The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority announced Wednesday a new naming rights partner for what is currently the CenturyLink Center. As of September 1st, the building will be called the CHI Health Center Omaha.

“We view this as an incredible opportunity to invest in the community,” said Cliff Robertson, MD, CHI Health CEO. “The opportunity to use this building aligns perfectly with our mission to serve and to build healthy communities.”

The naming right agreement with CenturyLink dated back 15 years and was set to expire this year. The building was previously named the Qwest Center. CenturyLink took over in 2011. The search for the building’s new naming rights partner began in January.

The new naming rights agreement is for $23.5 million over the course of a 20 year term. Officials said funding for the new CHI Health Center Omaha will come from the marketing budget, and does not pull dollars from other areas of health care operations.

MECA CEO and President Roger Dixon said, “This naming right is now money that will go into improvements to maintain this facility because we’re not-for-profit so we take the monies we earn and put it right back in the facility and it will be part of the of our capital improvement plan because this is how it’s going to be partially funded.”

Dixon said keeping the building in good condition and up-to-date will be necessary to keep up with all the future plans for downtown Omaha.

“First of all we want to make it state-of-the-art and we’re always looking at different ways of improving services, expanding facilities. With the new riverfront and Heartland of America Park and Gene Leahy Mall coming at us, we’re going to have to keep up with that.”

CHI Health said they will use the Center to give back to its employees, patients, neighbors and its academic partner, Creighton University.

Here are just some of the events being considered:

• Sidewalk marathon walking challenge

• Health and dental screenings for at-risk populations

• Dementia education and resources for caregivers

• A blessing of area caregivers and health care providers

• A wide array of health education for the public

CHI Health is one of the state’s largest employers.