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On Jan. 1, Saskatoon’s TCU Place will have a new name.
Saskatoon City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a contract that grants Cameco Corporation the exclusive naming rights to Centennial Auditorium and Convention Centre Corporation at a cost of $3.85 million.
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Matt Colton, interim CEO of TCU Place, said the company took immediate action late last year after learning that TCU Financial, its partner for two decades, would not be renewing its agreement.
“I would like to thank TCU Financial for the work they have done with us, their genuine support over the years, and their partnership in helping us become the venue we are today,” Colton said on Wednesday at Saskatoon City Hall.
He said there was a tight timeline to get a new partner in place, and a risk that 2027 could “have a significant piece of revenue missing.
“These factors alone were a reason to act immediately,” he said.
Matt Colton, Interim CEO of TCU Place, speaks at Saskatoon City Hall on Oct. 28, 2026. (City of Saskatoon)
Colton said TCU Place’s board of directors was quickly engaged to prepare for the change, and various conversations began with different sponsorship groups to estimate the value of a new partnership.
He said Tammy Sweeney, the past CEO of the convention centre, spoke with other CEOs through the Convention Centres of Canada who had gone through a similar processes.
“These valuable connections from across the country provided great insight for our process and valuation,” Colton said. “As a theatre and convention centre that has been in this community for the past 60 years, our impact had never been stronger. As a civic venue, we serve many audiences and events that drive economic, social, and cultural community benefit.”
With the centre welcoming more than 200,000 guests a year, Colton said TCU Place wanted a “true partnership,” not just a company that could write an annual cheque.
Colton said the organization was looking for “a group that would be engaged, share common values, support the arts along with business, and most importantly, continue to enhance the community by bringing people together for lasting memories and experiences.”
He said three organizations were approached, each with Saskatoon ties.
“Of those three organizations, one was eager, excited and passionate about the possibility of joining what we had already started,” Colton said, speaking of Cameco. He highlighted the corporation’s passion for giving back to its community, along with a strong financial commitment and a desire to collaborate.
The new naming-rights agreement will span 10 years and will make Cameco the exclusive naming rights partner of Centennial Auditorium and Convention Centre Corporation, currently known as TCU Place.
A total financial commitment of $3.85 million was agreed to. An annual commitment of $350,000 will begin in 2027, increasing by $10,000 increments until 2032 and then stabilizing at $400,000 annually through to the end of the agreement in 2036.
Colton said the cost of replacing the external and internal signage will be split evenly between the two organizations during the transition.
In addition to the exclusive naming rights, Cameco will also receive space rental fees waived for up to two event days and 12 meetings of 100 people or less each contract year, pre-sale access to select theatre shows presented by the venue, exclusive corporate suite access with six tickets and food and beverages during each contract year, and the opportunity to program and present up to four events aligned with its corporate social responsibility priorities.
“With this potential agreement, we not only secure a consistent revenue source, but we secure a strong local company with headquarters in Saskatoon,” Colton told city council ahead of the vote. “We’re proud to partner with an organization that shares our vision and values.”
A naming-rights partnership and venue name announcement is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, when more details on the agreement and the venue’s new name are expected to be announced. Colton is expected to attend, along with Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel and Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block.
