A town on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula is seeking bids on the naming rights to its community centre, leaving the former hockey star who paid for his name to be on it feeling “disappointed.”
The contract for the naming rights for the Danny Cleary Harbour Grace Community Centre is set to expire this year. Last week, the town released a request for proposals for the naming rights.
Mayor Terry Barnes said a decade ago, Stanley Cup winner Danny Cleary “stepped up” and wanted to have his name on the new facility, signing a 10-year agreement to have his name on the centre.
“That 10 years is up now. And I guess he lived up to what he was supposed to do. So I guess he’s moved on to future endeavors,” Barnes told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.
Cleary grew up in Harbour Grace and was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, and went on to play for a number of other teams. In 2008, as part of the Detroit Red Wings, he became the first N.L. hockey player to win a Stanley Cup.
Barnes said the town has to put out an RFP for naming rights for someone else to put their name on the centre, adding it could still have “Danny Cleary” in the official name.
“We don’t know which way this is going to go,” he said, adding anyone can submit a proposal.
When the town posted it was taking in proposals to rename the centre, people responded with concern on social media. Barnes said nobody was denying Cleary did “great” by bringing the Stanley Cup to Harbour Grace.
Cleary said he’s “disappointed” the town has put the naming rights to tender and hopes there’s a way for his name to stay on the centre, as he believes it is inspiring to local kids.
“My name and that building represented like a shared history, a connection to home and something young players could look up to,” he told CBC News on Monday.
“But at the end of the day, whatever name goes on the building, nothing changes … where I came from, what we celebrated together in 2008 or how much I care about the kids following their own dreams on that ice.”
Cleary, seen here in 2013 while playing for the Detroit Red Wings, hopes there’s a way for the community centre to still have his name on it, (The Associated Press/Nam Y. Huh)
He said having his name on the centre has meant a great deal to him, adding in that period he’s contributed $50,000 to the community.
“To be honest, I feel like … I’ve done my part financially,” he said.
Bringing the Stanley Cup to the town and then having his name on the community centre was also about inspiring kids, said Cleary.
“Basically the whole point… for me, putting the name on there just showed that a dream like that was possible for someone from our community,” said Cleary.
According to the RFP, “the naming rights opportunity will showcase your commitment to our town, providing long-term visibility for your organization while making a positive impact on our recreational facilities and assets,” it reads.
Proposals, which must be a five-year minimum agreement, are due Nov. 13 at 4:30 p.m. NT.
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