The Robron turf field is getting a new name as city council has approved selling naming rights to the venue.
At its Monday meeting, council agreed to enter into an agreement with aquaculture company Cermaq Canada Ltd. which is headquartered in Campbell River.
In exchange for $100,000 to the city, the Robron field will bear Cermaq’s name.
“Under the agreement, the city will provide Cermaq with naming rights to the field for a period of 10 years with an option to renew for a further 10-year period,” said Elle Brovold, the city’s property manager.
“The funding amount for the renewal term will be negotiated between the parties at the end of the first term.”
Brovold said the agreement also allows Cermaq to put up signage on the field.
“Cermaq will be responsible for the costs associated with the signage (installation, maintenance, replacement etc.) and must obtain the city’s written approval of the signage,” Brovold said.
The agreement is set to go into effect in April and run until April, 2027.
During that time, the field will be known as Cermaq Turf, as requested by Cermaq.
In exchange, Cermaq will make three payments to the city.
The first $50,000 will be paid on March 21 of this year, with $25,000 payments each on March 1, 2018 and on March 1, 2019.
The funds are to be used to help Campbell River Youth Soccer Association build a field house at Robron Park.
The field house is to be constructed at the south end of the turf field and include change rooms, public washrooms, wheelchair access, a concession, a multi-purpose banquet room, a board room and wrap-around deck that overlooks the Robron play fields.
The field house has been a community effort with several groups, including Rotary, donating to the project.
Seymour Pacific has chipped in detailed plans and building materials while the city has committed $408,000 to pay for the installation of site services, the change rooms and public washrooms.
Cermaq’s sponsorship is just the latest.
At Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Andy Adams thanked Cermaq for investing in the community, as did Coun. Colleen Evans at a November council meeting when youth soccer first put forward Cermaq’s proposal.
“Here is a great example of collaboration, community building seen between two partners. That really is just so important,” Evans said.
“You need to have that community investment and to see a corporation committing to Campbell River in this way, I just want to say thank you very much for your commitment.”
Meanwhile, Campbell River Youth Soccer is hoping to begin construction on the field house this year but that will depend on the city which is facing a busy year full of capital projects.
Once the field house is constructed it will be turned over to the city for ownership and operation.
The city has projected an annual operations budget of $75,000 which includes maintenance and operations staff, security and utilities such as electrical, water, heat and insurance.
