A rendering of Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by UAA Athletics)
Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, will officially be dedicated Sept. 5, kicking off 10 days of ceremonies and special events including a Taste of Alaska and music festival. The 196,000-sq.-ft. facility will provide a stage for UAA Athletics including basketball and volleyball, as well as a gymnastics practice and performance gym.
The university’s Athletic Director Keith Hackett said that plans for this facility have been in the works for more than 30 years.
Also, in addition to the 5,600-capacity arena will be athletics and training facilities, student fitness and recreation spaces, academic and office support space and suite-level seating. There is also a Seawolf Hall of Fame, paying homage to the university’s most renowned athletes.
The Varsity Sports Grill full-service restaurant will be open 360 days a year on the suite level in an effort to attract the 3,000-5,000 employees that Hackett estimates work within 10 minutes of the facility. NANA Management Services (NMS) and Sodexo will serve as providers for the restaurant, catering and concessions.
Regional VP, Alaska, for Alaska Airlines Marilyn Romano said that the airline is “proud to have our name associated with a center that will be used by so many. In addition to all UAA sports other than hockey, high school graduations will be held there, the Great Alaska Shootout Division 1 Basketball Tournament will be held there in November, and many other youth sports, concerts and more.”
Alaska Airlines Center has tapped Global Spectrum for a five-year contract, with an option for an additional five years to ensure a diverse mix.
“They’re going to help us attract different types of performers and events to the building,” said Hackett. “It’s our primary athletic facility, but it’s going to be a community and statewide-used facility.”
“You could call it a ‘communiversity' project because it’s a community and university partnership and was paid for with tax dollars,” he added.
The final cost for the facility came in at $109 million.
With this contract, Comcast-Spectacor now operates in 48 of the 50 states in the U.S.
“We’re excited for the opportunities that we can bring to the students, the administration and to the region,” said Global Spectrum President John Page in a release.
The company has relationships with many of the world’s top touring shows, including Disney On Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, WWE and leading recording artists like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Kenny Chesney.
Global Spectrum will provide preopening services, management, ticketing by New Era Tickets, and commercial rights by Front Row Marketing Services to bring in ancillary income for suites, club seats and signage.
A pre-existing 10-year naming rights deal with Alaska Airlines went into effect July 1. There is an option to renew for an additional five years.
Though Alaska Airlines has partnered with University of Alaska for more than 30 years, this new agreement lays out some specifics and includes naming rights to the new facility. The contract includes $1 million for the Alaska Airlines Scholar Athletes Endowed Scholarship, which will provide about $40,000 in scholarship funding each year.
“They also are providing us with what amounts to about 360-400 airplane tickets a year, which is about $500,000 a year in ticket opportunities so we can transport our student athletes around the country,” said Hackett, who added that, being in Alaska, there aren’t many opportunities to travel by bus.
The enhanced athletics sponsorship contract comes out to about $5.3 million for the 10-year period.
“Student athletes going to school in Alaska must travel long distances to get to the competition,” said Romano. “Helping with that travel ensures teams get there.”
“Our goal is to help student athletes get an outstanding education while participating in a strong sports program,” she added.
Interviewed for this story: Keith Hackett, (907) 786-1295; Marilyn Romano, (206) 392-5101