© 2026 Nicholas Alumkal
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — Onondaga County is asking students across Central New York to help name its new near-$100 million aquarium, which remains on track to open in August at the Inner Harbor.
County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the naming contest during an event with students at the Museum of Science & Technology on Wednesday.
“We’re looking for potential names that capture both the excitement of visiting and meaningful learning that happens inside that facility,” McMahon said.
Students must submit proposed names through their school districts by March 20. The county will then convene a review team, including marketing staff and school representatives, to select a final name.
“We’re looking for names that are creative, memorable and reflect what the aquarium is all about,” McMahon said. “Or just make someone smile and say, ‘That sounds like a place I’d like to visit.’”
McMahon said the facility will also secure a corporate naming rights sponsor for the building, but the aquarium’s official venue name will come from the student contest.
“We will have naming rights for the building, but not the actual name,” he said, comparing the model to the county-owned amphitheater — Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview — which carries both a permanent name and a sponsor’s name. The aquarium’s sponsor which will be determined closer to opening, McMahon said.
Construction on the aquarium began in October 2024. The project’s cost has grown from an initial $85 million estimate to $100 million. County officials have said most of the funding comes from county sources and federal support, with additional money raised through private donations.
The aquarium project has encountered some pushback. Democrats who took control of the Onondaga County Legislative earlier this year said they’ve received consistent emails from constituents calling on them to stop the aquarium project.
CNY Solidarity Coalition voices its opposition to the project on its website, saying “we have important issues to address before considering a County Aquarium. Including but not limited to addressing poverty, increasing mental health services, building affordable housing, building better infrastructure like sewer, water, broadband, sidewalks, roads, etc., investing in public transportation, investing in education and more.”
The aquarium is expected to feature more than 250 species in about 35 exhibits. McMahon highlighted several species planned for the facility Wednesday, including garden eels, red lionfish, red-bellied piranhas, sea dragons and sea nettle jellyfish.
“These tanks are coming over from Italy,” McMahon said, referring to large exhibit tanks still in transit. “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… But right now, I think August of 2026 is safe to say.”
County officials estimate the aquarium will employ between 50 and 100 people once fully operational. McMahon has said the project is intended to boost tourism, support redevelopment at the Inner Harbor and expand educational opportunities in the region.
Donna DeSiato, superintendent of the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District, said the naming contest gives students a direct role in the project.
“This truly is an exciting opportunity, and also a wonderful experience for our students to be able to be part of the contribution of ideas and suggestions for the naming of the aquariums,” DeSiato said.
She said the aquarium will serve as a local educational resource for schools and families in addition to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and M.O.S.T.
“It brings another resource, and a very important part of the collection of education and experience for central New York,” DeSiato said. “And have our families, and our students, our schools be able to connect with the aquarium, develop education, and programs with the aquarium, will absolutely bring a very vital effect to our community, and to our county.”
McMahon stressed the importance of new amenities to the community, especially for children in the Syracuse area.
“The reality is, I can almost promise you, I would say 80% to 90% of the kids in schools across this community would never see an aquarium as a kid,” McMahon said. “Now, they will.”