West Valley officials remain mum on value of E Center naming rights

WEST VALLEY CITY — Rumors continue to swirl regarding how much Maverik is paying for the naming rights of the former E Center. However, as part of the naming agreement, West Valley City is directing its employees to purchase Maverik gas when doing city business.

Media law attorneys are disputing city officials' decision not to publicly release monetary details of the naming contract, citing the public's right to know. City leaders and staff say they are remaining mum to protect the privacy of a business.

The mayor, as well as a handful of city officials who know the naming rights monetary figure, are declining to confirm or deny whether Maverik is paying a rumored $600,000 annually for 20 years.

Two council members say the rumored numbers are false, while mayor Mike Winder would only say it's "millions over multiple years."

Councilman Corey Rushton told the Deseret News he knows the general amount of the naming rights but says the monetary agreement is more complicated than one cut-and-dried figure. "I wouldn't oversimplify it with one specific number," he said.

Other council members say they have never been told a specific naming rights figure.

West Valley City will celebrate the renaming of the E Center with events Saturday.

The city has not disclosed the naming rights amount to the Deseret News despite requests via the Government Records Access and Management Act. City officials say the information is outside the parameters of GRAMA since the naming contract is between Maverik and Centennial Management Group, the company that manages the E Center for the city.

"The city doesn't have a contract with Maverik. It's between those two private parties," said West Valley City attorney Richard Catten.

Centennial president Kevin Bruder declined to release contract details, calling it a "confidentiality clause between two parties." Maverik officials did not return phone calls from the Deseret News.

Media law attorneys point out West Valley City tax money was used to build the E Center, and the city receives revenue from the building and its events. Therefore, the naming contract is public business.

Media law attorney Jeff Hunt calls the city's actions "a shell game."

David Reymann, media law attorney and legal representation for the Deseret News, said the city shouldn't keep these monetary figures confidential — especially now that the business deal is done.