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I was reading an espn.com article on how Cubs owner Sam Zell wants to sell the naming rights of Wrigley Field. Obviously, this is a complete and utter cultural travesty. But I'm wondering about the potential buyers.

What company thinks it's worth $400 mil or so to besmirch the 80+ year old name of Wrigley? What's the risk of consumer backlash? I question the value of buying naming rights in general, and in a case like this I think it could totally backfire on the purchaser.

Oh, and Cubs fans? You have the power to keep your stadium name. Always call it Wrigley, no matter what it says on the marquee.

Quoting LHMARK (Thread starter): I question the value of buying naming rights in general,

Personally I think its a waste of money for any company, and die-hard baseballs fans will go berserk if they but a corporate name on Wrigley, Yankee, or Fenway. Maybe a thread should be started on the worst names. On the positive side the 49ers home is going back to Candlestick Park minus any corporate name.

Maybe a chewing gum manufacturer could bid?  

signol

Quoting AirCop (Reply 1): 49ers home is going back to Candlestick Park

Glad to hear that, to me it always has been Candlestick.
I can understand having a corporate name stuck on a new build arena/stadium. But to screw with the tradition of places like Wrigley, Fenway etc is beyond me.

WrenchBender

I've got this suspicion that the new Yankee Stadium will end up with a corporate name before long. That'll leave just Fenway and (maybe) Wrigley as holdouts.

Quoting Signol (Reply 2): Maybe a chewing gum manufacturer could bid?

The new ownership made a comment about how Wrigley should have to pay to keep their name on the stadium. It was originally named Wrigley due to them owning the team at the time it was built. - so in essence, Wrigley was the first to have a corporate name on a stadium.

Hopefully someday, in addition to the 19 Verizon Wireless Amphitheaters we have (R.I.P. Irvine Meadows, Blockbuster Pavilion, Sunken Gardens, GTE Pavilion, Riverport, Deer Creek, Oak Mountain, Sandstone, etc. etc.) we'll have Verizon Wireless Stadiums!

I can only imagine the mobs that will form if Yankee, Fenway, or Wrigley is ever re-named. The idea to re-name Busch in St. Louis to Bud Park was -quickly- brushed aside.

But of course, on the flip side, the humorist in me would chuckle if Wrigley was bought out and renamed Busch Stadium North.

Quoting PROSA (Reply 4): I've got this suspicion that the new Yankee Stadium will end up with a corporate name before long. That'll leave just Fenway and (maybe) Wrigley as holdouts.

I agree. I'm predicting Dean Witter Field at yankee Stadium.

Quoting PROSA (Reply 4): That'll leave just Fenway and (maybe) Wrigley as holdouts.

Just Fenway and Wrigley? You're forgetting Turner Field, Nationals Park, Dolphin Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Kauffman Stadium, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Quoting KROC (Reply 7): I'm predicting Dean Witter Field at yankee Stadium.

Nah - probably this:



  

This is the specific reason there were no naming rights given to the new Yankee Stadium. Any company that puts their name on the new Yankee Stadium would just be hurting their goodwill and creating animosity against their brand.

Quoting Garnetpalmetto (Reply 8): Dolphin Stadium

You mean Joe Robby Stadium.

Dan in Jupiter

Quoting Garnetpalmetto (Reply 8): You're forgetting Turner Field, Nationals Park, Dolphin Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Kauffman Stadium, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Also forgetting the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome.

A new outdoor stadium is being built which will open in 2010. There has not been any real discussion so far about naming rights for the new stadium, but I think everyone pretty much thinks there will be.

Quoting Garnetpalmetto (Reply 8): Quoting PROSA (Reply 4): That'll leave just Fenway and (maybe) Wrigley as holdouts. Just Fenway and Wrigley? You're forgetting Turner Field, Nationals Park, Dolphin Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Kauffman Stadium, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim

I meant of the old-line stadiums.

Quoting LHMARK (Thread starter):

Terrible move. I really hope Cuban buys the team, because he will have the balls to say no to such a terrible idea.

Quoting PROSA (Reply 4): I've got this suspicion that the new Yankee Stadium will end up with a corporate name before long

Not so long as the City of New York has its way.

Quoting PROSA (Reply 4): That'll leave just Fenway and (maybe) Wrigley as holdouts.

Quoting Garnetpalmetto (Reply 8): You're forgetting Turner Field, Nationals Park, Dolphin Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Kauffman Stadium, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Quoting PROSA (Reply 13): I meant of the old-line stadiums.

They you definately left out Dodger Stadium.

Quoting Sprout5199 (Reply 11): You mean Joe Robby Stadium.

Nope, he means Dolphin Stadium, formerly Pro Player Stadium, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium.

Yeah, All these name changes suck,

Here in Raleigh they just renamed Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek
To "Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, "

I am honestly amazed they didn't throw "HighSpeed Internet" in there.

Another tragedy.

Will just be Walnut Creek from now on; in my mind.

Quoting CasInterest (Reply 16): Here in Raleigh they just renamed Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek To "Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, "

Quoting CasInterest (Reply 16): Another tragedy.

I don't see how it is a tragedy. Alltel Pavilion is a corporate name too.

Quoting Beefer (Reply 12): Also forgetting the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome. A new outdoor stadium is being built which will open in 2010. There has not been any real discussion so far about naming rights for the new stadium, but I think everyone pretty much thinks there will be.

Northwest Field (to be re-named Delta Field)...I think I can make an exception for naming rights made by airlines 

One of the funniest corporate name for a stadium is of course:

I must admit to having dreams of a "D'angelo's Field," "John Hancock Park," or "The ballpark at New Balance Stadium" in Boston.

Quoting Newark777 (Reply 19): One of the funniest corporate name for a stadium is of course:

Funny in that they had to give up the rights so soon because of their chicanery. While the new name, Minute Maid Park, sounds rather dumb in practice, it allows for an excellent nickname. "The Juice Box"

Quoting LHMARK (Reply 20): I must admit to having dreams of a "D'angelo's Field," "John Hancock Park," or "The ballpark at New Balance Stadium" in Boston.

Not going to happen. The Chowds would burn the place down. With the Monster seats and the TV network, the Red Sox don't need to cheapen themselves with a naming rights deal. That said, KROC's Mutts and the City of New York struck a good balance with their new stadium, as Citi Field fits the surrounding. If that naming deal ever ends, they might as well rename the place City Field.

Quoting N1120A (Reply 21): Funny in that they had to give up the rights so soon because of their chicanery.

Exactly, it's great to see a sports organization sell out the stadium naming rights, and for once get embarrassed as their namesake corporation becomes one of the most vilified companies in the country.

Quoting CasInterest (Reply 16): Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek

good god. that's just horrible.

under neath it all, good venue. saw Stevie Nicks there.

Quoting CasInterest (Reply 16): Yeah, All these name changes suck, Here in Raleigh they just renamed Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek To "Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, " I am honestly amazed they didn't throw "HighSpeed Internet" in there. Another tragedy. Will just be Walnut Creek from now on; in my mind.

It had a corporate sponsor before Alltel - it formerly was Hardees Walnut Creek Amphitheater. It matters not, since I've lived up here it's always been called just Walnut Creek Amphitheater by locals.

Quoting Garnetpalmetto (Reply 24): It had a corporate sponsor before Alltel - it formerly was Hardees Walnut Creek Amphitheater. It matters not, since I've lived up here it's always been called just Walnut Creek Amphitheater by locals.

Interestingly, the Home Depot Center, which has had that corporate name since it opened, has taken on the name Victoria Street in the classic English style.

Quoting N1120A (Reply 21): Not going to happen. The Chowds would burn the place down. With the Monster seats and the TV network, the Red Sox don't need to cheapen themselves with a naming rights deal.

No, wait, I'm starting to get behind this whole naming rights thing...

I would love to see the business case of one of these companies that pay hundreds of millions to get their name on a stadium. I think it would be interesting to see the numbers and how they justify the cost. I just can't imagine that they get that much new business/goodwill, etc by having their name up there. They might get a percentage of ticket or concession sales, but I would not think it is enough. Hard to say.

Chicagoan would be pissed to no end.. Just ask Macy's (old Marshall Fields) and Cellular One -yea - i know - people got used to it but re naming Wrigley would be a much much bigger deal.

If i had a company i would be afraid of consumer backlash...

Quoting COrocks (Reply 27): They might get a percentage of ticket or concession sales

They don't. They pay money to have their names on the stadia, the benefit is that of advertising.

Quoting KROC (Reply 7): I agree. I'm predicting Dean Witter Field at yankee Stadium.

That's about as silly as some of the naming conventions used for college football and basketball facilities. At Georgia Tech they have Bobby Dodd Stadium At Historic Grant Field and they have Crimmins Court @ Alexander Memorial Coliseum (The arena was from 1996-2005 called Alexander Memorial Coliseum At McDonald's Center). At UGA, they've tried to get former Coach and AD Vince Dooley's name attached to the stadium either as Sanford-Dooley Stadium or as Dooley Field @ Sanford Stadium, but the requests have been rebuffed and instead a section of the campus will be named in his honor.

I'll bet that Nationals Park will have a corporate name attached to it within 2-3 years.


If the Cubs owner gets someone to purchase the naming rights, I think that company will face a boycott.

Quoting Vikkyvik (Reply 15): Quoting Sprout5199: You mean Joe Robby Stadium. Nope, he means Dolphin Stadium, formerly Pro Player Stadium, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium.

Well, Dolphin Stadium after Dolphins Stadium, formerly Pro Player Stadium after Pro Player Park, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium.  

Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 5): Wrigley was the first to have a corporate name on a stadium.

That's what I was thinking. Couldn't Wrigley continue with the contract, if there is one? I would hope, for the sake of history, whoever gets naming rights would name it something like "XYZ Stadium at Wrigley Field" or something similar.

Quoting Stlgph (Reply 6): we'll have Verizon Wireless Stadiums!

I thought there was a Verizon Wireless Stadium in Albany, NY or Springfield, MA?

Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 9): Nah - probably this:

Now that would be the day hell broke loose in NY

Just for information; at one time there was a Wrigley Field in Los Angeles the first home of the Los Angeles Angels back in 1961 prior to that a AAA ballpark for the Los Angeles Angels and Hollywood Stars.

Quoting AirCop (Reply 34): Just for information; at one time there was a Wrigley Field in Los Angeles the first home of the Los Angeles Angels back in 1961 prior to that a AAA ballpark for the Los Angeles Angels and Hollywood Stars.

Yep. Wrigley Field L.A. was apparently designed scientifically to be the perfect balance of a pitchers and hitters park, and not favoring right or left handed batters. Further, it was the host park for the "Home Run Derby" TV series that served as a very real income source for the underpaid players of the day as well as the forerunner to the contests of today.

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 32): Couldn't Wrigley continue with the contract, if there is one?

There is no contract. The field is named for William Wrigley Jr.

Quoting KFLLCFII (Reply 31): Well, Dolphin Stadium after Dolphins Stadium, formerly Pro Player Stadium after Pro Player Park, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium.

No corporation wants to buy the rights because the Dolphins suck... So us dolphans are stuck with Dolphin Stadium. Blah. Take it back to Joe Robbie. Sheesh. Anyway, here's to next season under the Tuna Can legacy...

Shea Stadium was named for an attorney, William Shea, who was instrumental in bringing the Mets to life and the development of the stadium. Sadly, it was hoped that the replacement for Shea was to be named Jackie Robinson Field, in honor of the first black MLB player.
Many corporate names have not stuck as corps go bankrupt, (Pro Player, Enron), mergers with renamings (many names/companies), poor financial conditions (such as the decline in airlines names on stadiums/arenas/ballparks).
I hope along with Yankee Stadium, and others, Wrigley will not go to corporate naming or expand more ads within the ballpark.

Quoting GQfluffy (Reply 36): No corporation wants to buy the rights because the Dolphins suck... So us dolphans are stuck with Dolphin Stadium. Blah. Take it back to Joe Robbie. Sheesh. Anyway, here's to next season under the Tuna Can legacy...

Yeh, but Wayne just sold 1/2 of the team for $500 Million. Someone wants them. It should be JRS as he build the stadium with his own money.

I'm glad the OB was never renamed. Sad to see it go but it was a $hitty stadium anyways.

Dan in Jupiter

Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 37): Sadly, it was hoped that the replacement for Shea was to be named Jackie Robinson Field, in honor of the first black MLB player.

Fred Wilpon, owner of the Mets, grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. One of the best wiseass ideas I heard for naming the new stadium was that Ralph Lauren should buy the naming rights, and call it the "Polo Grounds" - after the ballpark where the Dodgers' hated cross-town rivals the NY Giants once played