Onondaga County is looking for a name for its new aquarium and is asking school children to help. While the county is seeking a corporate sponsor whose name will appear on the building's exterior, it is also looking for a formal name for the venue itself.
County Executive Ryan McMahon compared the branding strategy to the county's amphitheater.
"We will have naming rights for the building, but not the actual name," McMahon said. "For example, the amphitheater is the Lakeview Amphitheater, but it has a sponsor, right? So this is to name the actual venue, but certainly we will have a sponsor of that venue."
Some East Syracuse-Minoa students already had ideas when McMahon told them kids would be naming the new aquarium. One student suggested "The Bikini Splash Zone." Another suggested "The Aquacuse Exploraquarium."
Students have until March 20 to submit their ideas at their schools. Schools will then send the ideas to the county. Then, a team of marketers and other officials will choose the winner.
McMahon said the 100-million-dollar facility is still on track to open in August 2026, but said there are some supply chain issues involving some of the large tanks that will hold some of the 250 species of aquatic animals.
"These tanks are coming over from Italy," McMahon said. "And so some of the tanks have come. The largest tanks from Italy have gotten to the port. Then, from the port, it needs to get released. So it's kind of a moving target. Could, if the tanks get here sooner, we'd be open a little bit earlier? Yes. But right now, I think August of 2026 is safe to say."
McMahon also mentioned some of the species that will call the new aquarium home, including red-bellied piranha, sea dragons, garden eels, red lionfish, and others.
