2017-064 Naming RightsDate: September 8, 2017 Report No. 064
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Overview of Facility Naming Rights
BACKGROUND:
At the July 18, 2017 Council meeting, Council Member Gregory requested information about
naming rights agreements for municipal facilities.
DISCUSSION:
Staff found that other cities in the metroplex are entering into naming rights agreements with
corporations to advertise on municipal facilities. Typically these facilities are parks type facilities
(theaters, music halls, parks, water parks). Staff did not find that other cities had policies
promoting the pursuit of funding through naming rights, but found in some instances, like Grand
Prairie, cities were including funding opportunities in their request for proposals.
Attachment 1 describes the terms of other city’s naming rights agreements. These agreements are
between $86,400 and $150,000 annually for typically 5 to 10 years. In certain circumstances, a
city will lease a facility giving the naming rights to the lessee without the cities receiving
revenue from those agreements. This is the case with both Dallas and Grand Prairie for the
Starplex Pavillion, formerly the Gexa Energy Center, and the Verizon Theater respectively.
The City currently has a naming policy guideline that was last updated in 2012 (Attachment 2).
Under these guidelines, if a naming rights opportunity were to present itself staff would be able
to bring forth a proposal to City Council for approval.
Staff is seeking direction from Council on being proactive in pursuing naming rights agreements
for city facilities.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Naming Rights Survey
2. City of Denton Naming Policy Guidelines
STAFF CONTACT:
Mario Canizares
Assistant City Manager
Mario.Canizares@cityofdenton.com
940-349-8535
Cities Type Facility Name Corporate Sponsor Length Total Contract Amount CommentsGrand Prairie TheaterVerizon Theatre at Grand PrairieAEG Live‐‐Lease facility to AEG. AEG holds naming rights.Grand Prairie WaterparkEpic Waters‐‐250,000$ Pricing listed in RFP (annually). No contract awarded currently.Dallas Amphitheatre Starplex Pavilion Live Nation‐‐Leased facility to Live Nation. Live Nation holds naming rights.Lewisville Park and Athletic Fields Lone Star Toyota of Lewisville Railroad ParkLone Star Toyota of Lewisville 10 years 1,500,000$ Lewisville TheaterMedical City Lewisville Grand TheaterMedial City Lewisville 10 years 750,000$ Richardson TheaterEisemanm Center‐ Bank of America TheatreBank of America In Perpetuity1,250,000$ Lubbock Coliseum City Bank Coliseum City Bank 5 year432,000$ Contract ended March 2017.Naming Rights Survey
s:Uegal\our documentslresolutions\121naming policy guidelines for city buildings, facilities, land or any portion thereo£doc
RESOLUTION NO. 012-7
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING NAMING POLICY GUIDELINES FOR CITY
BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, LAND OR ANY PORTION THEREOF; REPEALING
RESOLUTION NO. R2007-035; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Denton desires to amend the policy guidelines for naming City
buildings, facilities, land, or any portion thereof; and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it in the public interest to adopt the revised policy;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY RESOLVES:
SECTION l. The revised City of Denton Naming Policy Guidelines for City Buildings,
Facilities, Land or any Portion TheNeof, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof for all
purposes, is hereby approved and adopted.
SECTION 2. All policies inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, including without
limitation, Resolution R2007-035.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval. ,
PASSED AND APPROVED this the
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
BY:
APPR ED A TO LEGAL FORM:
ANITA BURGESS, CITY ATTORNEY
R ;
BY: 'i ,to1. Q
CITY OF DENTON NAMING POLICY GUIDELINES
FOR CITY BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, LAND, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF
I. GENERAL
These policy guidelines are intended to address naming opportunities when a citizen,
group, or organization submits a nomination to name a City building, facility, land, or
any portion thereof. The City Council may initiate the naming of any building, facility,
land, or any portion thereof at its discretion and may apply the following guidelines in
Council initiated naming. The Council may choose to waive any part of this guideline by
three fourth's vote of the entire City Council. These policy guidelines do not address the
naming of streets, fire or police stations, or naming based on advertising.
II. DEFI1vITIONS
Citv Buildings. City owned facilities which are open to the public and used to conduct
City business. Buildings may include, but are not limited to, City Halls, civic/community
centers, conference/convention centers, public libraries, and public utility
buildings/structures.
Citv Facilities. City owned structures, amenities, or features, which are open to the
public and used for City business, or public attractions of any kind, including, but not
limited to, athletic fields, bridges, fountains, gymnasiums, library collections and/or
department's interior and exterior spaces, meeting rooms, picnic shelters, playground
equipment, recreation facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and basketball courts.
Citv Land. Real estate owned and/or managed by the City, including park property
or other open space areas.
Funded Pro.iect. Any project that the City has fully funded prior to the start of
construction.
Non-Funded Proiect. Any project that the City wishes to construct, but for which it
lacks designated funding.
III. NAMING OF A CITY BUILDING, FACILITY, LAND, OR ANY PORTION
THEREOF AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL
It is intended that all the criteria in this section be satisfied when considering naming a
City facility, building, land, or any portion thereof after an individual.
A. Naming After an Individual
1. The individual must be deceased at least five (5) years; and
2. The individual must have been a resident of the City of Denton; and
3. The individual must be of good moral character and must not have been
convicted of a felony, or Class A or B misdemeanor; and
4. The individual should have made exceptional contributions to the City of
Denton, the State of Texas, or the United States of America; and the individual's
achievements should represent a lasting legacy to the mission of the City building,
facility, land, or any portion thereof.
B. Naming After an Individual Who Performed Outstanding or Heroic Service
Buildings, facilities, land, or any portion thereof may also be named in memory of
individuals who died in the line of duty serving the City of Denton, the State of
Texas, or the United States of America; or died performing a heroic act, such as
saving the life of another person; or a deceased individual who has made a
significant and lasting contribution to humanitarian causes on a world or national
level. In these instances as appropriate, the City may elect to obtain or attempt to
make contact for approval from living family members of the individual
recommended for having a City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof
named in their honor.
C. Naming After a Foundation, Business, or Organization
1. If consideration is given to naming a City building, facility, land, or any portion
thereof after a foundation, business, or organization, the foundation, business, or
organization considered should have made exceptional local, state, national, or
world contributions; and their achievements should represent a lasting legacy to
the mission of the City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof.
2. In selected instances, a City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof may
be named after a foundation, business, or organization that makes a unique and
extraordinary contribution to the development and or usage of the City building,
facility, land, or any portion thereof being named. The merits and value of each
such naming shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
IV. NAMING A CITY BUILDING, FACILITY, LAND, OR ANY PORTION
THEREOF THROUGH FUND RAISING OR BY PURCHASING NAMING
RIGHTS
1. Any individual for which a City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof
may be named, must be of good moral character and must not have been
convicted of a felony, or Class A or B misdemeanor. Any foundation, business, or
organization must be compliant with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
2. A City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof may be named as part of
a public fundraising campaign, donation, or by purchasing naming rights. The
City Council may approve other non-monetary donations for naming rights.
3. Naming rights for a funded project can be accepted at any point during
construction.
4. A funding agreement for the naming rights of a non-funded project must be in
place prior to start of construction.
5. The required donation to acquire the naming rights of a City building, facility,
land, or any portion thereof shall be substantial as determined by the City Council
on a case-by-case basis.
6. All funds contributed to naming a City building, facility, land, or any portion
thereof will be nonrefundable.
7. In the event a donor fails to meet the total required commitment, the City
Council may reconsider the naming of the City building, facility, land, or any
portion thereof.
8. It should not be assumed that a financial contribution guarantees that a City
building, facility, land, or any portion thereof will be named after an individual or
a business, foundation, or organization.
V. PLAQUES, MARKERS AND MEMORIALS
A. Plaques, marlcers, and memorials that are requested to be located on a City building,
facility, land, or any portion thereof, must be reviewed and approved by the City as to
design and maintenance requirements.
B. Total costs for purchasing plaques, markers, and memorials involved in the naming of
a new City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof, as well as up to five (5) years
of maintenance costs, shall be paid by the nominating individual or organization, unless
City Council waives such funding. This provision has no application in those instances
where the costs of plaques, markers, or memorials are included in the design and
construction costs of a project.
VI. RENAMING OF A CITY BUILDING, FACILITY, LAND, OR ANY PORTION
THEREOF
A. In order to honor the decisions of previous City Councils and descendants of
individuals after whom a City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof are named,
renaming shall typically not occur.
B. If it is determined that circumstances have changed such that the criteria set forth in
III.A.3 or IV.1 is no longer met, the City Council may elect to remove the name from the
City building, facility, land, or any portion thereo£ Further, a City building, facility,
land, or any portion thereof named after a foundation, business, or organization, which
dissolves, is convicted of criminal acts, or for other good and valid reasons, may be
renamed.
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VII. PROCEDURES FOR NAMING CITY BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, LAND, OR
ANY PORTION THEREOF
A. Groups or individuals may submit nominations for naming a City building, facility,
land, or any portion thereof, by submitting a nomination to the City Manager on the
City of Denton Name Application Form For City Buildings, Facilities, Land, or any
portion thereof.
B. The City Manager, upon the receipt of the City of Denton Name Application Form
For City Buildings, Facilities, Land, or any portion thereof shall refer such naming
request to the City Council.
C. The City Council may appoint a seven-member ad hoc Naming Committee to review
the naming request submitted by a citizen or organization. Such committee shall be
nominated by individual Council members. In the event of a City Council initiated
naming, the Council may, if it desires, appoint an ad hoc committee as outlined herein
to investigate and recommend one or more names for Council consideration.
D. At least two additional members of the ad hoc Naming Committee shall be selected
from any impacted advisory or governing board.
E. The name or names submitted will be considered by the members of the ad hoc
Naming Committee. The committee shall be guided by the provisions of this policy
and shall provide a recommendation to the City Council for consideration.
F. The final decision for naming a City building, facility, land, or any portion thereof
shall rest with the City Council.
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CITYOF DENTON NAME APPLICATION FORM FORCITY BUILDINGS,
FACILITIES, LAND, OR ANYOTHER PORTION THEREOF
Please typeor print clearlyininkand return to :
1. Dateof Submittal: ________________________________________________________
2. Individual orOrganization Submitting Nomination:
3. Signature of Nominator or Organization Representative:
Point ofContact:
Address: __________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________________________
4. Nominee (Check One): Individual Organization
5. Recommended Name of CityBuilding, Facility, Land, or AnyPortionThereof:
9. Location ofCity Building, Facility, Land, orAny Portion Thereof:
10. Explanation of whythis name should be considered.
biographical information and vitae orresume. Use additionalsheets, if necessary: