Goodbye Delta Center. Hello EnergySolutions Arena.
With an embattled Delta Air Lines struggling to emerge from bankruptcy and the prospect of a hostile takeover by US Airways, the Utah Jazz on Monday announced it was dropping the Delta Center name in favor of EnergySolutions Arena, effective today.
EnergySolutions is a Salt Lake-based company, formerly known as Envirocare, that disposes and recycles of low-level radioactive waste.
Financial terms of the 10-year deal were not disclosed. Naming deals for professional sports stadiums typically involve millions of dollars annually.
Dennis Haslam, president of the Utah Jazz, said it was important for the team to have a naming-rights partner that was a Utah-based company.
Haslam said several other companies were considered. EnergySolutions was not the first pick, but Haslam declined to say what other companies were contenders.
"This is a partnership we have been working on for some time," Haslam said. "EnergySolutions has the same kinds of ideals that we have. It's a very innovative company and progressive."
The Utah Jazz have played under the Delta name since 1991, when the arena was completed.
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