UConn Renames Gampel Pavilion for M&T Bank
The Gampel family criticized the naming deal, which the university says will help fund renovations to the Storrs arena.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The University of Connecticut announced on October 21 that Gampel Pavilion will be known as M&T Bank Center at Gampel Pavilion under a 20-year, $32.5 million naming agreement approved by its Board of Trustees. The Gampel family said it was not consulted about the change.
Why it matters
The deal ties the historic Storrs arena's name to a corporate sponsor while the facility undergoes renovation, raising questions about how Connecticut's flagship university honors major donors. UConn says the investment will help enhance and extend the life of the facility.
The 20-year naming agreement with M&T Bank is valued at $32.5 million, a figure the university has tied to renovating and extending the life of Gampel Pavilion. The extraction does not specify how the payment is scheduled or allocated across the project.
The players
Harry A. Gampel
Harry A. Gampel was a donor to the University of Connecticut whose 1989 gift is the basis for the family's name on the arena.
M&T Bank
M&T Bank is a regional American bank holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, and the sponsor of the new arena name.
The details
UConn announced the change on October 21 and said the pavilion is undergoing renovation, with the Gampel name expanded through back-lit exterior signage at multiple public entrances, new floor-level interior signage, and a physical tribute to Harry A. Gampel and the arena's championship history. The family said it was not consulted, and UConn had communicated with an attorney representing family members before the announcement.
Timeline
1989: Harry A. Gampel made a donation to UConn.
October 21, 2026: UConn announced the M&T Bank Center naming.
November 7, 2026: A family letter criticizing the change was published in The Courant.
Philanthropy Landscape
Universities increasingly pair donor recognition with corporate naming rights to fund facility upgrades. The Gampel case shows how a legacy donor name can sit alongside a sponsor's name, and how families may object when that balance shifts.
Fans and students will see the new M&T Bank Center name on signage at Gampel Pavilion as renovations proceed. The Gampel name will remain visible through new exterior and interior signage and a tribute display.
The takeaway
Naming decisions can carry lasting meaning for families whose gifts built a landmark, so transparent communication with donors matters as much as the funding itself. Readers following campus philanthropy can watch how UConn balances recognition of its history with new corporate partnerships.
Further reading
For more on how donors and sponsors shape Connecticut institutions, see Philanthropy coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hartfort Courant.
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