Another public building to offer naming rights

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Council agreed Monday to allow a sponsorship package which offers the naming rights for the new Uxpool to move ahead.

‍ ‍In a report by Amanda Ferraro, director of community services, council was told the prices of sponsorship offers range from $3 million for naming rights to the entire building down to $250 to have a name on a small circle on the donor wall. The report suggested naming rights for the facility's gymnasium should be set at $500,000 and the competitive pool at $300,000. Other sponsorships are available at lessening rates.

Ward 3 councillor Zed Pickering said he hopes the building is named for someone local. Regional councillor Bruce Garrod said it would be a benefit to the taxpayers.

Ferraro was asked if the sponsorship package means the facility will no longer be known as Uxpool. She said she hopes to keep the name in play.

Ferraro said it was hoped the sponsorship move would generate between $4.5 million and $5 million in donations to help offset the $16 million estimated cost of the construction. (In a later email to the Cosmos, Ferraro said the estimate as of March of this year is $17.2 million.)

She said the cost of the project is made up of $7,737,500 provincial funding, $7,496,343 municipal funding and a $2 million donation.

"With the donation, we were able to add a few improvements," she said. "Any new donations will assist us with making the municipal portion smaller and/or adding more featured improvements to the project."

In another matter also related to the pool, council passed a resolution allowing the Uxbridge Swim Club to install a new scoreboard and timing system (for which it has acquired funding) and to take it with them if the club leaves Uxpool. As part of the funding conditions, council had to approve both the board's installation and removal if necessary. Ferraro said there are no hints that the swim club is thinking of leaving.