Officials announced Wednesday that the LC Walker Arena downtown Muskegon will be changing its name to the Mercy Health Arena. The announcement comes after the healthcare provider signed a letter of intent with the city to become the building’s naming rights sponsor. The commitment includes the renaming, and rebranding of the facility, with updated signage coming by January of next year. Officials say the move ensures the sustainability of the arena for the future, and the city has financial incentive to hope so.
Most recently, the city invested over $4 million into the arena to replace the roof, boiler and upgrade the concession facilities. This past May, officials broke ground on a new $19 million convention center directly next door to the arena. The new convention center will connect the arena with the new, Delta by Marriot. The hotel recently underwent renovations and rebranding itself, having formerly been a Holliday Inn.
According to a press release, The L.C. Walker Arena was named after the late Louis Carlisle Walker, a leading Muskegon industrialist at the turn of the 20th century, and a major contributor to the $1.5 million arena in 1960. But the rebranding announced today comes with a 15-year-committement, meaning it will be called the Mercy Health Arena at least until the year 2035.