PLAINFIELD — Duke Energy has entered an agreement to lend its name to the event center at Metropolis in Plainfield.
The company has entered into a five-year commitment for the naming rights of Serendipity.
“They came to us to talk about the space and it seemed like a great opportunity,” said Doug Esamann, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “It’s one way for us to show support for the county where our Indiana operations are based.”
He said it was also a great way to celebrate Duke Energy’s 100th anniversary in Indiana.
“We were excited to put our name on the event center,” Esamann said. “We’ve had a presence in Plainfield since the early 1950s.”
He said the company had used the facility in the past and it was a good, workable space.
“We had a community leadership forum there,” he said. “We have it each year in various communities. We invite leadership from the 69 counties we serve.”
He said visitors included mayors, economic development professionals, and school superintendents.
“We always try to focus on something that will be of value to them,” Esamann said. “This year we focused on economic development and how to create jobs. We had a panel discussion, Gary Dick from Inside INdiana Business, and a smattering of other speakers and information.”
He said the event center was a perfect venue.
“They’ve expanded there and we really want to help support the banquet and convention business,” Esamann said. “We’re hoping our name will help create some interest they might not otherwise have had.”
The Duke Energy Event Center will still be operated by Serendipity, a Hendricks County Event organizer.
Duke Energy provides about 6,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity to about 790,000 customers, making it the state’s largest electric supplier. The company will celebrate its 100th birthday on Sept. 5. There will be a grand celebration Sept. 8 at its Plainfield facility.
“And we’re not just celebrating with our employees,” Esamann said. “We’re inviting retirees to come back. This is going to be a really cool event.”
brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com
———
Online:
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
