Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

MGM arena to serve Coca-Cola, feature Toshiba products

North Strip

Steve Marcus

Construction continues on a $375 million sports arena between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo casinos Sunday, March 22, 2015. The 20,000-seat arena, a collaboration between MGM Resorts International and AEG, is expected to open in spring 2016.

MGM Resorts International and entertainment company AEG say their 20,000-seat arena being built behind the New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip will feature Coca-Cola beverages and Toshiba technology.

The companies announced the sponsorship deals with Toshiba and Coca-Cola on Tuesday. The two join Schneider Electric as founding sponsors. Several more sponsors are being sought, including one to put its company name on the $375 million arena expected to open in a year.

The venue could play host to a new NHL team if the hockey league agrees to expand to Sin City.

A group that would potentially own an expansion team led by businessman Bill Foley has been pushing to sell deposits for at least 10,000 season tickets to prove the Las Vegas area has a fan-base for professional hockey. The NHL's competition committee is expected to meet in Las Vegas in June.

Holding one of his company's bottles of soda, Bill O'Brien, general manager of Coca-Cola refreshment for the company's western region, said he would love to see a Vegas hockey design added to the outside of the drinks. The company's sponsorship deal last six years.

Toshiba is keen to see a team, too. "We're rooting for it to happen, obviously," said Bill Melo, chief marketing executive for Toshiba America Business Solutions.

Even if the NHL doesn't expand to the Strip, the arena is expected to fill calendars with events and concerts.

In its 10-year deal, Toshiba also gets naming rights to a 2-acre plaza outside the entrance where an elevated outdoor stage is being built for additional concerts and events.

The arena would act as a showcase for the company's technology from printers in offices to signage to televisions, Melo said.

Coca-Cola is the exclusive beverage provider at all of MGM Resorts' Las Vegas Strip casinos except for New York-New York and Mandalay Bay. It has partnered with AEG on its L.A. Live complex in Los Angeles.

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