by Nick Castele
An Akron-based bank will be putting its name on Cleveland's downtown convention center. FirstMerit Corporation bought the naming rights to the building for $10.3 million.
Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said the city and county will split the money, which the bank will distribute over 20 years.
"This partnership will contribute to providing our residents and tourists with a thriving entertainment experience," Budish said. "Funds for the naming rights will support the convention center, the surrounding area and our growing tourism industry."
A consulting firm that put together the deal will also receive more than $1 million of the funds. The deal still needs to be approved by county council.
The building opened to the public in summer 2013. It will now be called the FirstMerit Convention Center of Cleveland.
It's possible naming rights could also be sold for the grassy malls on top of the center and for the Global Center for Health Innovation nearby, said Jeffrey Appelbaum, the attorney overseeing the convention center project.
