Clark Insurance has bought the naming rights for the main entrance of the newly renovated Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland for an undisclosed price.

Under the five-year agreement, the arena entrance at Spring and Center streets will be called the Clark Insurance Entrance.

“As a Portland-based agency providing insurance products and services throughout Cumberland County since 1931, we are very pleased to provide the Cumberland County Civic Center our financial support in this way. The completion of renovations to the (civic center) assures it will continue to contribute to enhancing the quality of our citizens’ lives for many years to come,” Clark Insurance President Ken Ross said in a prepared statement.

Clark Insurance is an employee-owned, independent insurance agency with offices in Portland, Saco, Windham, Gorham and Manchester, N.H.

In July, the civic center hired a unit of Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. to market the naming rights, corporate sponsorships and premium seating for the arena. The firm, Front Row Marketing Services, is still looking for a partner to name the entire arena, said its regional director, Jim Beaudoin.

The new main entrance has a box office, a grand staircase, an escalator and an elevator leading to a redesigned atrium-level reception area and concourse.

Advertisement

The $34 million renovation of the 37-year-old building will allow the 8,000-seat venue to accommodate more artists and events, with expanded seating options, exhibit space and upgraded loading docks. The civic center averages 145 to 160 event days each year.

In February, the Portland-based Libra Foundation said it had agreed to buy a luxury box at the civic center for $75,000 a year for 10 years. The box will be used by charities, community groups and children’s organizations to attend events.

Jessica Hall can be contacted at 791-6316 or at:

jhall@pressherald.com

Twitter: @JessicaHallPPH


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.