Anthrax performs at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, on May 10, 2018. The facility is now known as Pechanga Arena San Diego after the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians signed a new naming rights agreement. Photo: Alan Hess / Valley View Casino Center
Pechanga Band quickly wins approval for naming rights deal
Thursday, December 6, 2018
The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians landed a naming rights deal this week in hopes of driving more traffic to its gaming facility in southern California.
Signs for the "Pechanga Arena San Diego" already went up after the city council in San Diego approved the deal on Tuesday, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The Pechanga Development Corp., is paying $400,000 a year for the rights.
"It's something we've been wanting to do for a while -- to have a little more exposure in the San Diego area," Jared Munoa, the president of the corporation, told the paper before the deal was approved. "We trust this will be a win/win for the sports arena, for Pechanga and, of course, for San Diego."
KBPS News on YouTube: Sports Arena Renamed Pechanga Arena San Diego, But For How Long?
The deal -- which only runs for two years -- came together in just three weeks, KPBS News reported. It was presented to the full city council without going through the usual committee process, a move that came as a surprise to some members.
"I just feel like this one is like not a great deal," council member David Alvarez said at the meeting on Tuesday, KPBS reported. "I don’t know if anyone else feels this way and I feel like there could be more for the city."
The agreement wasn't just news to the council. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which previously had the naming rights deal, wasn't aware of Pechanga's interest until this week, The Union-Tribune reported, and was prepared to make a better offer, the paper said.
By then, it was too late for the city to change course. The signs for the "Valley View Casino Center", named for the Valley View Casino since 2010 had already been taking down in anticipation of a new sponsor, the paper reported.
The Pechanga Band operates the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. The arena in San Diego, which hosts concerts, sports games and other events, is about 60 miles away.
