UConn Partners with M&T Bank for Basketball Arena Renaming
The University of Connecticut is broadening its collaboration with M&T Bank through a multiyear agreement, which will grant naming rights to the home of its acclaimed men’s and women’s basketball teams.
As part of this deal, announced on Wednesday, the venue will now be called M&T Bank Center at Gampel Pavilion, all while keeping the name of the original benefactor, Harry A. Gampel.
This agreement received the green light from UConn’s Board of Trustees on the same day.
While the financial specifics, like total value and duration of the agreement, were not shared, the partnership seems set to enhance UConn’s facilities as the university embarks on a $99 million renovation of Gampel Pavilion. This renovation, funded by the state, aims to modernize the 36-year-old venue and enhance the experience for fans.
UConn President Radenka Maric mentioned that M&T Bank’s investment will aid in these upgrades as well as support educational initiatives and student success.
This agreement marks a deepening of M&T Bank’s current relationship as UConn’s official banking partner, which includes exclusive universitywide banking sponsorship rights, backing for student-athletes regarding name, image, and likeness opportunities, sponsorship of university events, and co-branded credit and commercial cards.
The partnership also encompasses advertising, digital media promotions, and initiatives focused on community engagement.
Michael Weinstock, M&T Bank’s Hartford regional president, expressed that this agreement illustrates a commitment to education, economic opportunity, and civic leadership throughout the area.
UConn’s Athletic Director David Benedict highlighted the growing importance of corporate partnerships for sustaining the university’s athletic achievements.
Harry Gampel, who graduated from UConn in 1943, was a philanthropist and real estate developer whose significant donation of $1 million in 1987 was instrumental in financing the arena’s construction.
Since its opening in 1990, Gampel Pavilion has served as the home court for UConn’s basketball teams, which have collectively won 18 NCAA national championships. The facility also hosts various events, including commencement ceremonies and concerts.
M&T Bank, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, has notably increased its footprint in Connecticut with its $8.3 billion acquisition of People’s United Financial in 2022, allowing it to operate more than 100 branches in the state.
