More corporate stadium names

nyc94 · October 27, 2006, 06:10:06 PM

Early rumor that in 2009 the Met's may be playing in Citibank Stadium (or one of any number of combinations of Citi, Citibank, or Citigroup with Park, Stadium, Yard, Ballpark, etc.)

KeithK · October 27, 2006, 06:58:48 PM

The worst thing about new stadiums is that you don't have an existing name to stick to when the teams adopt these assinine corporate names. I can refer to Candlestick Park or Comiskey and everyone knows exactly what I'm referring to and it sounds right as well. Not much I can do about a place like Pacific Bell Park, or SBC or AT&T or whatever the hell it's called these days. (I briefly tried referring to it as Pacific Park.)

For all of his flaws Geroge Steinbrenner is a huge fan of the whole Yankee tradition thing so I can at least cling to the hope that the new ballpark in the Bronx will be named Yankee Stadium. That's what I'm going to call it, regardless. Or the House that George's Money Built.

nyc94 · October 27, 2006, 07:08:21 PM

It took me a good five minutes to figure out where Chase Field was.
http://www.bankoneballpark.com/home/index.asp

French Rage · October 27, 2006, 07:26:26 PM

I'm just pissed we didnt get the Pink Taco Stadium in Arizona.

Beeeej · October 28, 2006, 12:45:13 AM

There are two things I still don't quite understand about the new Met's's Stadium.

1. Why are they cutting seating down from 55,000 to 45,000? It might not sell out consistently, but it seems odd to me to cut that drastically.
2. Why aren't they naming it after William Shea again? Just for the cash they'll get for naming rights? Seems pretty sad to me, though not hugely surprising I guess.

KeithK · October 28, 2006, 03:35:13 AM

[quote Beeeej]There are two things I still don't quite understand about the new Met's's Stadium.

1. Why are they cutting seating down from 55,000 to 45,000? It might not sell out consistently, but it seems odd to me to cut that drastically.
2. Why aren't they naming it after William Shea again? Just for the cash they'll get for naming rights? Seems pretty sad to me, though not hugely surprising I guess.[/quote]Why would the Yankees cut their seating down from 57,000 to 50,000? Answer: economic. If you sell out every seat every game you can charge more on a daily basis than if there are walkup seats available. You end up making more than you could by selling the extra seats from time to time.

Also, the new ballparks tend to have wider seating rows and shorter upper decks so that probably means fewer seats.

To be honest I never knew who William Shea was until I just looked him up on Wiki. It may be sad, but I'd have been shocked if the new place were named after him. (Besides, old Shea is a dump!)

jtwcornell91 · October 28, 2006, 03:51:30 AM

What about the idea to name it after Jackie Robinson?

Jeff Hopkins '82 · October 28, 2006, 07:30:28 AM

It'll always be "that shithole Shea" to me.

I liked when the arena in Philly was the First Union Center. Everyone called it the F.U. Center. Now everyone simply calls it the Wacko, or even just The Center because the name has changed so much.

Beeeej · October 28, 2006, 11:44:51 AM

I think it's a fine idea to name a stadium after Jackie Robinson, but why the Met's's's' new stadium in particular? I don't think anybody views the Mets as the Queens New Brooklyn Dodgers, or at least they haven't in a long, long time.

KeithK · October 28, 2006, 02:31:28 PM

[quote Beeeej]I think it's a fine idea to name a stadium after Jackie Robinson, but why the Met's's's' new stadium in particular? I don't think anybody views the Mets as the Queens New Brooklyn Dodgers, or at least they haven't in a long, long time.[/quote]Agreed. It would make a lot more sense for the Dodgers to name a place after Robinson. Or the Brooklyn Cyclones even. But the Mets?

nyc94 · October 28, 2006, 06:14:45 PM

[quote KeithK]so I can at least cling to the hope that the new ballpark in the Bronx will be named Yankee Stadium. That's what I'm going to call it, regardless. Or the House that George's Money Built.[/quote]

George's money? I don't watch much regular season baseball but I still contribute to the Yankees via my cable bill - ESPN, Fox, and most importantly YES all take a slice.

I'm not holding my breath that the Yankees won't go the corporate naming route. Citibank seems like a better fit with the Yankees than the Mets but maybe we'll get Merill Lynch Field at Yankee Stadium. No dumber than LA Angels of Anaheim.

Josh '99 · October 30, 2006, 05:41:23 PM

[quote KeithK][quote Beeeej]I think it's a fine idea to name a stadium after Jackie Robinson, but why the Met's's's' new stadium in particular? I don't think anybody views the Mets as the Queens New Brooklyn Dodgers, or at least they haven't in a long, long time.[/quote]Agreed. It would make a lot more sense for the Dodgers to name a place after Robinson. Or the Brooklyn Cyclones even. But the Mets?[/quote]Sure, it'd be nice, but even the Brooklyn Cyclones play in a place with a corporate name.

KeithK · October 30, 2006, 07:23:41 PM

[quote Josh '99]Sure, it'd be nice, but even the Brooklyn Cyclones play in a place with a corporate name.[/quote]Yes, I know about the unfortunate "Keyspan Park". *sigh* We can dream.

Rita · October 30, 2006, 10:16:33 PM

[quote Jeff Hopkins '82]It'll always be "that shithole Shea" to me.

I liked when the arena in Philly was the First Union Center. Everyone called it the F.U. Center. Now everyone simply calls it the Wacko, or even just The Center because the name has changed so much.[/quote]

Plenty of "wackos" in the Wacko (or FU Center), most of them wearing orange wigs in the Flyers attempt to break the world record for number of people wearing wigs.

Flyers get the shut-out win... they played the Blackhawks who have not scored in over 13 periods.

Jeff Hopkins '82 · October 31, 2006, 08:11:09 AM

[quote Rita][quote Jeff Hopkins '82]It'll always be "that shithole Shea" to me.

I liked when the arena in Philly was the First Union Center. Everyone called it the F.U. Center. Now everyone simply calls it the Wacko, or even just The Center because the name has changed so much.[/quote]

Plenty of "wackos" in the Wacko (or FU Center), most of them wearing orange wigs in the Flyers attempt to break the world record for number of people wearing wigs.

Flyers get the shut-out win... they played the Blackhawks who have not scored in over 13 periods.[/quote]

Costumes are an annual Halloween thing there, but the wig business was new. According to VS, they had over 9000 people wearing the wigs.

I had tix, but couldn't go (sick). Glad the team didn't aggravate the illness.