TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The University of Arizona has announced a major naming rights partnership for its iconic basketball arena, transforming McKale Center into McKale Center at ALKEME Arena.
Sitting next to Arizona Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois at the announcement, ALKEME CEO Curtis Barton shared his deep personal connection to Wildcat basketball.
"Trust me, my wife has built a special room for me to go watch it in," Barton laughed, highlighting how he watches every Arizona basketball game.
The 15-year deal is valued at $27.7 million, marking the largest publicly known arena naming rights partnership in the Big 12 conference. It supports student success, entrepreneurship, small business engagement, and other university priorities.
Barton acknowledged the challenge of changing such a storied venue's name."This is going to be a hard venue to take a naming change, and we knew that," he said. "And, I think it makes sense when you have alumni that come in and have respect and know who Pop McKale is."
The name honors J.F. "Pop" McKale, the legendary former athletic director for whom the arena—opened in 1973—has long been named. The hybrid naming preserves that legacy while incorporating ALKEME.
Barton attended the University of Arizona in the mid-to-late 1990s. He founded ALKEME, an insurance brokerage company, in 2020. The company is led by several UA graduates, including executives from the Eller College of Management.
"For us to be part of the Big 12 and have our name associated with a great tradition and program like that and build, it made all the sense in the world to bring it home," Barton said.
This partnership follows last fall's 30-year (or 20-year in some reports) deal where Casino Del Sol took naming rights for Arizona Stadium, now Casino Del Sol Stadium.Reed-Francois noted the McKale deal includes a five-year look-in option, though she did not provide further specifics.
"The ability to stand here in front of you is because I come from this school," Barton emphasized, underscoring his pride as a UA alumnus in giving back through this significant investment.
The announcement aligns with the Wildcats' strong basketball tradition, as the men's team ranks highly nationally under Coach Tommy Lloyd. The venue hosts men's and women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and more. The naming transition will roll out in phases, with additional engagement initiatives planned.
