Associated Bank puts its name on State Fair amphitheater

It takes over longtime sponsorship by Bank Mutual

Although Bank Mutual no longer exists as the result of its acquisition this year by Associated Bank, the continuation of the Wisconsin State Fair amphitheater hosted each year by Bank Mutual was never in doubt.

Associated Bank has taken over lead sponsorship of the amphitheater, which is the largest free entertainment stage at the State Fair and the venue for some of its most popular performances every August.

Christopher Piotrowski, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Associated, said when Associated bought Bank Mutual, “one of the things that was very important to us was make sure that we retained and actually advanced our connection in the community.”

“We are rebranding the amphitheater as the Associated Bank Amphitheater, and we’re going to continue with that relationship,” he said.

The State Fair will begin Thursday and run through Aug. 12 at State Fair Park in West Allis. Among the acts performing at the Associated Bank Amphitheater will be Here Come the Mum-

mies, Abby Jeanne & Tigernite, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, Hanson and, as always, the Kids from Wisconsin.

Green Bay-based Associated, which is the largest bank headquartered in Wisconsin, bought Brown Deer’s Bank Mutual, the state’s fourth-largest bank at the time, for about $482 million in February.

Piotrowski said Associated employees will be posted near the amphitheater, ready to sign up fair-goers who are interested in the bank’s Wisconsin sports-themed checking accounts.

Piotrowski said the bank also will be bringing a Green Bay Packers exhibit to the fair this year.

“Since we are the largest Wisconsinbased bank and we have a great relationship with the Green Bay Packers dating back exactly 100 years, we decided to bring the new Packer Lambeau Field Live experience to State Fair,” he said.

At the amphitheater, State Fair officials are expecting big crowds for Here Come the Mummies, the 1990s brother band Hanson and other performers.

“I’m looking at the lineup. It’s going to be a pretty big year there,” said State Fair spokeswoman Kristin Chuckel.

She added: “Hanson fans have told us that they’re going to come and camp out all day. They have a very big following still, and people are really excited.”