Big Sandy putting name on West Va. civic arena
Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, January 20, 2003
Huntington, W.Va. — Big Sandy Superstores has bought the naming rights to the former Huntington Civic Arena.
Now called the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, the roughly 10,000-seat events center gives the 11-store chain a new promotional vehicle.
The Franklin Furnace, Ohio-based home furnishings retailer will pay $1.4 million over 10 years with a five-year option for the naming rights, said Robert Van Hoose, Big Sandy chairman. The Huntington City Council has approved the deal.
"We were looking to do something big for our 50th anniversary," which the company will be celebrating all this year, Van Hoose said.
"We're going to have top-of-mind awareness. There're only so many TV and radio spots you can buy."
The new name will go on three sides of the arena and will appear in all marketing materials.
Big Sandy plans to host a 50th anniversary concert there and expects to benefit from events this year, including a big high school basketball tournament.
"It will give us a variety of promotional opportunities," Van Hoose said.
Big Sandy is likely to make Furniture/Today's list of Top 100 furniture stores this year based on its 2002 furniture, bedding and accessory sales of about $61 million. In addition to 11 Big Sandy stores in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, the company operates eight affiliate stores as BrewBakers in Onaway, Mich.; and Great Buys Plus and Sofas N' Cinemas in Indiana.
