of the current sponsorship agreement were not disclosed to the public, experts speculate that the deal pays the Predators a sum in the neighborhood of $2.5 million per season. The arena was previously called the Sommet Center.

 

 

The Prudential Center, Home of the New Jersey Devils

17. Prudential Center, Home of the New Jersey Devils.

Prudential Financial, a life insurance company headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, purchased the naming rights to the New Jersey Devil's home arena in 2007. The NBA's New Jersey Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets, played their home games at the Prudential Center for a brief period of time before relocating to Brooklyn. The naming rights deal for the Prudential Center is one of the most expensive naming rights deals in NHL history. The agreement will expire in 2027 and is worth $105.3 million total or $5.26 million per season. 

 

 

The Barclays Center, Home of the New York Islanders

18. Barclays Center, Home of the New York Islanders.

Barclays, a financial services company based in Britain, purchased the naming rights to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for $200 million in 2012. The current sponsorship agreement will expire in 2032 and will pay $10 million per season. The Barclays naming rights deal is the most expensive naming rights deal in the National Hockey League today. However, the New York Islanders are currently in the process of seeking yet another home arena in the New York City metro area. 

 

 

The Canadian Tire Centre, Home of the Ottawa Senators

19. Canadian Tire Centre, Home of the Ottawa Senators.

Canadian Tire is an automotive parts and services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company purchased the naming rights agreement to the Ottawa Senators' home arena in 2013. The eight year naming rights deal for the Canadian Tire Centre will expire in 2021 and pays in the neighborhood of $1.5-$2 million per season. The exact financial terms of the sponsorship agreement are unknown to the public. Scotiabank, also headquartered in Toronto, previously owned the naming rights to the arena.  

 

 

The Wells Fargo Center, Home of the Philadelphia Flyers

20. Wells Fargo Center, Home of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Wells Fargo, a financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, acquired the naming rights to the Wells Fargo Center in 2008. The company acquired the naming rights via a buyout of Wachovia, a competing financial services company. Wachovia's original naming rights deal with the Philadelphia Flyers began in 1994 and is set to expire in 2023 and pays a total of $40 million or $1.38 million per season. The partnership is one of the longest running sponsorship agreements in the National Hockey League.

 

 

The Consol Energy Center, Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins

21. Consol Energy Center, Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Consol Energy is a coal and natural gas production company based in Pennsylvania. The company purchased the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Penguins' home arena in 2010. The exact financial terms of the agreement is unknown to the public. However, we do know that Consol Energy paid in the ballpark of $84-$105 million total or $4-$5 million per season. It is also one of the most expensive naming rights deals in the National Hockey League today. 

 

 

The SAP Center at San Jose, Home of the San Jose Sharks

22. SAP Center at San Jose, Home of the San Jose Sharks.

SAP SE is a German software company. SAP SE purchased the naming rights to the San Jose Sharks' home arena in 2013. The sponsorship agreement is one of the smallest naming rights deals in professional sports in regards to length. The five year deal will expire in 2018 and will pay the San Jose Sharks $16.75 million or $3.35 million per season. 

 

 

The Scottrade Center, Home of the St. Louis Blues

23. Scottrade Center, Home of the St. Louis Blues.

Scottrade, a discount brokerage firm, purchased the naming rights to the St. Louis Blues' home arena in 2006. Savvis, an information technology company, terminated the sponsorship agreement with the St. Louis Blues prematurely in 2005. The financial terms of the naming rights deal Scottrade signed with the Blues is unknown to the public. There is strong possibility that TD Ameritrade will purchase Scottrade and once again, rename the arena in 2017.

 

Amalie Arena, Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning

24. Amalie Arena, Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Amalie Oil Company is an oil manufacturing company based in Tampa, Florida. Amalie Oil purchased the naming rights to the home arena of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014. The exact terms of the sponsorship agreement are unknown to the public. However, league experts suggest that the deal is worth $1-$2 million per season for 15-30 years. The arena was previously known as the Tampa Bay Times Forum. 

 

 

The Air Canada Centre, Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs

25. Air Canada Centre, Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Air Canada is the largest airline in Canada and the company purchased the naming rights to the Air Canada Centre in 1995. Between 1995 and 2015, Air Canada paid $30 million for the naming rights or $1.5 million per season. The Air Canada Centre is also home to the NBA's Toronto Raptors.

 

 

Rogers Arena, Home of the Vancouver Canucks 

26. Rogers Arena, Home of the Vancouver Canucks.

Rogers Communications of Toronto, purchased the naming rights to the Vancouver Canucks' home arena in 2010 after General Motors declared bankruptcy in 2009. The naming rights deal for Rogers Arena will expire in 2020 and is worth $60 million or $6 million per season. Rogers Communications also owns the naming rights to the home stadiums of the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Blue Jays. 

 

 

Verizon Center, Home of the Washington Capitals

27. Verizon Center, Home of the Washington Capitals.

Verizon, a telecommunications company headquartered in New Jersey, purchased the naming rights to the Washington Capitals' home arena in 1997. The 20 year sponsorship agreement will expire in 2017 and is worth $44 million total or $2.2 million per season. The Verizon Center is also home to the NBA's Washington Wizards

 

 

The MTS Centre, Home of the Winnipeg Jets

28. MTS Centre, Home of the Winnipeg Jets.

Manitoba Telecom Services, a telecommunications company headquartered in Winnipeg, purchased the naming rights to the Winnipeg Jets' home arena in 2003. The Winnipeg Jets did not begin playing at the MTS Centre until 2011 when the team relocated from Atlanta, Georgia. The financial terms of the original sponsorship agreement are unknown. However, the naming rights deal has since been extended until 2021 with the option of extending until 2030. 

 

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