Lloydminster and District Co-op CEO, Peter Brown, was all smiles as he and Coun. Michael Diachuk announced the Co-op has committed $300K for a 10-year naming rights sponsorship for the new community rink at the Cenovus Energy Hub. The announcement was made prior to Friday’s Apex Automation Lakeland College Rustlers women’s ice hockey game against the SAIT Trojans. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
If it’s good for the community, it’s good for us.
That was the thinking behind the Lloydminster and District Co-op’s decision to secure 10-year naming rights on the soon-to-be-built community arena at the Cenovus Energy Hub through a $300K commitment.
The community rink, which will feature an NHL-sized indoor ice surface and seating for up to 500, will be the new home of the Apex Automation Lakeland College Rustlers women’s ice hockey team, among others, so it was only fitting the announcement was made prior to Friday’s Rustlers game against the SAIT Trojans.
“The (community arena) will be their new home, and it’s another great fit because we’re sponsors of the Rustlers, too,” said Co-op CEO Peter Brown.
“We’re super excited about it; it’s a real good partnership, to continue to sponsor the Rustlers, they’re going to have a new home; it’s going to be great.”
Brown also noted the timing of the sponsorship couldn’t have been better as this year marks 110 years of business for the Co-op.
“We’re a legacy company, and not many companies can talk about being 110 years old,” said Brown.
Coun. Michael Diachuk, who was in attendance on behalf of the City of Lloydminster, was over the moon after hearing the news.
“This is part of the fundraising process our team’s been involved in doing and you’ll see some stuff coming out in the near future around fundraising in filling the arena as part of our strategy, and this donation today from the Co-op is massive with $300K over 10 years,” said Diachuk.
“This goes a long way in achieving that goal.”
It’s not completely clear which other teams will call the new community arena home, but Diachuk noted they’re also looking at the AAA Steelers and the Junior B Bandits.
“If there’s others, and we have space and time available, we’re going to make sure the rink is as full and as used as possible,” he said.
The Cenovus Energy Hub’s primary arena will seat 2,500 with the possibility to expand to 4,500 for concerts and events using floor seating.
The Cenovus Energy Hub will also feature an outdoor ice surface.
