Comments on: A Brief History of Stadium Naming Rights

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:47:00 +0000

I know a few Philly diehards who still refer to the Wachovia Center as the “F U Center,” after the previous sponsor, First Union bank. I think it suits Philly well.

It took me a few years to realize that the Great American Ball Park was named after a company. That’s brilliant. Teams shouldn’t necessarily take biggest offer, but the name that sounds the best.

By: SportsBiz

SportsBiz — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:34:00 +0000

Wrigley Field is not actually named for the chewing gum company although it might as well be. It is named for Phillip Wrigley the owner of both the Cubs and said chewing gum company at the time. Corporate synthesis at its best.

Then there is the ever revolving names placed on the home of the Philadelphia Sixers and Flyers, which has undergone at least three name changes and is due for another as Wachovia, the current naming rights holder, has passed into corporate oblivion, thanks to the current credit crisis.

By: minkhollow

minkhollow — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:12:00 +0000

And, of course, there’s Cincinnati. The ‘Great American Ball Park’? It sounds like particularly epic ‘NONE CAN BE BETTER’ hubris, except for where it’s the fault of corporate sponsorship.

By: Russ

Russ — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:48:00 +0000

I think you should mention Wrigley Field.

By: Amy D

Amy D — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:52:00 +0000

Those NYC council members have a great idea! They should name it Citi/Taxpayers Field, and “Taxpayers” only comes off after Citibank has paid back the entire loan. Let’s see how fast Citibank can scrape together the cash then!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0000

Stadium naming rights are not that new. Does Wrigley Field ring a bell? Named for the chewing gum/candy company. That dates back to 1926. While it was the owners last name, no doubt it was also an advertising move.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:03:00 +0000

Don’t forget the tale of Denver’s Invesco Field at Mile High. Invesco was bought by a UK investment firm and disolved, when the Broncos asked the new owners what they wanted the stadium name to be, they said they had no interest in changing it. So the stadium continues to market the name of a non-existent company.