AKRON, Ohio – Just before Thursday’s announcement at the Duck Club in Canal Park, the Akron RubberDucks’ mascot Webster playfully tipped his cap onto the head of 717 Credit Union’s Dollar Dog. In a lighthearted moment foreshadowing their partnership, the two mascots bumped fists and shared a hug.

The RubberDucks and 717 Credit Union revealed a naming-rights deal that will rename the ballpark 717 Credit Union Park. The team said the change aligns with downtown Akron’s redevelopment efforts and the credit union’s expansion beyond its Mahoning Valley roots. The agreement still needs approval from Akron City Council and Major League Baseball, but the team expects a “swift and smooth” process, with new signage going up during the offseason.

For 717 Credit Union, the partnership signals a bold growth strategy. “717 has been around for nearly 70 years. We got our founding in Warren, Ohio,” said John Demmler, the credit union’s president and CEO. He explained the institution now serves about 120,000 members and manages nearly $2 billion in assets. With 12 branches across northeastern Ohio, the credit union plans to add 12 more by 2030, extending its reach “from Canton to the tip of Cleveland,” with Akron as the focal point.

Demmler emphasized that the timing is intentional as the member-owned, nonprofit institution ramps up its presence in Summit County and beyond. Next year, 717 plans to open branches in Aurora, Stow and Streetsboro, and it’s considering three Akron sites. “We hope to have three locations in Akron,” Demmler said, identifying Wallhaven, Ellet and downtown as targets. “We hope to have a presence downtown prior to opening day next season.”

The naming-rights deal, Demmler noted, will amplify the credit union’s message and programs across northeastern Ohio. By 2030, the institution aims to achieve two major goals: reaching 10,000 people with financial literacy education and investing $100 million into community reinvestment focused on quality, affordable housing. “Those are two measures that we are bringing to Akron as part of this,” Demmler said.

Half of that community reinvestment will go to the Akron area, along with more than $50 million the credit union plans to put into branch infrastructure and programming as it expands its footprint. “Housing, for us, is the epitome of community,” Demmler said.

He also highlighted consumer products the credit union offers to help members save money. “Our credit card has rates as low as 7.17%,” Demmler said, noting there are no balance transfer, cash advance or annual fees. He added that qualifying balance transfers and purchases made in the first 90 days keep that rate “for the life of those balances.”

On the mortgage side, 717 “does not charge fees for our mortgages” and waives appraisal and title insurance fees, Demmler said. On a $130,000 home purchase, “that saves a borrower around $3,500 in traditional fees,” he added. “We feel it’s one barrier to home ownership that doesn’t need to stand.”

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said the city sees the partnership as part of a broader effort to promote financial wellness and access. He noted that the administration has worked with the team on multiple projects to maintain the publicly owned ballpark at a first-class level, and 717’s focus on literacy and housing “struck the chord” as the city looks to expand services. Malik said council action is expected by late October.

“The focus on financial wellness gave me a lot of comfort and excitement,” he said.

Ken Babby, owner and CEO of the RubberDucks, said the agreement reflects shared values and a long-term commitment to keeping the ballpark affordable. He declined to share financial details, describing it as a multiyear deal, but noted that naming-rights revenue helps the team offer fans low-cost options like $5 tickets and $2.50 hot dogs. Babby added that the club will continue investing in the 30-year-old ballpark, following recent upgrades such as one of Double-A’s largest video boards.

“I think you can say decisively and confidently that the Akron RubberDucks are going to continue to invest in this incredible building, and the city of Akron is going to continue to invest in the building,” Babby said. “And the power of that public-private partnership will continue to thrive and will only be accelerated further from this partnership.”

From a business perspective, Demmler said the RubberDucks platform will help 717 share its story on a larger scale as it moves into new markets.

“Our entire kind of thing is building stronger communities, and that’s what the Akron RubberDucks is about,” Demmler said. “We couldn’t find a better partner than the Akron RubberDucks to do that.”

He added that the agreement highlights the credit union’s transformation from a Warren-based cooperative into a regional player connecting its growth to downtown Akron’s momentum. “Having the naming rights to the stadium is exciting,” Demmler said, “but it’s really more about establishing roots in the city and becoming part of the fabric of this community.”

The team expects fans to see the new name when gates open next season. As Babby put it, the partnership will “really take flight … on April 2, on opening day next year, when for the first time, fans will have the opportunity to walk into this building, and it will be known as 717 Credit Union Park.”