Kansas State Wildcats begin process of selling naming rights for Bramlage Coliseum

Kansas State’s basketball arena may be getting a new name.

The Wildcats have announced that they have partnered with Independent Sports and Entertainment (ISE) in hopes of selling the naming rights for Bramlage Coliseum to a company or corporation in exchange for a lucrative sum.

“As we move forward in the Big 12 Conference, it is crucial that we continue to explore new avenues of revenue to then invest back into our student-athletes and their experience at K-State,” athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement. “We had a great conversation with the Bramlage family and as this process unfolds, we will continue to inform them of our progress and all potential naming ideas and options.”

Bramlage Coliseum was opened in 1988 at a construction cost of $17.5 million dollars. The basketball arena was named after the late Fred Bramlage, a Junction City businessman who played a massive role in raising the funds necessary to complete the project.

But at least some of that history may be pushed aside in order for the Wildcats to increase athletic revenues.

There is no telling what company K-State ends up partnering with or what the arena’s new name will be after the deal is complete.

Sponsored college basketball arenas are becoming more and more common place in college sports. Some of them currently include Addition Financial Arena (UCF), Alaska Airlines Arena (Washington), United Supermarkets Arena (Texas Tech), KFC Yum! Center (Louisville) and State Farm Center (Illinois).

K-State could choose to sell full naming rights to a sponsor or combine the new name with Bramlage in some capacity.

The Wildcats chose ISE because it has helped run six naming-rights searches in the past 18 months that totaled $130 million to their university partners.

“ISE is honored to lead this search for the right coliseum naming rights partner at K-State,” said Owen Shull, Executive Vice President of ISE Properties. “We look to partner with universities with strong leadership and a commitment to make the partnership fully integrated across campus and in concert with their multi-media rights partner. We have both at K-State and are excited to work with President Linton, Gene Taylor, Coach Tang, Coach Mittie, and K-State Sports Properties to make it happen.”