Come Sept. 1 of this year Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H, will be known as the SNHU Arena and, along with its managing partner SMG, will offer internships for Southern New Hampshire University students at the 11,770-seat venue.
“SMG has been the managing partner for the arena since 2001 with another 15 years to go,” said Jason Perry, director of sales and marketing at the venue. “SMG does not place their name on the arena but secures the partnerships such as the existing one and our new partner beginning in September.”
Perry said that the deal was a quick process and that SMG was interested in keeping it local with SNHU at the top of the list for prospects.
“After the first meeting both parties felt great about the possibility as it truly enhanced the presence of SNHU as well as kept things local to New Hampshire,” Perry said. “Both parties will benefit from the exposure each has to offer, the internship possibilities as well as the ability to work with a partner that is right down the street. SNHU will have an active interest in the arena as we will continue to host graduations, host a few of their athletic events annually and the ability to work with their student body to have larger shows they put on for the students at the arena versus the campus gymnasium.”
Indeed, the internship for students at the venue offers a possible springboard for those interested in getting hands-on experience in the public assembly venue world. The soon-to-be 15-year-old multipurpose arena currently is home to the Manchester Monarchs of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), as well as more than 100 events annually.
“The internship is all about helping bring higher education into the work environment and will allow for a large scope of opportunities beyond sports management,” Perry said. “Within the arena we can work with such career goals as marketing, finance, accounting, culinary, operations, engineering, human resources, criminal justice and event management. So the arena offers up a wide array of internship possibilities.”
Libby May, vice president of communications and government relations at SNHU, said that the new deal goes far beyond naming rights.
“Partnering with SMG and the arena will provide unique, hands-on experiences for our students and an opportunity to give back to the Manchester community,” she said. “It’s really about enriching the student experience, better supporting our athletic programs, driving economic change in Manchester, and showing our neighbors that higher education is within their reach.
“The partnership includes internships for SNHU students, information booths for prospective students and use of the facility for SNHU athletic events and graduation ceremonies. The partnership opens the door to students beyond the traditional classroom and will give them valuable, hands-on experience in the sports, hospitality and entertainment industries.”
May said that the final details of the internship opportunities with SMG and the new SNHU Arena are still being developed, but that plans are to work with SMG to offer a wide variety of internship opportunities related to running a large sports and entertainment facility. The City of Manchester is another that stands to benefit from the new partnership.
“Investing in the Manchester community, which has been SNHU’s home since 1932, remains a top priority for the University,” May said. “The University now leases approximately 250,000 square feet of space in two downtown locations and has added more than 2,000 new jobs to the local economy, a boon to downtown merchants. The partnership with the arena and SMG will allow SNHU to connect with the community in a whole new way by highlighting the importance of education, providing employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy.”
Perry said that the deal with the University is a multiyear partnership, but that terms are confidential. He added that SMG also secured naming rights on behalf of the municipalities at sister arenas including the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.
Interviewed for this article: Jason Perry, (603) 644-5000; Libby May, (603) 645-9698