Will Dodger Stadium again avoid naming rights buzzsaw?

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Um, yeah, if the Dodgers’ new owners sell naming rights to Dodger Stadium, as Bill Shaikin of the Times suggests is possible, it’s going to stink.

But reading deeper into Shaikin’s story, perhaps we shouldn’t worry.

… In 2006, the New York Mets sold the naming rights to Citi Field for $400 million — a record for a major league team — but the market has cooled since then. The Texas Rangers, the two-time defending American League champions, do not have a corporate name atop their ballpark. Neither do the Miami Marlins, even for the grand opening of their stadium this year.

In 2003, as Frank McCourt completed his purchase of the Dodgers, his business plan included the sale of naming rights. … McCourt did not sell the naming rights to Dodger Stadium, but he received interest from several corporations, according to people familiar with the team’s sale process.

David Carter, executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute, said a new owner would be wise to at least consider a naming rights deal but wiser still not to make any immediate move in that direction.

“You have to list that as part of your marketing inventory, but it would never be the first club out of the bag for a new owner, because of the sensitivity,” Carter said.

“A new owner is not going to want to come in and trample over the brand he is trying to restore. …

Edison Field ceased to exist after the 2003 season, when the company canceled the deal. Arte Moreno, who had just bought the team from Disney, did not pursue another deal and opted to call the ballpark Angel Stadium.

“He’s not selling the naming rights,” Wagner said, “because he sees the value of the brand.”

  • Anonymous

    As if we needed more reasons to hate Frank McCourt.

    DO folks in Devner really call it Invesco, or do they still call it MileHigh?

    • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

      Don’t really understand your comment in this case. Any owner could sell the naming rights, and McCourt chose not to during his eight years.

      • Anonymous

        It’s called high Mile High Stadium by locals. 

        We don’t know if any of the current existing bidders asked if they could sell the bidding rights to the stadium. It’s just that SOMEONE asked. It could have been Mark Cuban or Peter O’Malley for all we know.

      • Anonymous

        My mistake for reading too quickly. 

        Can we resolve here to continue calling it DS even after it is renamed Cerritos Auto Square Mall Park?

        • Anonymous

          Yes

  • Anonymous

    Might backfire in another way too.  Dodger Stadium is so iconic, so no matter what paid announcers have to call it, the fans will always refer to it as Dodger Stadium.  Perhaps, even going so far as to boycott any entity trying to lay claim to the name.

  • http://twitter.com/Derek_TC Derek TC

    meh, if the rights were sold, it would be one of the last things in the world i would be concerned about, especially if the money is used to help the on-field product.

  • Anonymous

    Wasn’t Mile High Stadium the old home of the Broncos prior to Invesco’s construction?

  • Anonymous

    Mile High Stadium was torn down in 2001. It was home to the Broncos as well as the minor league Bears and the MLB Rockies for a few seasons. The Broncos current stadium is officially called Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

    Changing the name has been as successful as getting people to call Candlestick Park by its various corporate names.

  • Anonymous

    Whatever makes the team more money that would hopefully be then reinvested in the team. I’ll take Magic Johnson’s Dodger Stadium if it lands up Cole Hamels. Its just a name. As many of you said, the locals will still call it Dodger Stadium, so doesnt really matter.

  • Anonymous

    Calling venerable DS by any other name would be difficult at first. At the same time our stadium doesn’t look like the one in that wonderful photo posted here last week.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7PNAFNXM7T73BGEJ4GML6UCTC4 scottF

    Sell the naming rights as long as we can get a decent 1b,2b,3b, LF #2 starter and a 4th place power bat.  I sell the front office if we can get any off those on my list……….

    • Anonymous

      Roy Halladay Field has a nice ring to it.

  • Anonymous

    As long as it’s not McCourt Field I think I’m okay.

  • Anonymous

    Department of No Suspense Whatsoever: 
    In celebration of the stadium’s 50th anniversary (and presumably last under the name Dodger Stadium) The Dodgers have announced a “name your favorite DS moment.”

    http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/50/index.jsp

    They’ll reveal the fans’ choice on October 3, but it’s almost assuredly a race for 2nd place.  My vote: 4+1.

    • Anonymous

      Isn’t 2012 the 51 year of DS?

      • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

         Any anniversary works that way. The 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium is next month.

        • Anonymous

          Sure, this from a guy who allows his son to celebrate being 4 during his 5th year.

    • Anonymous

      While that was ridiculous, Gibson’s home run in that physical condition would be my choice. He basically said to the A’s that it did not matter how big and bad they were, it wasn’t happening that year.

      • Anonymous

        I’m with you PB if it is a post season moment. Honorable mentions to Billy Russell and Bobby Welch 1978. If it is a regular season moment then I’ll go with the RJ Reynolds squeeze play. Honorable mention to Rick Monday saving our beautiful flag.

      • Anonymous

        I assumed that this will be #1.  that’s why I said it’s a race for 2nd.

        • Anonymous

          Doh!

    • Anonymous

      Joe Ferguson against the Astros.

      • Anonymous

        Errr…Sandy’s Perfecto?

    • Anonymous

      I was at the Dennis Martinez perfect game so I’ve got a soft spot for it. Great day for a 15 year old for sure….still got the ticket too! Wish I could have seen Koufax as that would have ranked #2 in my book for sure. 
      4+1 was great but not as meaningful compared to stuff that led to Dodger’s championships or at least WS appearances.

  • Anonymous

    I know this is off topic, but, john do you think that the winner of the dodgerthoughts NCAA Bracket challenge could get his/her user name mentioned on dodgerthoughts? Just throwing ideas out.

    • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

       I always do. At least, I think I always do.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Dodgers reacquire minor-leaguer Kyle Smit, who went to Chicago in Ted Lilly trade but was released a couple weeks ago. http://bit.ly/GMWQoe

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Oh for crying out loud, they don’t have THE SQUEEZE on the moments list. 

  • Anonymous

    “but it would never be the first club out of the bag for a new owner, because of the sensitivity”

    Owner !=sensitivity

  • http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/ Linkmeister

    I happened to see part of the game today and kept muttering “Jamey Wright? When did the Dodgers get him, and why?” I see we signed him six weeks ago. Huh. I thought I’d seen all of Ned’s follies this winter, but I missed this one.

    • Anonymous

      Minor league deal…nothing to miss there.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    NPUT