Comments on: U.S. Cellular Field may get a name change next year

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:13:32 +0000

It’s probably in the fine print about naming rights. What’s the point of buying naming rights if ESPN keeps calling it New Comiskey? And yes I already knew the answer. I just wanted to rant!

By: jaysjunkie

jaysjunkie — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:02:50 +0000

God, I hate these stadiums changing names so often.

By: Detroit Michael

Detroit Michael — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:00:20 +0000

Because that doesn’t maximize revenue (although I think you knew that answer!)

The thing that I don’t get is, just because a company pays the White Sox naming rights money, why everyone else wants to use the official name. Let the fans keep calling it “New Comiskey” regardless of what the official name is.

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:47:22 +0000

I’ve got an idea…how about “Comiskey Park?”

By: kopy

kopy — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:46:46 +0000

Exactly. No different than if “Curly” Lambeau owned another business.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:28:26 +0000

Not really a “corporate sponsor” in the usual sense of the word; Wrigley pays no money. The Wrigley family owned the team many many moons ago (think early 20th century), and the family name was placed on the stadium. It remains today as tradition.

By: Caught Looking

Caught Looking — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:10:05 +0000

Isn’t Wrigley Field really already named for a corporate sponsor? $15MM worth of ‘free’ advertising is a lot of gum.

By: kevinleaptrot

kevinleaptrot — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:58:01 +0000

I’m sure that at some point the claimed that they were going to maintain a long term relationship with Chicago area cell phone customers as well. Seems pretty stupid from a business standpoint to have your corporate name on a stadium in a market in which you don’t offer service any more.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:46:19 +0000

Why can’t ballparks have great baseball names anymore?

By: geoknows

geoknows — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:45:03 +0000

Well, gee, it sure looks like there’s been word to me:

“On a conference call with financial analysts, the company said the Sprint deal does not change naming rights on the home field for the White Sox, U.S. Cellular Field.

“We have a long-term relationship with the White Sox,” said David Kimbell, chief marketing officer at U.S. Cellular. “Even after this transaction, we’re going to have 1,400 associates in Chicago so that relationship (with the White Sox) is not part of that deal and will not be changing.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-us-cellular-exiting-chicago-market-20121107,0,6960450.story?track=rss