NCAA site sponsorships: What happens if you don't pay up?

[billhoward]

Notice the intriguing M-shaped NCAA sign in Gillette Stadium covering up what appears to be a golden arch. Could it be someone wasn't tithing the proper sponsorship money? Maybe there's a more benign explanation.

[ugarte]

It also looks like a doorway.

[nyc94]

[quote ugarte]It also looks like a doorway.[/quote]

A doorway to McDonalds?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FBAws895G2VYrclkwKSWoQ

[billhoward]

Thanks for that photo. I was thinking also about the exposed upper decks at Gillette Stadium: It's goregous in May when everyone is wearing halter tops and T-shirts, a different story in December when the winter winds blow in.

[Jordan 04]

Really? The first thought here was that McDonalds is an NCAA sponsor and was potential bouncing checks, which resulted in the punishment of covering their logo with a white sheet?

[quote billhoward]Maybe there's a more benign explanation.[/quote]

How about: McDonald's isn't a sponsor of the NCAA?

[Jacob '06]

I imagine it is just an ad that is normally in Gilette, but that wasn't allowed up for the NCAAs. This always happens with them covering the board ads in the hockey regionals and frozen four.

[billhoward]

[quote Jordan 04]Really? The first thought here was that McDonalds is an NCAA sponsor and was potential bouncing checks, which resulted in the punishment of covering their logo with a white sheet?

[quote billhoward]Maybe there's a more benign explanation.[/quote]

How about: McDonald's isn't a sponsor of the NCAA?[/quote]

There maust be delicate back-and-forths: Somebody buys sponsor/signage rights to the stadium and the contract says, "Must be visible for all games." Then along comes the NCAA or Springsteen or the Monster Truck Show and they have a conflicting fast food sponsor or a rule that says no visible signage bigger than 10 x 10 feet unless there's a separate deal with us.

There was no white tarp over "Gillette Stadium" perhaps because - Lord, forgive me; I am weak - Syracuse won by a close shave.

[Chris '03]

The funny thing is that the McDonald's itself was open all weekend. The signage was just covered throughout the stadium.