The former U.S. Cellular Coliseum in downtown Bloomington, IL, has a new naming-rights partner effective immediately, as the venue will now be known as Grossinger Motors Arena.
Grossinger Motors, a local car dealership, purchased naming rights for the next five years, at $175,000 per year. In addition, Grossinger Motors will have an option for an additional five-year deal.
U.S. Cellular, which withdrew from the market, declined to renew its naming-rights deal when it expired last year.
The deal was negotiated by the arena management firm, VenuWorks. From the Bloomington Pantagraph:
Grossinger representatives, at a news conference at the arena Thursday afternoon, said the partnership allows the company to strengthen its ties to the Twin City community.
Grossinger has operated a Twin City dealership, at 1430 Fort Jesse Road, for four years and has operated out of the Chicago area for more than 90 years.
“This is an enormous investment from Grossinger Motors’ point of view,” said Caroline Grossinger. “We were very excited to become a partner in the community and become more involved with the arts and the sports and the overall community.”
She and her brother, Gary, are co-owners of the family-operated business that has 18 auto franchises under 11 different roof tops primarily located in the Chicago area.
The arena is home to the Bloomington Thunder (USHL).
