More Than a Name.
A Commitment to the Future.
ALKEME has entered into a landmark naming rights partnership with Arizona Athletics and Arizona Sports Enterprises, officially designating the venue as McKale Center at ALKEME Arena.
This collaboration reaches well beyond athletics. Partnering with ALKEME - a company founded and led by proud University of Arizona alumni - the agreement underscores a shared commitment to entrepreneurship, leadership development, student opportunity, and small-business engagement. Together, Arizona and ALKEME will advance initiatives that align with and support the University’s Strategic Imperatives while creating lasting impact across campus and throughout the broader community.
For generations, McKale Memorial Center has stood as a cornerstone of college basketball and the beating heart of Arizona Athletics. Celebrated for its electric atmosphere, the storied venue is widely regarded as one of the premier home-court environments not only in the Big 12 Conference, but nationwide—beloved by fans, alumni, student-athletes, and coaches alike. Consistently the hottest ticket in Tucson, Arizona Basketball led the Pac-12 Conference in attendance every season from 1984–85 onward. Since opening for the 1972–73 campaign, McKale Memorial Center has evolved through thoughtful renovations that honor its rich tradition while delivering modern enhancements. The facility also proudly hosts Arizona’s women’s basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics programs.
ALKEME is energized by the opportunity this partnership creates - bringing together two organizations rooted in excellence, ambition, and long-term vision.
In collaboration with Eller College of Management, Arizona Athletics and ALKEME Insurance will deliver immersive entrepreneurship and leadership programming - giving students and student-athletes hands-on exposure to real-world business strategy, operations, and risk management.
From a Shark Tank-style business challenge to executive mentorship and speaker series, the partnership will create high-impact opportunities for emerging leaders to learn directly from industry professionals and build confidence as future entrepreneurs and executives.
By leveraging the visibility of Arizona Athletics, the partnership will spotlight small business ownership and enterprise development - connecting students to career pathways in consulting, entrepreneurship, and community-based commerce while supporting the next generation of builders.
Together, the organizations will harness athletics’ broad reach to engage students, alumni, employees, and the greater Arizona community - fueling innovation, strengthening local enterprise, and expanding access to education and opportunity statewide.