How ridiculous does that name sound? I wonder which team will sell out next?? Here's the story: Comiskey Park benched by Sox

[ February 04, 2003, 05:03 AM: Message edited by: SeaMarFan ]

Yeah it's a real loss. What happened to naming stadiums and auditoriums for heros or true winners. It's terrible now that all the stadiums are named for businesses, most slated to go under within five years anyway. I know this isn't sport's realted, but I think it's so stupid to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra in Verizon Hall. I wonder what the new stadium in Philly is to be called.

Yeah, Shore!

I remember that in my college days, I used to see that classroom buildings and college buildings were named after long-time faculty members and excellent academic leaders of the university. I always thought that it was the best tribute an university could bestow upon one of its most loyal and dedicated employees. I always enjoyed reading the memorial plaques, pictures and tributes of the esteemed persons in the lobby of these academic buildings.

Right now when I go to any college, I see more corporate and funding foundation names for dorms, classroom buildings and other facilities! It is so sad! The college might as well tell all of its faculty that they don't have to bother to work so hard and to serve the academic community so well for many years!

Mikestead

with all the budget cuts that schools have to endure, the best carrot they can hold out to some of the big donors is an opportunity to slap their name on a building or something like that.

It's an ego thing--who wouldn't want their name on a building?

This is America. Everything's for sale.

I agree with all these sentiments - and display it by refusing to call venues by their renames in my speech and writing. If people are confused, they've never told me so and it's one way of keeping traditions alive.

gmg -- I cringe at the mouthful of words needed for the name of the stadium in your fair city -- don't some announcers now call it 3Com Park at Candlestick Point? I'm thinking, "get right to the point" and just call it Candlestick! (and I usually don't cringe at mouthfuls wink !)

It's similar for the Diaphragm in Denver where it's Invesco Field at Mile High ... or some such nonsense.

In DC (well out in the 'burbs actually) -- we have FedEx Field, which the Fox broadcaster-types try to get hip and call it "The X" -- yuck

Thank heavens the Green Bay Packers passed up on the $$$ -- Lambeau Field will always be just that! (there were offers from Coca-Cola, among others, a few years back when the reconstruction of the stadium was started)

[ February 04, 2003, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]

Some people here in Chicago are already calling the stadium The Cell. It seems strangely appropriate.

After 100 yrs its sad.- I will sell you my first born child and name him " Pizza Hut" or "Miller Light " for a price.

The Packers ... America's Team!!!

An article I read today says they're negotiating with a few companies and it will likely take the name of a local company. Furthermore, it added, they will not add the late Richie Ashburn's name to it in any way (such as my suggestion of "Ashburn Field at Comcast Plaza" in another thread). They said they'll honor him in some other way. What a joke.

DCB, Most folks here "still" (?) call it "3 Com," but I always make a point of saying "out at the stick" or "Candlestick" if I'm not in a hurry.

Poor Comiskey! Of all the ridiculous name changes, that one grates loudest on this ex-Chicagolander's ears! And I'm a Cubs fan! frown

I'll stick my head in an oven the day the Cubs sell Wrigley Field down the river.

Although, isn't Wrigley Field named after the chewing gum magnate?

Wrigley was originally Weeghman Park, then changed to Cubs Park in the 20's and then later that same decade to Wrigley. It's named after the Cubs owner Bill Wrigley, Jr. Wrigley was originally from Philadelphia. He sold soap. He started giving away chewing gum with the soap as a promotion. People started buying the soap just to get the gum, so eventually he just started selling the gum. Both the park and the gum are named after the man. The park is not named after the gum. Still, I suppose the park's name ultimately has an economic origin. Wrigley bought the team, owned the park and put his name on it.
In some ways it's no different than the Cellular phenomenon. Money talks. Alternatively, I suppose you could argue that owners are legitimate baseball "players" who might deserve the honor. Particularly in Wrigley's day, they were really pioneering the sport as a going concern. Owners today don't necessarily command the same respect.

[ February 05, 2003, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: Torgauer ]

another coincidence .. I have a chewing gum magnate up on my refrigerator ... but with all the beer in there I'm naming it Carlsberg Park.

I wouldn't mind the commercial names if they would pick one & stick with it I hate the name CHANGES! You just get used to one name & then its gone! :mad: <-- Copman getting angry over this whole deal!

Wrigley's like the (soon-to-be-vacated) Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It was named after August Anheuser Busch, Jr., not the beer, though the beer company (which now is a bread and beverage and you name it behemoth) bears the family's name.

Fenway, Sportsman's Park, the Polo Grounds, etc., were named after their neighborhoods or what had stood there.

"The Cell" is just AWFUL. I doubt it'll do much to attract fans. That place can be like an empty cell half the time....

I do think he meant "magnet"...

I think he was trying to be "punny." Which was it, DCBucky, bad spelling or bad pun? wink

A little of both, GoYanks. No doubt my attempts at puns are much worse than my spelling!

From a nostalgic or aesthetic point of view, you are correct. Comiskey lacks the charm and the "old retro" feel that parks like Camden, Jacobs, The Ball Park @ Arlington, and other "new" ones possess. However, Comiskey is one of the best in which to work. It has a wide open field, one on which we do not feel too close to the fans, which is the way I prefer things.

Believe me, the last thing I want on a major league field is to feel boxed in or too close to the fans. Chicago's other park, Wrigley Field, has this characteristic. Sure, it's got the charm and history, etc., but it's cramped and much too claustrophobic.