Hartford’s historic XL Center has been officially renamed
Hartford’s
historic XL Center has officially been renamed as part of a new multi-year naming rights partnership, according to an announcement Monday.
The sports and entertainment venue, which hosts the Hartford Wolf Pack, UConn basketball and hockey, concerts and other events, is now named PeoplesBank Arena.
The new 10-year partnership is between Oak View Group, or OVG, the Capital Region Development Authority, or CRDA, and PeoplesBank.
It comes as the venue is undergoing a $145 million transformation, set to be completed this fall, according to an OVG spokesperson. The renovations include seating area upgrades, the addition of lower-level luxury suites and the development of enhanced concession areas to improve guests’ experiences.
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Tom Senecal, CEO and chairman of PeoplesBank, said in a statement in part, “We believe in Hartford, and in Hartford’s promising future, and we look forward to participating in the economic rebirth and growth of the Arena neighborhood, the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut.”
According to Peter Lukko, co-chairman of Oak View Group, the new partnership is more than just about naming rights; “it’s a shared vision to deliver dynamic experiences, elevate the fan journey, and create lasting impact where it matters most: in the communities we serve.”
Dan Griffis, president of Global Partnerships for Oak View Group, added that it also represents a “deeper commitment to the growth, vitality and long-term success of our city.”
OVG Global Partnerships, the sponsorship and naming rights division of OVG, executed the partnership. According to the spokesperson, OVG “connects world-class brands with world-class live entertainment properties.”
Mike Freimuth, executive director of CRDA, noted that PeoplesBank has “stepped up and played a larger role in financing housing in the Hartford region in partnership with CRDA,” and that the name change reflects their commitment “to the central Connecticut marketplace while helping to refresh one of our premier entertainment venues.”
The venue first opened in 1975 as the Hartford Civic Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Exhibit Center, according to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office. It was renamed in 2007 after the insurance company XL Group purchased the naming rights. The XL Group held their contract for 17 years.
Nancy Macy, of Hartford, who has seen the evolution of the arena throughout the years, said this change was overdue.
“It sounds good. I mean, we want more basketball. We want more events, whatever it is. That is what sustains the restaurants, hotels,” Macy said.
Jeremy Howard, of Hartford, wants more infrastructure improvements around the city to support the guest experience and keep people near the arena.
“I think that it is good to bring people down here walking around, the problem with that is that there is no infrastructure for them to do anything. There is no real shopping,” Howard said. “There should be more infrastructure for people to do stuff, come out and stay in the city instead.”
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at
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Vallery Maravi is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at
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