Downtown Omaha’s arena is about to receive a new name, as officials have approved a naming-rights agreement for CHI Health Center Omaha.
Home to Creighton men’s basketball and used for other events, the arena has been known as CenturyLink Center Omaha. Earlier this year, Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) board members revealed that they would shop naming rights for the arena, a move that came as CenturyLink’s 15-year naming-rights agreement approached its expiration.
CHI Health is now set to assume the naming rights, under an agreement approved by MECA board members on Wednesday. The 20-year pact begins later this year. More from the Omaha World-Herald:
CHI Health bought the naming rights under a 20-year agreement worth $23.6 million.
The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority board voted 3-0 on Wednesday to approve the deal. MECA board chairwoman Diane Duren and board members Jay Noddle and Tom Kelley voted to approve the agreement.
Board members Susie Buffett and Dana Washington were absent.
Headquartered in Omaha, CHI Health is part of Catholic Health Initiatives, a national nonprofit health system based in the Denver area.
The CHI Health Center Omaha name takes effect on September 1 of this year. The venue originally opened in 2003.
Image courtesy CHI Health.
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