Comments on: A Brief History of Stadium Naming Rights

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:32:18 +0000

Heck, I still call it the F U Center.

By: Edward

Edward — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:19:22 +0000

Speaking of naming rights, I like the previous name for the Wachovia Center in Philaelphia. It was formerly named the First Union Center (and affectionately known as….the F U Center). An appropriate name for the Flyers home turf.

By: --Mike.

--Mike. — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:23:15 +0000

The infection has caught on in NASCAR, too. It started when Charlotte Motor Speedway became Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999. Sears Point Raceway in California followed suit in 2002, recristened as Infineon Raceway. The Golden State’s other NASCAR facility, California Speedway, became known as Auto Club Speedway earlier this year.

By: Jesmi

Jesmi — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:20:55 +0000

VERY NICE!!!

Busch Stadium is more than a ballpark–it’s a landmark, an icon, a home for baseball achievement, and the site of record-setting history. Since the gates first swung open at 250 Stadium Plaza on May 12, 1966, millions of fans nurtured their love for the St. Louis Cardinals in the familiar setting of Busch Stadium. Of the 3,227 games played in this beautiful ballpark, this souvenir commemorates six of the most remarkable games.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:40:06 +0000

As a Green Bay Packer fan I’m proud that its a publicly owned team (fans can buy stock) and that the stadium is still Lambeau Field. While there are corporate signs around the place, it still has its original name.

And, here at Ohio State, the football stadium is still known as Ohio Stadium, or The Horseshoe (The Shoe), as its more commonly known.

By: Marty

Marty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:13:31 +0000

My home state and city are really represented here, Saint Louis! We never really think of Busch Stadium as a corporate name since the Busch family company is such a fond staple here…well until InBev bought the company. I always find it funny that you can’t find a Busch beer at the stadium…only Bud Light and Budweiser.

By: R

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:38:23 +0000

@J: I don’t know that the Gund was such a great arena name. Clearly I’m not a native, but I distinctly remember that the first time I heard it on the radio, I thought it sounded… infectious.

By: J

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:50:32 +0000

I am an Ohio native and love the Cleveland and Columbus teams. Cleveland has some of the worst names with Progressive Field for the Indians and Quicken Loans Arena for the Cavaliers. People around here just call them the P and the Q. The previous names were okay being Jacobs Field and Gund Arena named after the owners of the teams.

Also, when Ohio State opened a new basketball arena a few years ago the naming rights were bought by the Schottenstein family who owns Value City dept. stores and they named it Value City Arena. Some people were miffed as Value City is an “off-price” store that sells last years styles at a discount. Ohio State never put up a large sign and most people refer to the arena as “Schottenstein Center” or “The Schott”.

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:46:01 +0000

I also enjoy when venues try to get creative to either retain a historical name, or to pile on multiple names. For example, Browns stadium in Cleveland instead named their gates after various corporations. Ohio State’s basketball facility is the Value City arena which is part of the Jerome Shottenstein Center. I suppose the center encomppasses the offices, locker rooms and other facilities in addition to the actual seating and playing surface.

By: BassMan

BassMan — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:33:13 +0000

Yeah, companies pay for naming rights, the taxpayers (even those who aren’t interested) pay for the stadium, the fans pay higher ticket prices.

Ain’t that great?