• The Clink
• The Phone Booth
• The Link
• The Building Formerly Known as the Qwest Center
• The C-Link
• Cent Center
• Century Center
• C.C. Center
• The Qwink
• The CLC
Qwest Center Omaha is going away starting today.
Now sports fans and concert-goers will be going to CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Officials from the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority and CenturyLink this morning announced details of a name change that has been anticipated since the Monroe, La.-based company acquired Qwest Communications earlier this year.
Officially, the name of the convention center and arena changes today, but officials aren't sure when the large sign on the facility will be changed. The name already appears in some places, including on the arena scoreboard.
At CenturyLink's cost, the Qwest Center signs will be taken down and replaced with CenturyLink's name, color and a green starburst to match CenturyLink's trademarked image.
The blue lighted ribbon on the building also will change color, though that will be accomplished by reprogramming the system that operates the lights.
Roger Dixon, president and chief executive officer of MECA, said he realizes some people don't like change. But Dixon said the new name is a “good thing” for the facility. He said the new logo “pops.”
“It's inevitable that companies get purchased. This is a nice fit,” Dixon said.
CenturyLink will continue the naming rights agreement entered into by Qwest. That agreement runs through September 2018. Qwest signed the $14.05 million, 15-year naming rights deal with MECA in 2003.
CenturyLink officials said they recognize the importance of the facility to the community and said the agreement reflects the company's commitment to Omaha.
“For us, this is more than having our name on the building,” said Duane Ring, CenturyLink Midwest regional president.
CenturyLink officials said the complete cost to change the facility's name is still being figured, but the company won't disclose that to the public.
With the official name in place, people now can start weighing nicknames. Maybe Nebraska's largest city will call its arena “The Link,” which sounds a lot like the name of Nebraska's capital city, which is building its own competing arena.
In Seattle last month, when the NFL Seahawks' Qwest Field changed to CenturyLink Field, “The Clink” quickly gained popular support around the community. Others suggested “C-Link,” which could be pronounced sea-link or slink.
VIDEO: We asked locals what they thought of the name change
VIDEO: Qwest Center name change
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