A change in ownership means a change in name for Salmon Arm’s Shaw Centre.
At its March 11 meeting, city council received a report from the Shuswap Recreation Society explaining Rogers Communications Inc. has asked that the Salmon Arm arena be renamed to reflect the company’s acquisition of Shaw, finalized in April 2023. Rogers has proposed a new name, Rogers Rink that is supported by the recreation society.
Council offered no comment, though Coun. David Gonella asked if costs for new signage at the arena would be covered by the city. He was informed it would be covered by Rogers.
In September 2018, the Shuswap Recreation Society and the City of Salmon Arm extended an agreement with Shaw for the naming rights of the arena until August 2035.
“The total of the agreement will see a contribution of $787,486 from Shaw to the Society and City in exchange for recognition throughout the facility, specifically in facility signage,” reads a report to council by Shuswap Recreation Society operations manager David Knight.
Regarding the proposed name, Knight said it falls within Rogers’ “approved naming conventions and does not conflict with other facilities that Rogers is involved with for naming rights.
In March 2021, Rogers announced an agreement with Shaw to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Shaw through a court-approved plan of arrangement. The merger was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with conditions in March 2022.
Rogers CEO and president Tony Staffieri called the April 2023 completion of the merger a “momentous day for our customers, who will benefit from the latest services and network technology…”
Read more: Rogers extends deadline to close $26-billion takeover of Shaw to Dec. 31
Read more: Ottawa gives final approval for Rogers $26B purchase of Shaw
