Visions FCU begins fifth year as naming sponsor ENDWELL, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) recently began its fifth year as a naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. With support from Visions, the venue has overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and now enjoys increased attendance and community engagement, the […]
Visions FCU begins fifth year as naming sponsor
ENDWELL, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) recently began its fifth year as a naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
With support from Visions, the venue has overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and now enjoys increased attendance and community engagement, the credit union announced.
“Over the past four years, our partnership with Visions has brought much-needed new events and opportunities to our community following the challenges of the pandemic that halted live entertainment,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in the announcement. “Their support has given people more ways to come together and enjoy these experiences, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to Broome County.”
Visions began its sponsorship during the pandemic, which had forced the arena to close for an extended period. Between March 9, 2020 and March 11, 2021, the venue hosted only a handful of events for a total attendance of less than 300 patrons.
In 2021, the arena underwent renovations to its aging infrastructure and HVAC systems while the Visions Federal Credit Union brand was installed outside and painted throughout the building.
By that summer, Visions became a principal sponsor of the Binghamton Black Bears to help keep professional hockey in the community. Within the first two seasons, attendance at hockey games reached an average of nearly 3,000 spectators per night. The team now averages about 4,100 spectators per home game.
With the sponsorship, Visions also developed a strategic partnership with Mirabito Energy Products to expand its impact. Mirabito became naming sponsor of the box offices for both the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena and Broome County Forum Theatre.
The two sponsors have supported the venues by tapping into their networks of members, customers, and locations and supporting initiatives to bring new events, local artists, and major performing acts to the community. They also provide exclusive access to discounted tickets, pre-sale offers, and special promotions that have encouraged attendance at events.
Part of Visions’ sponsorship included the creation of a Naming Rights Fund to help cover the cost of programming at both the arena and the Forum Theatre. Jeff Dunham, Jerry Seinfeld, Walker Hayes, and World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) are among the popular acts that were drawn to the arena in the past few years, with assistance from the fund.
Visions has also hosted events that offer free attendance for the community including the Visions Summer Concert that evolved into the Bands & Brews Block Party. The Visions Veterans Program has hosted an annual Veterans Expo since 2022, providing veterans and military-connected community members the opportunity to network with veteran service providers.
