Huntington Bank has struck a deal exceeding $8 million to get the naming rights for the Cleveland Convention Center ahead of the Republican National Convention this summer.
The name change was effective immediately, with most rebranding set to happen during the next several weeks. The exterior signage will be installed this summer before the GOP convention in July to name the party's presidential nominee.
The agreement calls for the Columbus-based bank to pay FirstMerit Corporation $500,000 to assume its agreement with Cuyahoga County for the naming rights. Huntington also would pay the county more than $400,000 annually for 20 years.
FirstMerit had purchased the naming rights last fall by agreeing to pay $10 million over 20 years.