Pier Six Pavilion will now be called MECU Pavilion as part of a naming-rights deal with the local credit union, Live Nation, SMG and MECU announced today at a press conference.
The outdoor venue is currently undergoing a more than $4 million renovation to put in new seating, update the dressing rooms and backstage area and install a new roof. (Sorry Pier Seven attendees, but the changes will likely make it harder to park a lawn chair outside the Marriott and catch a free show.)
Frank Remesch, who serves as general manager of Royal Farms Arena for SMG, said the changes would be a way to “re-polish the stone,” and that the behind-the-scenes renovations could attract more big-name talent in the future.
The unseasonably cold weather has caused some problems, Remesch said, “but we’ll be ready for the first show, one way or another.”
MECU members will have immediate benefits this concert season. Account holders will have access to exclusive presales for tickets and a special fast-track line to enter the venue early when they show their debit card at the gate.
John Hamilton, president and CEO of MECU, said he saw the deal as a chance to expand the credit union’s local presence.
“This partnership with Live Nation reinforces our commitment to our members and the city of Baltimore,” he said.
Additionally, MECU will be making a $200,000 donation to Arts Every Day, a local nonprofit that works with Baltimore City Public Schools to create art programs in the classroom. And Hamilton said he hopes to bring in students from schools the credit union partners with to learn about the music business firsthand.
