HONOLULU–A new esports arena at the University of Hawaiʻi will carry the name of Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Unionfor its first 10 years following a new naming rights agreement. is
The arena is set to open in fall 2027 and will replace the old Student Success Center, previously known as Sinclair Library, on the UH Mānoa campus, according to Hawaii Public Radio. Terms of the deal were not released.
The APFCU funds will go toward scholarships, travel and equipment expenses, and other necessary resources, according to the report.
Vince Otsuka, APFCU’s president and CEO, told Hawaii Public Radio the organization wanted to support an up-and-coming program that doesn’t get as much recognition or support as others.
‘Just Wanted to Help’
“We just wanted to help — that was the main reason,” Otsuka told the news outlet.. “UH, when you compare it to other schools, just doesn’t get the funds that other major universities get. So, it came down to, ‘How can we make a difference?’ And this was what we chose to do.”
APFCU said it started contributing $26,000 annually to the esports program just over three years ago. This recent 10-year deal is an additional contribution,
The esports program launched in 2018 and has more than 100 students participating. It was named the best collegiate esports program in the country in 2022.
