Vibrant, the Moline-based financial services company whose namesake credit union serves more than 55,000 members nationwide, has acquired the naming rights to the Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority’s 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena and conference center located in Moline, Illinois. The venue, formerly known as the TaxSlayer Center, will be renamed Vibrant Arena at The MARK on September 1, 2022.
“The Quad Cities is our home, it’s part of who we are, and it means a lot to be the first local business to hold the naming rights to this arena,” said Matt McCombs, President and CEO of Vibrant. “Many of us started seeing concerts at The MARK back in the 1990s, and nodding back to those roots in the new name was part of our discussions from the very beginning. We see this as our opportunity to invest in our community in a way that has a positive impact on everyone here." “We are thrilled to be partnering with Vibrant!” said Scott Mullen, Vibrant Arena at The MARK’s Executive Director. “They are a local company with fresh ideas that will make our award-winning venue even more attractive and a place where our guests can proudly enjoy the top-caliber entertainment options we provide.” There are several updates planned for the arena including new graphics, a state-of-the-art video wall in the main lobby, a new Vibrant Lounge VIP Area and updated color schemes throughout the venue.
The Center is one of the top-performing mid-sized arenas in the country and has hosted thousands of top artists and events, including Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Van Halen, Cher, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Pearl Jam, KISS, Michael Bublé, Journey, Paul McCartney and many others.
The arena is also home to two local sports franchises: The Quad City Storm of the SPHL, which opens its 2022-23 season in Moline on October 21, 2022, and the Quad City Steamwheelers, which competed in the IFL’s national championship last weekend as its 2022 Eastern Conference Champions.
“It’s great that Vibrant was willing to incorporate The MARK back into the building name,” says Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority Chair, Stacy Happ, “The MARK was such a source of pride over the years and acknowledging that heritage illustrates Vibrant’s understanding and appreciation of our community.”
“TaxSlayer has been a tremendous partner since 2017 and they graciously allowed us to shop the market to pursue other companies for a more attractive deal,” says Mullen, “I am extremely pleased that it has worked out so well for all involved.”
The first event hosted under the new Vibrant Arena at The MARK name will be Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Loverboy on September 6. That show marks the start of a busy fall schedule that includes the Taco & Margarita Festival on September 10, Thomas Rhett on October 13, Bert Kreischer on October 28, Judas Priest with Queensrÿche on October 29, and Carrie Underwood on November 12.
The Quad Cities region is a large metropolitan area with a population of nearly 500,000 locals spread across two states and five cities, including Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois, making it one of the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.