Image Credit: Bill Rand (CC BY 2.0)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have changed the name of their home arena from the Consol Energy Center to PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh Penguins fans were shocked to hear of the new naming rights deal considering the arena opened just six short years ago and already has it's second corporate naming rights sponsor.

The new naming rights deal comes as a result of Consol Energy's financial struggles and loss of more than $600 million in the second quarter of 2016 due to low prices from natural gas and coal. The original naming rights deal was estimated to be in the neighborhood of $105 for 21 seasons or $5 million per season. The terms of the previous sponsorship agreement was never officially confirmed nor has the new deal with PPG Paints. PPG Paints has committed to the naming rights of the venue until 2036, a 20 year deal. 

PPG Industries is a retailer and supplier in the painting industry and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where it employs more than 2500 people in the region. The company operates in more than 70 countries and is really trying to grow it's visibility throughout the United States. What better way to do that than to partner with the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions? Consol Energy will remain a partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization but on a much smaller scale. All three professional stadiums in the city of Pittsburgh are now named after local brands. The Pittsburgh Pirates play their home games at PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Steelers play their home games at Heinz Field.

Pittsburgh Penguins fans have already began toying with a new nickname for the arena. Many have already began referring to PPG Paints Arena as "The Paint Can". Not so many years ago, the Penguins played their home games at the historic Civic Arena which area fans referred to as "The Igloo" due to it's dome shaped roof. 

 

Reference:

• Pittsburgh CBS Local
• Post Gazette

  

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