Arena’s new signs go up in October
New signage for Bank OZK Arena should be in place by mid-October, according to Susan Blair, executive vice president for marketing for Bank OZK.
The signage changes are a result of the bank’s rebranding in late June. The arena’s name change comes almost four years after the former Bank of the Ozarks Inc., of Little Rock, purchased Summit Bancorp, of Arkadelphia, in 2014 for nearly $216 million.
Blair told The Sentinel-Record earlier this month the signage change “is consistent with our original expectations” as far as the timeline for when the project would be completed.
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission has signed off on the final design changes.
According to Blair, the rebrand covers six exterior signs,
including the two outdoor marquees at the corners of Malvern Avenue and Convention Boulevard and Grand Avenue and Convention, 55 interior signs, basketball goals, basketball court, scoreboards, courtside folding chairs, arena employee uniforms, cups and tickets.
The bank, Arrison said, has also expressed interest in extending its contract for naming rights to the arena.
“After the initial 15-year period, they have expressed an interest in the option of picking up an additional five years,” he said. “But in the meantime, we have approved the signage changes. We’ve had a wonderful relationship with Bank OZK and look forward to continuing that.”
Tom Mays, South Arkansas Division president for Bank OZK (pronounced “o-zee-kay”), told The Sentinel-Record in July that the bank is responsible for all costs associated with the name change and rebranding, with a companywide cost estimated at $20 to $25 million.
Bank OZK Arena is located between the Hot Springs Convention Center and Embassy Suites Hot Springs — Hotel & Spa.