SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts will continue to operate the MassMutual Center, but the state says MGM cannot put its name to the arena.

A 10-year agreement reached last week with the State Convention Center Authority, which owns the property, requires MGM to find a third-party naming rights sponsor.

Authority spokesman Nate Little said there were concerns about a company, in this case gaming giant MGM, having too much influence and brand identity with a property owned by the state.

“We expect them to use their global reach and industry contacts to find a third-party naming rights partner,” Little said Monday. “And this partnership agreement will come back to our board of directors for approval.”

MGM cited its naming rights deals for the Michelob Ultra Arena and the Dolby Live Theater, both in Las Vegas, in its submission to the authority. MGM also cited its relationships with sports company brands such as CAA, Octagon, Fenway Sports Partners and Connect Partners. Little provided the document on Monday afternoon.

MGM took over management of the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., on July 1, 2017, as part of its host community agreement with the city for its $960 million casino, which had not yet opened at the time.

The management deal was set to expire in June 2021. But the state extended it for a year, unwilling to offer the deal as COVID-19 still restricted the hospitality and entertainment industries.

The convention center authority issued a tender for the arena contract in February. MGM was the only bidder, Little said. However, the authority’s website showed that the competitors had officially requested detailed bid specifications and backup documents.

According to documents provided by Little, MGM will continue to waive its management fees for the building. But he can earn up to $120,000 if he meets performance goals in six areas:

• an increase in hotel nights and an economic impact
• cleanliness and general repair at the MassMutual center
• favorable relations with “stakeholders” and building tenants
• favorable and cooperative relationship with the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• customer service and satisfaction
• operational objectives such as the number of events booked and attendance

Since MGM took it over in 2017, the MassMutual Center has hosted more than 730 events that have drawn more than one million people to Springfield, the authority said.

The MassMutual Center was formerly known as the Springfield Civic Center. Springfield-based Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. signed a $5 million naming rights agreement in 2003. The center reopened in 2005 after extensive renovations.

The facility includes 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and an 8,000-seat arena.

On Wednesday, the authority will meet with contractors interested in bidding for demolition work on the Civic Center garage next door at 41 Harrison Ave., Little said. Those offers are due May 11, and the board is expected to vote on May 19 and set a scrap date in June.

“We’re assuming the Thunderbirds will have a long playoff run,” he said, referring to the Springfield hockey team that plays at the MassMutual Center. “We don’t want to do anything during the hockey season.

The authority purchased the Civic Center Garage from the Springfield Parking Authority in 2020 for $3.5 million.

The garage was built in 1971 around the same time as the MassMutual Center. But the garage fell into disrepair for more than 50 years.

The authority plans to build a new parking lot on the site, possibly with first-floor commercial space or other commercial space, at a cost of $30-40 million. This project will take 18 months to two years to build and is currently being designed.

The Civic Center Garage has 1,232 spaces with approximately 750 parking customers who pay monthly.