Mark Stock of St. Edward (at podium), co-founder of BigIron Auctions and Realty, addresses the Grand Island City Council March 10 about the business' donation of $2.1 million for a 15-year-period so that the Heartland Events Center will be renamed BigIron Events Center. Kyle Tarwater, executive director of the Heartland Events Center, is on the left. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Heartland Events Center announced March 10 a naming rights partnership with BigIron Auctions and Realty, marking an important new chapter that reflects the facility’s continued growth and success as a regional destination for events.
The Events Center will be known as the BigIron Events Center.
While final details of the agreement are still being completed, the partnership reflects the continued momentum of the Heartland Events Center as a leading destination for concerts, sporting events, rodeos, trade shows, and community gatherings that draw visitors from across Nebraska and the surrounding region.
The agreement represents a $2.1 million investment over the next 15 years and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s event infrastructure and supporting the continued success of the facility.
The names of Eihusen Arena and Bosselman Conference Center will remain as is. Those naming rights have been grandfathered in from the creation of the Events Center in 2006 and are not for sale.
The venue continues to play a key role in Grand Island’s position as a central hub for major events while also generating tourism, economic activity and community engagement. The new collaboration with BigIron Auctions and Realty highlights a shared commitment to investing in the region and creating new opportunities for growth.
Mark Stock of St. Edward, Co-Founder of BigIron Auctions and Realty, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to investing in communities that are closely tied to agriculture and industry. The home base for the business is St. Edward. Stock was present at the March 10 Grand Island City Council meeting when the naming rights partnership was announced.
“We are incredibly proud to bring the BigIron Events Center to Grand Island,” Stock said. “This community sits at the heart of Central Nebraska and is already home to the Nebraska State Fair, so it’s a perfect place for us to invest in a facility that supports agriculture, industry and the people who make this state so strong. We’re excited about the opportunities it will create for events, businesses and families across Nebraska.”
Heartland Events Center Executive Director Kyler Tarwater said the partnership demonstrates the value of strong private-sector collaboration in supporting a publicly owned venue.
“Community partners like Mark Stock and BigIron are critical to the success of the events center,” Tarwater said. “Partnerships like these directly offset taxpayer dollars and reduce the overall level of public support needed to keep the facility operational.”
The Heartland Events Center has built strong momentum in recent years, hosting nationally touring entertainment, large-scale sporting competitions, and major regional events. Most recently, the venue welcomed a sellout crowd of more than 5,000 fans for a LOVB Nebraska volleyball match, underscoring its ability to bring people together and deliver high-impact events for the region.
VenuWorks assumed management of the Heartland Events Center in January 2025. Now in its 30th year, VenuWorks brings extensive experience in venue management, with a focus on strengthening communities, growing regional economies, and supporting the long-term success of public facilities. In its first year managing the Heartland Events Center, VenuWorks has built a strong event calendar and contributed to the venue’s continued growth and momentum.
Additional details about the naming rights agreement will be announced in the coming weeks.
