WISH-TV
The venue formerly known as Klipsch Music Center has a new name: Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center.
The new name for the 24,000-seat facility was unveiled Wednesday morning. This comes after the Fort-Wayne based Ruoff Home Mortgage and Live Nation agreed to an undisclosed multiyear sponsorship agreement.
“I can’t tell you how many years, but I can tell you this: It’s a good arrangement for the venue. It should give them stability for a long time to come,” said Mark Music, CEO and president of Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center.
“It’s a challenge because we’re trying to find a company that we think makes sense,” said Marc Abend, regional vice president for Live Nation, the owners of the Noblesville amphitheater. “We love having partners that are entrenched in the community. It’s nice having a company that has roots here in Indiana, and I think that the fans appreciate that, they recognize it.”
Music and Abend admitted home mortgages and live concerts aren’t quickly linked in the public’s mind.
“They don’t necessarily have to be in the exact same industry segment for it to necessarily be someplace where you want to have your name. You want eyeballs right?” Music said.
“Most people go to one show a year. That’s what our statistics tell us. Every show is somebody’s playoff game. Well, buying a house has that same feeling,” Abend said. “So we’re excited about that relationship.”
The venue opened in 1989 under the name Deer Creek Music Center. Verizon Wireless took over sponsorship in 2001, with Klipsch Group Inc. changing the name again in 2011. Klipsch’s five-year contract expired last year.
“Out of respect for the prior corporate partner, we had to be quiet and couldn’t make much noise about it and so today we can finally stand on the rooftops and make it known,” Music said.
Concertgoers in Indianapolis said while the name change wouldn’t stop them from attending concerts, they remember previous names first.
“That is quite the mouthful. I’m still just going to be call it Verizon or Klipsch because I can remember that,” one said.
“Doesn’t roll off the tongue,” said a young man. “I don’t think the name would deter me from seeing the music.”
“It does seem a bit long. We’ll figure out a short way to say it I’m sure. It’s 2017,” said another. “RHMMC? I can already see the hashtag.”
The name change is effective immediately, and Live Nation representatives said the sign changes will occur throughout the fall and winter, with full branding ready for the start of the spring 2018 concert season.
Acts such as Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Metallica, Coldplay, Frank Sinatra and Kings of Leon have all played at the venue.
The venue recently wrapped up its 2017 concert season Sunday with a performance from Matchbox Twenty and the Counting Crows.
2018 will mark 30 years for the Noblesville venue.
Click here to see the poll on the name change on WISH-TV’s website.