Oshawa’s General Motors Centre becomes the Tribute Communities Centre Nov. 1

Calling it “the best kept secret the City has ever had,” Mayor John Henry welcomed the new sponsor at an Oct. 7 announcement, saying a fresh name will “re-energize” the facility.

When the facility opened in 2006, a 10-year, $1.6 million sponsorship deal was announced with General Motors Canada -- it expires Oct. 31.

Mayor Henry stressed that General Motors remains a major community partner, even if its name is no longer on the building.   

Steven Libfield, CEO of Tribute Communities, says the deal is a natural fit for the company, which has built more than 30,000 homes and condos across southern Ontario over the past 30 years.

“We like to be part of the fabric of the community,” he says.

The name on the outside of the building is expected to be changed towards the end of the month.

You might be interested in

{{type}}

{{title}}

• Dec 31, 1969
• Comments

{{type}}

{{title}}

• Dec 31, 1969
• Comments

Officials with Tribute and the City declined to disclose the dollar value of the new sponsorship deal.

However, Mayor Henry said it is “substantially more” than the deal with General Motors.

Back in 2006, the City was also tight-lipped on the details of the deal with General Motors, Oshawa This Week obtained confidential documents that detailed the terms.

GM shelled out $775,000 in cash rights over 10 years and an additional $872,000 in “indirect financial benefits.”

Since opening a decade ago, the downtown arena has hosted a long list of concerts and special events, including Elton John, Cirque du Soleil, Selena Gomez and weightlifting and boxing events during the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games.

The venue is also home to the Oshawa Generals and the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.