A mockup of the new signage planned for Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.
It’s official. Verizon Arena in North Little Rock will become Simmons Bank Arena this week.
The 18,000-seat multi-purpose arena announced Monday that the change will go into effect on Thursday. The new branding will appear on everything from cups and napkins to banners and apparel. Simmons-branded signage is expected to be installed later this year.
The announcement comes about a year after the bank, owned by Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff, acquired naming rights to the 20-year-old venue. The 15-year deal is worth $10.5 million.
“The Arena is a beacon for economic vitality, culture and world-class entertainment in Arkansas,” Simmons First Chairman and CEO George Makris said in a news release. “Simmons is proud to join our name with an organization that helps our home state flourish by driving commerce and creating shared experiences.”
The arena opened in 1999 and has hosted hundreds of musical acts, sporting events and other productions. Artists including Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, George Strait, Garth Brooks and Stevie Wonder have made tour stops there.
The move comes as Simmons Bank continues to raises its brand visibility in the capital city. The company, which still has naming rights to the state’s tallest building in Little Rock, moved into the former Acxiom Corp. building last year. The 12-story office tower, which also bears the Simmons name and a new red LED lighting scheme, sits along Interstate 30, across the Arkansas River from the arena.
Alltel Corp. of Little Rock was the first to having naming rights to the North Little Rock arena. Those rights moved to Verizon when the telecommunications giant purchased Alltel in 2008.
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