Insurer Amica in talks for naming rights to The Dunk

Often called The Dunk for short, the arena's legal name is the Providence Civic Center.

The naming rights belonging to Dunkin' expired June 30, but the Convention Center Authority, the state agency that controls the Civic Center, the Convention Center and Veterans Memorial Auditorium, allowed the arena to continue to be called Dunkin' Donuts Center while a new deal was negotiated.

It seems that new deal may not be with Dunkin'.

"We're in active discussions with the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority about securing the naming rights to the Convention Center and Civic Center," Amica spokesman Brendan Dowling said Tuesday evening in an email to The Providence Journal. "While nothing has been finalized yet, we're excited about the potential opportunity."

In the first half of this year, the Convention Center Authority sought bids from companies interested in buying the right to attach their brand to the 14,000-seat basketball and hockey venue.

Last month, Daniel McConaghy, executive director of the Convention Center Authority, said he doesn't expect to unveil a new sponsorship agreement until September.

"An announcement will not be made until successful negotiations of an agreement are concluded. We don't expect that until possibly 9/1," he wrote in an email.

The Journal made several calls to McConaghy and left messages Tuesday, but was not able to speak to him.

The Providence Civic Center opened in 1972. Dunkin' Donuts first signed the $8.65-million naming rights deal in 2001.