InForum: City-owned plaza at the Lights to be named Essentia Health Plaza
January 19, 2021
The naming rights agreement will provide Essentia logos on a tower as well as a turf logo, and Essentia will be considered a corporate partner on the city’s website.
Written By: Wendy Reuer | Jan 19th 2021 – 12am.
WEST FARGO —The Lights Plaza, The Plaza at the Lights, The Plaza on South Sheyenne … all of these are examples of names that have been used for the outdoor city plaza at the Lights on Sheyenne that is owned by the city. But as of Monday, Jan. 18, the plaza will officially be called “Essentia Health Plaza” after the health care system bought the naming rights to the plaza from the city for $750,000.
Mike Amundson, executive director for West Fargo Events, which manages the plaza for the city of West Fargo, said the process of offering naming rights began a few years ago when the development of the Lights on Sheyenne 32 began.
“Essentia had expressed interest in our community on multiple fronts,” Amundson said.
He said Essentia Health has already partnered with the West Fargo School District for naming rights on other projects as well as providing sports medicine in the schools.
“We will gain much more than a payment,” Amundson said. “We are very honored to partner with them officially.”
The naming rights agreement will provide Essentia logos on a tower as well as a turf logo, and Essentia will be considered a corporate partner on the city’s website.
City Administrator Tina Fisk said revenues from the naming rights agreement will help fund the cost of maintaining and managing the plaza on behalf of the city.
“I think this is huge for not only Essentia, not only West Fargo Events but the City of West Fargo as a whole,” Commissioner Mark Simmons said.
Essentia’s naming rights will be in effect for 10 years, expiring on Dec. 31, 2031.