The race track at Evergreen Park is now known as the JDA Raceway. The facility has come to a 10 year agreement with JDA Ventures for the naming rights, valued at $25,000 a year.
“[It’s] the first naming right that we’ve had on our racetrack since it opened in 1982,” says Evergreen Park General Manager Dan Gorman. “[We’re] very, very thrilled that it’s such a strong community supporter as the Dawson family is.”
The oilfield hauling company was first established by Jarvis and Kim Dawson in 1994, and has grown to have more than 150 pieces of equipment and locations in both Grande Prairie and Whitecourt. It supports a number of local charities and organized sports, including the JDA Kings hockey team.
“My dad’s always been very adamant about supporting the community,” says son Jarvie Dawson. “We’re a sponsor out here every year anyways, and I think this is just an awesome chance for exposure and just to show how much we do love supporting the community as a company.”
Two other fixtures at Evergreen Park will be losing their sponsors this year. The indoor playground in the Gordon Badger Stadium will no longer be named Troyer Town, as Troyer Ventures is not renewing its contract
Transportation company ENTREC’s agreement for the convention centre is also not being renewed. Its naming rights come at a $75,000 value, and Gorman says they’re already in talks to replace both sponsors.
“We’ve got a number of people that have expressed interest that we’re dialoguing with right now, but there’s always more room for other naming rights.”
The biggest event of the year at the newly named JDA Raceway will be the Grande Prairie Stompede, which gets underway May 30th. That’s followed by the new Boots & Moccassins Chuckwagon Racing & Powwow Weekend in June and The Horses at Evergreen Park in July and August.
