Toyota extends Kennewick coliseum name for $1.1 million

Area Toyota dealers will pay more than $1.1 million to keep the naming rights at two Kennewick arenas for another five years.

The Toyota Center and Arena will keep their names in deal with Kennewick and the Kennewick Public Facilities District and Toyota of Tri-Cities, McCurley Integrity Toyota of Walla Walla, Hermiston’s Rogers Toyota and Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima, according to a news release.

Money from the Toyota deal has helped the arena upgrade its facilities and attract live sports, entertainment and convention events to the area over the last 10 years, the release said.

An event to celebrate the extension is planned at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Toyota Center.

The coliseum was renamed in 2005 after a 10-year, $2.1 million deal was approved. The facility opened as the Tri-Cities Coliseum 28 years ago.

This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Toyota extends Kennewick coliseum name for $1.1 million."