This story has been updated with additional information.
Akron’s minor league baseball stadium is getting a new name.
Pending Akron City Council and Major League Baseball approval, Canal Park will become known as 7 17 Credit Union Park, Akron RubberDucks owner and CEO Ken Babby announced Sept. 4 alongside Mayor Shammas Malik and others involved in the proposal.
The plan is to launch the new name on April 2, 2026 — next season’s opener, said Jim Pfander, RubberDucks president and general manager.
This is the first deal for outside naming rights for the city-owned stadium, which has been known as Canal Park since it opened in 1997. Babby declined to discuss the financial terms or the length of the contract, but said it will be a “long-term, multiyear partnership.”
He said the RubberDucks organization has been involved in discussions with other suitors for naming rights, but 7 17 was the right fit.
A 2012 stadium lease agreement between the city of Akron and Babby’s Akron RubberDucks organization states that the club has exclusive naming rights to the stadium and will collect all revenue from the naming rights.
The agreement also states that during the term that Babby’s organization is under contract with an entity for stadium naming rights, an amount at least equaling the deal proceeds must go toward stadium rent, improvements, renovations and repairs.
RubberDucks, city, credit union aligned on downtown revitalization
John Demmler, president and CEO of 7 17, which was founded and is still headquartered in Warren, said talks with Malik about expanding the credit union into Akron as part of redeveloping downtown “ignited a passion in us, and we wanted to be a part of that.”
Demmler called the park an “economic anchor for the city and a beacon of fun” for families.
In a previous meeting with Demmler, Malik said, “it was easy to brag about downtown and Main Street because there is so much vitality and energy and excitement that has really been anchored by this institution, by this facility.”
Citing examples of downtown vibrancy, the mayor mentioned the renovated Lock 3 Park to the north, Luigi’s farther north and the renovated former B.F. Goodrich buildings to the south.
The RubberDucks organization has worked closely with the city of Akron’s Public Service Department on investments to the stadium over the years, Malik said.
The team and city plan to continue to invest in the park, said Babby, who cited past examples such as a new videoboard and new bathrooms but declined to discuss future plans.
The RubberDucks management team was previously involved in discussions with other potential partners on naming rights, Babby said. But, he added, the RubberDucks and 7 17 have an “alignment of values” that became clear after multiple meetings.
How is 7 17 investing in Greater Akron?
In addition to 7 17’s previously announced plan to invest $100 million in affordable housing over the next several years, Demmler said the credit union does not charge mortgage borrowers fees that financial institutions usually charge on mortgages.
Malik called 7 17’s focus on housing “really apt” and referenced numerous nonprofit representatives discussing housing concerns in the region at a July meeting unveiling the nonprofit Trailhead Community Health Foundation of Greater Akron.
“It’s hard to maintain a steady job if you’re not sure where you’re sleeping at night,” Malik said. “It’s hard to get a good education if you don’t know where you’re putting your head down at night.”
The credit union also plans to provide financial literacy education to the communities it serves in Northeast Ohio, Demmler said.
In Greater Akron, 7 17 Credit Union plans to open branches in Stow, Streetsboro and Aurora in 2026, Demmler said.
The credit union also plans to open branches in downtown Akron before April 2 and in the city’s Wallhaven and Ellet neighborhoods in the future, Demmler said.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal’s business and consumer newsletter, “What’s The Deal?”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron’s Canal Park will become 7 17 Credit Union Park in naming rights deal
Reporting by Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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