Other businesses interested in Chevy centre naming rights

YOUNGSTOWN —Other businesses are interested in the naming rights to the Chevrolet Centre, Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said.

The mayor wouldn’t divulge the names of the other companies except to say they are “local players.”

City officials started negotiating with local Chevrolet dealers about a week ago after being told by General Motors that it would not renew its naming rights deal for the center.

Eric Ryan, the center’s executive director, said late last week that a deal with the dealers would likely be signed later this week.

Williams said Wednesday that Ryan’s timetable was “premature.”

The local dealers are interested in a one-year deal.

The details of the dealers’ proposal haven’t been released.

“We’re pursuing all options,” Williams said. “We’d like to get as long of a term on the contract as possible. If the other parties are looking at deals with a longer term, we need to listen.”

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com