Controversy brewed in Cranston last week forcing Mayor Hopkins to put his foot down when the new Topgolf facility announced that it would be taking on the official name of Topgolf Providence.

On July 12 WPRI’s Ted Nesi reported that Hopkins “had made it abundantly clear” that he wanted the facility to be called Topgolf Cranston. An expectation that appears understandable considering Cranston will be the home of the new destination.

“I told them specifically that the ACI is in Cranston, Garden City is Cranston, the Park Theatre is Cranston … if they want to have it Topgolf Providence, take the poles down, take the building down and move it to Providence,” Hopkins told 12 News.

Top Golf Cranston or Topgolf Rhode Island were the two names Mayor Hopkins said that he would have been okay with when it came to naming the facility. However, Nesi reported that Hopkins had admitted to feeling frustrated upon hearing that Top Golf would be using Providence in their name, especially considering his assertion that the company had not returned his calls in a month leading his legal team to study the city’s contract with Topgolf in the hopes of finding a way that both parties could come to agreeable terms.

“We worked hard to bring this here, I mean, I’ve said it from Day 1 this is the biggest recreational facility since Rocky Point existed,” Hopkins added in his discussion with 12 News. “We don’t want them coming here thinking they’re going to Providence. We want them to think they’re coming to Cranston.”

After making waves and defending his stance that Topgolf Providence was the wrong name for the facility, Hopkins happily announced on July 14 that Topgolf had agreed to name the facility Topgolf Rhode Island.

“This is not a slight against Providence. Providence now has great leadership in Mayor Smiley who is moving that city in the right direction,” Hopkins said in a press release. “I am greatly appreciative of the cooperation and open-mindedness of Top Golf’s executive management and their response to my request. This sends a message to the people of Cranston and the state of Rhode Island that Top Golf cares about our residents. Symbolically, this was important to Cranston, and it gives our city more proper recognition as the host community for this great entertainment and economic venture.”

With their agreement to change the name of the facility, Hopkins said that they have demonstrated one of the reasons that he, and the city of Cranston, have been so excited to work with the company and become a destination for entertainment across the region.

“Of course, we still welcome and are proud of companies like Providence Lacquer, Supply, Texas Roadhouse and the Olneyville New York System in Cranston as long standing and thriving businesses,” Hopkins said. “But with Top Golf, as a team, we are proud to make clear to everyone that Top Golf is a special part of Cranston, Rhode Island. The City of Cranston, Rhode Island looks forward to working with and hosting this great destination venue.”