Lenovo Buys Naming Rights To Raleigh's PNC Arena
Raleigh’s PNC Arena Is Set To Be Renamed After Lenovo Buys Naming Rights
Source: Bruce Bennett / Getty
Raleigh’s PNC Arena, home of the Carolina Hurricanes, NC State Men’s Basketball and Radio One Raleigh’s Women’s Empowerment Expo, is getting a new name.
As reported by WRALSportsFan, the Centennial Authority board, which owns the arena, voted unanimously on Thursday morning (Sept. 12) to approve tech giant Lenovo as the venue’s naming rights sponsor for the next decade.
Thus, the arena is now known as the Lenovo Center.
The $60 million deal is between the Hurricanes and Lenovo, but the Centennial Authority has to approve it.
“It demonstrates our commitment to the community and also our belief in the future of the entertainment district and of this arena,” said David Hamilton, Lenovo’s director of communications for North America.
Previously, RBC paid $80 million for a 20-year deal, starting in 2002. PNC Bank, which bought RBC and its assets in 2012, extended the deal through this year.
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The arena was originally named the Entertainment & Sports Arena (1999-2002), then RBC Center (2002-2012) and finally PNC Arena in 2012.
The deal with Lenovo, which has a corporate headquarters in Morrisville, will run through 2034.
The name change comes as the arena is preparing for a $300 million renovation and a massive redevelopment project around the arena.
