Providence Rink to become Alex and Ani City Center

THE PROVIDENCE Rink will become the Alex and Ani City Center through a five-year partnership with the city. / PBN FILE PHOTO
THE PROVIDENCE Rink will become the Alex and Ani City Center through a five-year partnership with the city. / PBN FILE PHOTO

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Rink will become the Alex and Ani City Center through a five-year partnership with the city.

Mayor Angel Taveras joined Alex and Ani’s chief operating officer Jayne Conway on Thursday at the downtown skating rink to announce terms of the $250,000 partnership.

Cranston jewelry maker Alex and Ani will have naming rights to the city skating rink at Kennedy Plaza until 2019, according to information provided by the mayor’s office.

Alex and Ani will be responsible for costs to rebrand the rink as the Alex and Ani City Center.

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The company also has the opportunity to host events at the venue year-round.

“The Providence Rink is an exciting recreational centerpiece drawing families from across our state to the heart of downtown Providence. We are extremely proud to partner with Rhode Island’s own Alex and Ani, as it lends its proud, world-famous design name to this great venue,” Taveras said in a statement. “The rink is truly one of our city’s jewels and we look forward to additional programming as well as growing the number of Rhode Islanders who are able to experience it year-round.”
For the first time since the venue opened, the agreement also allows the city the opportunity to raise additional revenue through other advertising, including kiosks, video monitors and dasher board advertising space at the Alex and Ani City Center.

“We are excited to partner with the city of Providence to support the City Center which gives thousands of people enjoyment each year,” Conway said. “The opportunity to host programming throughout the year at the Alex and Ani City Center will attract visitors downcity, which in turn will provide local businesses with increased economic activity. Our support of City Center is an example of Alex and Ani’s commitment to support programs and organizations that help to make our state a better place.”

Taveras and Conway were joined by Rick Simone, Alex and Ani vice president of sponsorships and partnerships, as well as Providence city officials, for the announcement.

More than 750,000 skaters have used the rink since it opened in 1998 as the Fleet Skating Center. The rink opened for the season on Nov. 15, and operates through mid-March. Bank of America was the previous sponsor for the venue.

From April to October, it functions as an event and programming center. The RISD Artists Ball, Rotary Street Painting Festival and Bolivian and Day of Portugal festival are some of the events held there.

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