Arena cancels plans to rename venue for Bon Jovi

SPOKANE, Wash., June 3 (UPI) -- Managers of a Washington state arena said they are canceling a promotional stunt that would have temporarily renamed the venue after rock band Bon Jovi.

Officials with Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena announced Thursday they will not be temporarily changing the name to Bon Jovi Veterans Arena, a move that was announced Thursday morning, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, reported Monday.

General Manager Matt Gibson said the idea was dropped after online criticism from local veterans and other community members.

"We didn't really expect people to react the way they did," he said.

Gibson said the move was designed at showing promoters of Bon Jovi's tour that the venue was serious about hosting the band, which is scheduled to play Oct. 7.

The manager said big name acts rarely come out to Spokane, so the venue wanted to celebrate the accomplishment.

"It wasn't meant to be anything other than a goofy promotional stunt for the concert," Gibson said Friday.