Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Piti-Field of Dreams
Okay, the Super Bowl is over and we have barely two weeks before MLB spring training kicks off. Let's take advantage of this fallow period in sports (for the purposes of this discussion, the NBA and NHL are not considered serious sports; college basketball is "meh" until March Madness begins) -- and think about the importance of names.
In this "new era of responsibility," (you know, what the president spoke about in his inaugural address), let's kick it old school: There's too much temptation and specious opportunity involved in naming stadiums, ballparks and sports centers after corporations and products. The vicissitudes of the market are too powerful; the likelihood of collapse -- either economic, ethical, legal or some combination thereof -- is too likely.
As The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, Citigroup is considering pulling out of its 10 year/$400 million agreement on the New York Mets' brand new stadium. It is to be named "CitiField," per the leasing of naming rights in a contract signed two years ago ($20 million over 20 years). The signage is already up on the entrance to the park. But, Citigroup has received some $45 billion in taxpayer funds from the Troubled Assets Relief Program." The bank was pilloried in the press for attempting to continue purchase of a $50 million private jet. Ultimately embarrassed by both media and the political class, Citigroup canceled the jet. Now, the WSJ indicates that the bank is trying to get out of the ballpark deal -- while the Mets say the deal is "legally binding."
It's not like any of this was unforeseeable: Has anyone forgotten "Enron Field" -- home park of baseball's Houston Astros? Following the energy and trading company's fiscal evaporation, it became Minute Maid Park -- reflecting a longer-lasting, more wholesome product.
Of course, Citibank/group was perceived as an equally reliable brand two-and-a-half years ago when the Mets accepted the naming rights; the New York Yankees brand, incidentally, is so strong that the club had no need to license a name for the new Yankee Stadium.
Despite the many stadiums and parks with corporate names, perhaps now's a good time to go back to the old ways: If you can't name sports venues after the teams that play there, instead name it after respected individuals, ideally dead ones who would be less likely to sully their reputation. Sure, that would mean less money coming in for the sports organization. But look at the bright side: There wouldn't be the embarrassment created by a sponsoring organization's stumbling -- or disappearing.
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In this "new era of responsibility," (you know, what the president spoke about in his inaugural address), let's kick it old school: There's too much temptation and specious opportunity involved in naming stadiums, ballparks and sports centers after corporations and products. The vicissitudes of the market are too powerful; the likelihood of collapse -- either economic, ethical, legal or some combination thereof -- is too likely.
As The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, Citigroup is considering pulling out of its 10 year/$400 million agreement on the New York Mets' brand new stadium. It is to be named "CitiField," per the leasing of naming rights in a contract signed two years ago ($20 million over 20 years). The signage is already up on the entrance to the park. But, Citigroup has received some $45 billion in taxpayer funds from the Troubled Assets Relief Program." The bank was pilloried in the press for attempting to continue purchase of a $50 million private jet. Ultimately embarrassed by both media and the political class, Citigroup canceled the jet. Now, the WSJ indicates that the bank is trying to get out of the ballpark deal -- while the Mets say the deal is "legally binding."
It's not like any of this was unforeseeable: Has anyone forgotten "Enron Field" -- home park of baseball's Houston Astros? Following the energy and trading company's fiscal evaporation, it became Minute Maid Park -- reflecting a longer-lasting, more wholesome product.
Of course, Citibank/group was perceived as an equally reliable brand two-and-a-half years ago when the Mets accepted the naming rights; the New York Yankees brand, incidentally, is so strong that the club had no need to license a name for the new Yankee Stadium.
Despite the many stadiums and parks with corporate names, perhaps now's a good time to go back to the old ways: If you can't name sports venues after the teams that play there, instead name it after respected individuals, ideally dead ones who would be less likely to sully their reputation. Sure, that would mean less money coming in for the sports organization. But look at the bright side: There wouldn't be the embarrassment created by a sponsoring organization's stumbling -- or disappearing.
Labels: CitiField, Citigroup, New York Mets
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Mets Suck
Not just because the highest payroll in the National League has been playing under .500 for the season.
No, because after letting Manager Willie Randolph dangle in the wind for weeks, they let him fly cross country, beat the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels (the Mets' third win in four games), have a press conference -- and then fire him, announcing it by press release at 3:15 AM EST.
Shame on Omar Minaya and the entire New York Mets organization
By the way, this has nothing to do with whether Randolph should have been fired after last season's historic collapse or because the team under-achieved this year. This is about the right and wrong way of doing something.
The Mets treated an honorable man shabbily. Once again, shame on the entire organization.
UPDATE: The Daily News' Bill Madden lets the Amazin's have it.
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No, because after letting Manager Willie Randolph dangle in the wind for weeks, they let him fly cross country, beat the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels (the Mets' third win in four games), have a press conference -- and then fire him, announcing it by press release at 3:15 AM EST.
Shame on Omar Minaya and the entire New York Mets organization
By the way, this has nothing to do with whether Randolph should have been fired after last season's historic collapse or because the team under-achieved this year. This is about the right and wrong way of doing something.
The Mets treated an honorable man shabbily. Once again, shame on the entire organization.
UPDATE: The Daily News' Bill Madden lets the Amazin's have it.
Labels: baseball, New York Mets, Willie Randolph
Monday, March 31, 2008
Batter Up!
Ah, chill in the air or otherwise, Opening Day in Major League Baseball is finally here!
Sorry, Sawx fans, but the two-game interlude last week in Japan doesn't count (yes, the Japanese like the sport, but baseball is still our national pastime).
Sorry, Nationals fans, but your nice debut in your new stadium last night doesn't count (a one-game series!?!? And, besides, DC isn't a state, right?).
But, today is the real day. An historic season as the New York Yankees open one last season in the classic Yankee stadium, against the Toronto Blue Jays, before moving across the street for a new park in '09. The Mets open on the road in Florida (before beginning their final season at Shea Stadium next week). Fading into the past are last season's disappointing end for both Big Apple teams and a tumultuous off-season -- especially for the Bronx Bombers, who endured a change in managers for the first time in twelve years and had to deal with the Mitchell Report's information on the Yankees' role in the Steroid Era.
Nope, today spring officially begins; change and hope (not the Obama variety) are in the air and all things are possible!
Baseball is back!
Play ball!
UPDATE: Or don't play. Ya win some; ya lose some -- and some get rained out. Let's hope the weather is better in Florida!
UPDATE II: And, yes, the weather is better. And Johan Santana was great: The Mets win!
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Sorry, Sawx fans, but the two-game interlude last week in Japan doesn't count (yes, the Japanese like the sport, but baseball is still our national pastime).
Sorry, Nationals fans, but your nice debut in your new stadium last night doesn't count (a one-game series!?!? And, besides, DC isn't a state, right?).
But, today is the real day. An historic season as the New York Yankees open one last season in the classic Yankee stadium, against the Toronto Blue Jays, before moving across the street for a new park in '09. The Mets open on the road in Florida (before beginning their final season at Shea Stadium next week). Fading into the past are last season's disappointing end for both Big Apple teams and a tumultuous off-season -- especially for the Bronx Bombers, who endured a change in managers for the first time in twelve years and had to deal with the Mitchell Report's information on the Yankees' role in the Steroid Era.
Nope, today spring officially begins; change and hope (not the Obama variety) are in the air and all things are possible!
Baseball is back!
Play ball!
UPDATE: Or don't play. Ya win some; ya lose some -- and some get rained out. Let's hope the weather is better in Florida!
UPDATE II: And, yes, the weather is better. And Johan Santana was great: The Mets win!
Labels: baseball, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees
Sunday, September 30, 2007
The New York Mets...
...suck.
Discuss.
UPDATE: In the interest of good sportsmanship, we should give the Philadelphia Philliestheir due. While the Mets lost games that they should have won against the Marlins and the Nationals, the Phils did the lion's share of the damage to the Amazin's by winning eight straight games against them in September. They are rightly NL East champs. I tip my cap to my colleague, Phillies Phanatic extraordinaire, Funky Pundit (who, strangely has yet to blog his team's big win; I think it's because he's getting seriously drunk).
UPDATE II: The New York Jets suck too. The Bills? The frickin' Buffalo Bills? You gotta be kidding me...
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Discuss.
UPDATE: In the interest of good sportsmanship, we should give the Philadelphia Philliestheir due. While the Mets lost games that they should have won against the Marlins and the Nationals, the Phils did the lion's share of the damage to the Amazin's by winning eight straight games against them in September. They are rightly NL East champs. I tip my cap to my colleague, Phillies Phanatic extraordinaire, Funky Pundit (who, strangely has yet to blog his team's big win; I think it's because he's getting seriously drunk).
UPDATE II: The New York Jets suck too. The Bills? The frickin' Buffalo Bills? You gotta be kidding me...
Labels: historic collapse, New York Mets
