The Capitol Fax Blog » Question of the day

Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008

* All the other topics are so heavy today, so let’s keep this one light…

Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell said Tuesday he won’t hesitate to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field — even if baseball purists don’t like the idea.

“Wrigley is an obvious world-wide icon and Wrigley Field is world-wide known. But, in the world of economics, when I bought the Tribune, I didn’t get a discount because I wasn’t going to use the naming rights that field represents,” Zell said in an interview on the CNBC program “Squawk Box.” […]

“Excuse me for being sarcastic, but the idea of a debate occurring over what I should do with my asset leaves me somewhat questioning the integrity of the debate. . . . There’s a lot of people who would like to buy the Cubs and would like to buy the Cubs under their terms and conditions and, unfortunately, have to deal with me,” Zell told a CNBC interviewer.

* Question: What would be a fitting corporate name for that ballpark?

- posted by Rich Miller

78 Comments

- Just Sayin' - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:05 am:
Duh. Wrigley Gum?

- No Peotone Airport - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:10 am:
Premium Ticket Services Stadium.

(If Mr. Zell won’t sell you the ballpark with the team, he’s certainly not going to give away the in-house ticket brokering profit center, is he?)

- Ghost - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:13 am:
googly and wrigely field

- ronnie woo woo - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:14 am:
Loserville

- Blogger2 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:16 am:
“The Zell Hole”

- Wumpus - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:19 am:
Ticketmaster Field-100% service charge
Starbucks Park -overpriced
Piece of Crap Field
Harry Caray was so overated Ball Park

- Prairie Sage - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:20 am:
Marshall Field

- Lefty Lefty - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:21 am:
If Zell has his way, he’ll put one of those electronic boards like there are at NBA games and behind home plate at some MLB parks. That way there can be more than one sponsor, and everybody (ie, Sam Zell) wins. Then you make an acronym that just rolls off one’s tongue.

Example:

Grainger
RR Donnelly
Exelon
Equity
Deere

Park!

Or–

Exelon
Grainger
OfficeMax

Field!

One more–

Fortune Brands
Aon
Northern Trust
Smurfut
Laidlaw
OfficeMax
Solo
Exelon

Stadium!

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:24 am:
Prozac Park

- Bluefish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:26 am:
For a deal this big it will take several corporate sponsors. My suggestion:
LanOptics - Spectra Engery - Ryder Systems Park

- Wrigley - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:27 am:
Wrigley is not named after the gum. It’s named after William Wrigley, Jr. as opposed to Wrigley Chewing Gum paying for sponsorship.

They need to find a corporate sponsor that matches well with the team’s most famous World Series exploits. Kind of like how the White Sox are best known for selling the chance to win the WS in 1918 for a couple of bucks. “The Sell” or “The Cell” AND black and white pinstripes to be like prisoners.

Perhaps General Motors who has been slipping since 1945?

Gimbels maybe? Although they might be strapped for cash.

- Bluefish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:28 am:
Oops. Lets try this again.
LanOptics - Spectra Energy - Ryder Systems Park

- Rich O. - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:30 am:
credit to a poster on White Sox Interactive:

Century Tile

- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:35 am:
Better than Milwaukee’s Best Park

- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:36 am:
Sominex Field

- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:39 am:
Yuppie Field

- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:40 am:
Rich O. - Love it!

I recommend US Cellular Park.

Or, how about Bank of Montreal Park. The Cubs could play half of their games in Montreal, to replace the dearly departed Expos.

- Las Vegas Kid - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:41 am:
Zell sounds like a real sweetheart. Suck every last penny out of that comapany, sell Wrigley to the state and reduce staff boy what a visionary.

- Levois - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:47 am:
I wonder about the logic of selling the Cubs and Wrigley Field separately. Wouldn’t this be problematic? It would make sense if Zell was only trying to maximize his profit.

- GA Watcher - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:48 am:
Trojan Magnum Field. I would have suggested Trojan Magnum XL Field, but Cub fans probably couldn’t relate.

- Leigh - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:51 am:
“When Hades Freezes Over” or “Wait til next Year Park”

- Poli-Sci Geek - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 10:56 am:
Hudson 3-2-7 hundred ballpark
National 2 9000 field
588-2-three hundred field at Feldco park

- Doug Dobmeyer - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:04 am:
Wrigley Field is good enough.

- phocion - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:17 am:
Potter’s Field

- downstate hack - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:18 am:
how about Century one Park for 100 years of futility

- walter sobchak - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:18 am:
Enron Field.

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:25 am:
Rich, didn’t you already recommend Tampax Field?

I think the main point here should be that the uncertainty about whether the park will remain “Wrigley Field” casts a shadow over future ticket sales for the Cubs.

Frankly, purchasing naming rights has been a dubious investment at best…how many people still refer to the home of the White Sox as “New Cominskey”? Lots.

Expect alot of stiff public opposition from residents of Wrigleyville, and look for more talk about historic landmarking.

- Baseball Fan - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:28 am:
Extra Strength Tylenol Park

That place is nothing but headaches.

GO CARDS!!!

- He makes Ryan Look like a Saint - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:34 am:
Public Official A Ballpark

- vinron - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:36 am:
Meat Market Park (and I’m not talking about the players).

or “Oh, they’re playing baseball here? I’m on my 8th beer trolling for hotties” Park

- Jake from Elwood - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:36 am:
“Buy Owner” Park at Wrigley Field.
Thanks, Buy Owner!

- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:38 am:
Of course that’s zell’s plan.

he wants to dump the valuable assets, cut down to the newspaper itself, and then suck every dime out of that paper that he can before discarding the desiccated corpse.

That’s what people like him do. Tribsters can expect more staff cuts, more reliance on the AP, fewer columnists and editors, and an ever shrinking staff.

He’ll suck every penny out of that paper he can, and once he can’t find a way to suck any more money out, he’ll declare bankruptcy and sell of the remaining assets to the highest bidder.

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:39 am:
IDES Stadium [with apologies to Lee Elia]

- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:42 am:
Macy’s.

Not Macy’s Field, or Macy’s Park.

Just Macy’s.

- anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:43 am:
Viagra Field
For the team that needs a lift

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:44 am:
I-PASS Park - Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor

- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:45 am:
In the spirit of Boone Logan Square’s idea -

Yankee Stadium.

- pickles!! - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:53 am:
IKEA Stadiun. Blue, yellow, and really gaudy

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:53 am:
FEMA Field.

I’m having too much fun with this QOTD.

- Irish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:59 am:
In consideration of the man who has his hand in everything and the man that thinks he is everything, and wants to own the field anyway.

Rezko and Rod Arena

The deal could go through one of Rezko’s many real estate ties and could be financed by REzko he seems to have money coming out of everywhere and also with the surplus funds the state has laying around. The park would feature hi end sky boxes that would be available to any person in a high position in exchange for a job. Bleacher seats would be free to any senior citizen or illegal immigrant. The grass and ivy would be artificial. IDNR could maintain the Park, after all it is mostly their funds that are paying for it. ( Open Lands money and habitat money would be used for the purchase. Hey there is plenty of pigeons living around there!) The high priced tickets behind the support posts for the skyboxes would be available to those in the middle class who’s taxes paid for the park.

- BIG R.PH. - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:01 pm:
ST. Louis Cardinals AAA affiliate North!

Lou Brock & Bruce Sutter come to mind!

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:01 pm:
James R. Thompson Center - North

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
Waste Management Stadium

- pickles!! - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:09 pm:
How about Chuck E. Cheese’s Field

- MOON - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:16 pm:
Yuppy Field

- anon - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:17 pm:
Put a lid on it and name it after Zell: The Chrome Dome

- Levois - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:26 pm:
Kanye West Field?

- K to the 3 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:31 pm:
Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald Field

Hey, why not?

- The Rookie - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:35 pm:
Sox/Cards hate fest… not suprising.

Whatever makes you sleep at night, I suppsoe.

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:37 pm:
LOL. At least we can sleep at night.

- Shelbyville - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:43 pm:
White Sox had to change the name of their park and no one died.

I think that Zell gives himself too much press and too much credit. He’s an old coot, anyway. (MOO)

And I am a Cub fan.

- Sox05Cards06 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:47 pm:
I just moved to Lincoln Park therefore I am a BIG Cubs fan FIELD.

- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:52 pm:
“Your Name Here” Field

- jwscott72 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:55 pm:
If I had to vote, I’d vote for 588-2300 Field! I lived in Houston for 3+ years and everyone knew that jingle. Chrome Dome is funny too!

Renaming Wrigley will go the same way renaming Comiskey did. No one will call it by the new name and everyone will know what you’re talking about.

- OneManBlog - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:05 pm:
Oh there is a game going on? field

Century Tile Field

Better Luck Next Year Park

You own this field, suckers Park

- Levois - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:06 pm:
Death Row Records Ball Stadium

- Prairie Sage - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:39 pm:
“It would make sense if Zell was only trying to maximize his profit.”

Levois, that’s exactly why it makes sense. Can’t say I blame him — his creditors and stockholders are going to hold him to that.

- Independent - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:49 pm:
Arthur Andersen Field

- YNM - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:50 pm:
how about something with a play on words, like:

Sellout Stadium

- Mr. Cub - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:51 pm:
Goose Island

- Irish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:03 pm:
House of Blues

- Irish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:09 pm:
M Bear Ash Park

Unfriendly Confines - No Wave Allowed

I Got Your Goat Park

- South of I-70 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:12 pm:
Pee Trough Field. Or, as I remember from watching WGN games, Empire Carpet (have to go artificial, though).

- Huckleberry - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:12 pm:
Sort of like the Toys R’ Us slogan. Losers R’ Us -come watch and PLAY like a kid.

- Irish - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:13 pm:
Legislature Stadium
Our motto - Wait til next year

- South of I-70 - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:20 pm:
Hannah Montana Concert Hall and, oh yeah, ballfield

- Wilmette Willie - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:37 pm:
Boeing Field—-a good place to catch fly balls.

- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:24 pm:
And to think people are concerned Mark Cuban might be too crazy of an owner.

Weight Watchers Park — Home of the big losers.

- Wumpus - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:39 pm:
Blagojavich Toll Road Park

- It's Broken - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:56 pm:
Pepto Park

Pink seats?

- What can I say? - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:56 pm:
Bazooka Joe Park

- Getting Too Old For This - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 4:22 pm:
HGH Park — The house that Sammy built.

Perhaps the heirs to the Meigs estate could ante up and call it Meigs Field, just to hack off hizzoner.

No matter what its called, in the future, it will probably just be known as the “Zell Hole.”

- A Citizen - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 4:48 pm:
Don Quixote Memorial Park
Home of the Windmillers

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:17 pm:
The nation’s largest jewelry dealer could buy it, that would create lots of fun confusion:

DeBeers Stadium

- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:47 pm:
Since Montreal is out of the NL, it could be Olympic Stadium, in honor of the 2016 Olympics. They will be hosting some events there, like discus throwing, three-legged races, and wiffle ball, no?

- Disgusted - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 9:03 pm:
What a sacrilege! This guy is a cretin.

- Hanging Chad - Thursday, Feb 28, 08 @ 6:52 am:
Big Lots

- Captain America - Thursday, Feb 28, 08 @ 8:15 am:
Zell can go to “heck.” Quit screwing around Zell-sell the team instead of attemping to fee at the public trough.

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