Downtown Kingston arena officially dubbed 'Slush Puppie Place'

Story by Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist, for the Local Journalism Initiative.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting naming rights to the large entertainment venue downtown were awarded to Slush Puppie Canada Inc..

The venue located at 1 The Tragically Hip Way, which has been known as the Leon’s Centre since 2018 and the K-Rock Centre before then, will officially be ‘Slush Puppie Place’ beginning January 1, 2024.

The decision was instant and unanimous, the official declaration met with applause in City Hall.

Councilors did not have to sort through many submissions to come to a decision, as Slush Puppie Canada Inc. was the only official submission received through the city's call for proposals.

The agreement with the corporation is for the next 15 years, worth a total of $2,025,000. This will be the second venue in Canada named after Slush Puppie Inc., with the first being the Slush Puppy Centre in Gatineau, Quebec.

“The large venue entertainment centre has a history of naming rights partners since its opening in 2008,” says Lanie Hurdle, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Kingston. “We look forward to the continued animation of this incredible venue through the well-established, family-friendly Slush Puppie brand, and to working alongside the Slush Puppie team in partnership with the Kingston Frontenacs.”

The change has garnered an interesting community response, most agreeing that the name is not the most aesthetic choice, inspiring a mixed reaction. 

While some Kingstonians outwardly dislike the name, others, while still poking fun at the on-the-nose name, are ready to go see the Fronts in the new year at “the Slush”.