Carbondale (AP) – Southern Illinois University Arena has a new name, thanks to the largest corporate naming rights agreement in the history of the Carbondale campus. The Southern Illinoisan reports after 55 years, SIU Arena is now the Banterra Center. The basketball arena is now named for Banterra Bank, which has 40 branches across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. The naming agreement guarantees $4 million to SIUC in the first 10 years. The university may receive up to $1 million more depending on the success of an SIU Athletics-branded debit card to be released by Banterra. Athletic Director Jerry Kill says the center “makes us big time.” Kill says the university will benefit from the prestige of a corporate name in recruiting basketball players and entertainment acts.
