Vancouver city council frees up more space for sponsorships

Naming rights will still need to be approved by the city council, and public parks, libraries and street names are off the table.

The Vancouver city council has opened up more city-owned spaces to corporate sponsorships. The move, which was one of 17 recommendations issued by the Mayor’s budget task force in January, is a bid to bridge the funding gap between infrastructure needs and rising property taxes.

As reported by CityNews, the proposal applies to a broader range of city-owned assets and programs, including property, services, publications, vehicles, and digital platforms, to maximize revenue generation opportunities.

The City Manager will be able to approve sponsorships of up to $3 million, while a City Manager-designate will be able to do so for agreements up to $50, 000. Naming rights, however, will still be subject to council approval, and there is a limit to what can be renamed. For instance, public parks, libraries, or street names aren’t on the table.