STORRS — The University of Connecticut Board of Trustees approved an agreement of an expanded partnership between M&T Bank and UConn that includes multiyear naming rights for the facility that houses Gampel Pavilion Wednesday, according to a press release.
The team’s basketball facility, which was built in 1990 and underwent the first stage of $99 million renovations this summer, will be renamed as M&T Bank Center at Gampel Pavilion.
“Our partnership with M&T Bank has had an immediate and lasting impact across all of our campuses and communities,” UConn President Radenka Maric said in the press release. “This agreement continues and enhances that relationship, benefiting UConn and the state for many years to come. Thanks to the support and investment of the General Assembly and Gov. Ned Lamont, the improvements currently underway at Gampel Pavilion will bring that iconic venue into the next generation and provide an unparalleled fan experience.”
M&T Bank has over 100 branches in Connecticut, according to the press release, and is committed to helping UConn “expand educational opportunities.”
“This partnership with UConn represents more than a sponsorship and a name on a building,” said Michael Weinstock, the Hartford Regional President for M&T Bank. “It’s a shared commitment to the future of education, economic mobility, and civic leadership across our region. Gampel Pavilion is one of the most recognizable and meaningful gathering places in Connecticut, and M&T is honored to now be a part of the legacy made possible by Harry A. Gampel.”
Both UConn basketball head coaches, Dan Hurley and Geno Auriemma, spoke on the expanded partnership in the press release, as well.
“One of the foundations of a successful athletic program is the ability to get buy-in and investments from partners that directly benefit from UConn and UConn Athletics,” Auriemma said. “In Connecticut, M&T Bank has really stepped up in a big way. These are the kinds of things that allow us to not just compete, but to win at the highest levels. I’m excited about it, I think it is going to be a tremendous partnership for a long time. I hope it’s an example to others to want to join.”
Hurley recognized the importance of securing these partnerships amid the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) arms race that’s transformed collegiate athletics since 2021.
“It’s never been more critical for our success to have incredible partnerships like M&T Bank,” Hurley said. “Their support and investment into our programs will help fuel the championship-level efforts that Gampel Pavilion has been known for over the last 36 years.”
M&T Bank receives exclusive University-wide banking sponsorship on all campuses, designation as the official banking partner of the UConn Huskies, support for student-athlete NIL opportunities, sponsorship of key University-wide events and co-branded affinity credit card and commercial cards for customers of the bank, according to the press release.