If approved, the former Revolution Place would be renamed the Bonnetts Energy Centre (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

Bonnetts Energy Centre

Committee recommends council approve new naming partner for Downtown Events Centre

Aug 8, 2021 | 9:06 AM

The City of Grande Prairie’s Community Services Committee is recommending council approve the renaming of the Downtown Events Centre and Arena to the Bonnetts Energy Centre.

This comes as city administration agreed to a deal with Bonnetts Energy Corporation to rename the former Revolution Place, which now requires City Council’s approval to officially ratify.

While no financial terms of the deal were disclosed in the meeting, Events Manager Jade Nyland told the committee on Tuesday that the deal they came to was “fair and on par with what other municipalities would be looking (for)”, after they had consulted with other municipalities and sponsorship leaders across the country following a lengthy procurement process.

“This would be a 10-year commitment, with the opportunity to renew, and we are excited for what the next 10 years holds,” Nyland told the committee Tuesday.

“The timing couldn’t be better, as we remain positive and look forward to reviving the facility post-pandemic and making Grande Prairie the entertainment destination of the north.”

The city opened the procurement process in search of a new name for the venue back in March, after the deal signed by the Revolution Auto Group in 2014 had lapsed in July of 2020.

Bonnetts has been operating in the oil and gas sector in the Peace Region since it began operations in Fort St. John in 1972. The company is now headquartered in Grande Prairie.

“We’re confident Bonnetts Energy is the right fit for the naming rights of the Downtown Events Centre,” Nyland added.

Bonnetts has ties to the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm, the venues main tenant, as company President and CEO Murray Toews also serves as the President of the Storm.

Nyland told committee that should council approve the renaming at August 9’s meeting, they are prepared to begin the transition of signage, marketing and the website right away.

She said they hoped to have the full transition in place by September 1.

The venue, built in 1995 in time for the Canada Games, holds 2,939 seats for sporting events and over 4,500 seats for concerts, as well as an 18,000 square foot Bowes Events Centre.