Gretz, Re: Arrowhead naming rights

[Direckshun]

From Gretz's Mailbag Musings:

Aaron: “I read the other day that the Chiefs are trying to sell naming rights to Arrowhead. Is Lamar turning over in his grave?”

No. Aaron, you have to understand that Lamar Hunt was a traditionalist, but he was also a businessman. He would not be surprised or upset by the idea. This didn’t just come up. It’s been talked about around Arrowhead for years and Lamar was part of those discussions. I think if he were alive, he would make sure that if a sponsorship deal gets done and there is a name change, it would be done tastefully and without taking away the flavor of what it means when you say “Arrowhead.”

This is part of the world of professional sports. The Chiefs are a business and they compete against 31 other businesses. They must use all avenues to create revenue, just to keep up with the Jones. Naming rights is one way to do that. It should produce significant revenue for the team, meaning many millions of dollars each year. Last year, 18 of the 32 teams played in stadiums with naming rights deals.

Just remember this: what makes Arrowhead special is not the concrete and steel of the building, but the people sitting in the seats. As long as those seats are filled and the fans in them are excited about their team, it doesn’t matter what the stadium is called.

[|Zach|]

I think you love hearing yourself bitch more than you are unhappy with anything the Chiefs could do.

[jidar]

Originally Posted by milkman

You're joking, right?

Did you ever call Candlestick Park by whatever corporate name they had?

Who is the corporate sponsor at the Murph in San Diego?

People don't remember who paid money to have their names attached to stadiums.

They only remember the traditional names.

I had forgotten it was called the Murph, I thought of it as Qualcomm and it only just hit me when you said it.

Swear to god. I think of Invesco as Invesco and ... well.
When they call them that enough times on TV, that's what they become.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by jidar

I had forgotten it was called the Murph, I thought of it as Qualcomm and it only just hit me when you said it.

Swear to god. I think of Invesco as Invesco and ... well.
When they call them that enough times on TV, that's what they become.

I do think of Invesco as Invesco since it's not the old Mile High.

[Direckshun]

I always think of Denver.

Mile High Stadium was a tradition. It was magnificent, even though I hated it with my entire soul.

Invesco field? What a joke.

[HMc]

Actually Gretz' argument about the Chiefs operating in a competitive market against 31 other teams is complete BS. The NFL is a commune, they share consolidated profits and get to keep some of the profits they make from naming, luxury suites etc. My point is its not like they're doing this so they can lower the price of their product so more people will buy it, they're doing in to increase company profit.

[mcan]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Carl has made it clear for many years he doesnt care about the fans. Point is you take a KC Landmark and the Best name in the NFL and change to some stoopid corporate shit, just to put more money in that greedy bastard Clarks pocket.

I guess it doesnt matter to part time fans-but to people that have been going there since it opened, it is a big kick in the nuts.

Wow, here is where I assume you didn't just mean to call me a "part time" fan. This is that point in the conversation where I CHOOSE not to get offended and just remind you that I have every game on tape going back to the 2000 season, and watch them (even the losses) quite often. This is the part where I casually mention that I got my college theatre scholorship taken away because I set up a television in the dressing room backstage and watched a Chiefs game during our Sunday matinee. This is the part where I mention that I have been known to go to games BY MYSELF with a standing room only ticket. Here is where I mention that, on more than one occaision, I have had a really shitty night and to make myself feel better I've driven up to Arrowhead stadium to sit in my car in the parking lot and look at the building. You happen to talking to a guy that has dreams about walking on the field.

Chiefs football is like a drug to me. When we win, I'm completely elated. When we lose, I'm beside myself with grief. There is no logic or reason behind my complete and total, sad devotion to this team and this league. And yeah, I love Arrowhead stadium. If tomorrow, they change the name to "Warner Brothers Stadium" I'll miss the old name, and move on. At no point, will I consider Clark Hunt a "greedy bastard" nor will I blame the Chiefs for following a trend that they didn't start. Nor will the building itself become less special to me.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by HMc

Actually Gretz' argument about the Chiefs operating in a competitive market against 31 other teams is complete BS. The NFL is a commune, they share consolidated profits and get to keep some of the profits they make from naming, luxury suites etc. My point is its not like they're doing this so they can lower the price of their product so more people will buy it, they're doing in to increase company profit.

Not entirely. There is profit sharing, but there are also income sources that are not subject to profit sharing such as luxury boxes and stadium naming rights. There's a reason the Washington Redskins can spend money like they do.

I wonder how many people bitching about this are the same people that bitch about our lack of FA activity?

The bottom line is it will put more money in the pockets of the owner, allowing him to maintain his profit margin while spending more on the football team. Clark Hunt is not going to take a paycut to bring in more free agents, any more than the McDonalds fry cook wants to take a pay cut so that your fat asses can have tastier fries. So knowing that The owner is going to get his paycheck regardless, increasing team income has a positive effect on our chances to compete financially with the rest of the NFL.

KC is already at a disadvantage by being in a 3rd rate city in the midwest without the wealth or corporate residence to bring in money like someplace like Dallas. As much as I love tradition, I'd just as soon pass on it if it's going to hamstring the team's ability to be competitive.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by sportsman1

If the corporate sponser made to where ticket prices and parking were lowered id be all for it.

Your a funny man

[the Talking Can]

we should call it "Suckers Field"

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by jspchief

KC is already at a disadvantage by being in a 3rd rate city in the midwest without the wealth or corporate residence to bring in money like someplace like Dallas.

Dang man you going to start dissing the BBQ now?

[InChiefsHeaven]

*Sponsor Name* Arrowhead Stadium.

Like Qwest Arrowhead Stadium or something. In fact, I thought that Invesco is actually Invesco Stadium at Mile High or something like that.

I always thought I'd call Denver stadium Mile High, but I find over the last couple of seasons, I just refer to it as Invesco. I don't want that to happen in KC, but it probably will.

I'm surprised it took so long actually.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

*Sponsor Name* Arrowhead Stadium.

Like Qwest Arrowhead Stadium or something. In fact, I thought that Invesco is actually Invesco Stadium at Mile High or something like that.

I always thought I'd call Denver stadium Mile High, but I find over the last couple of seasons, I just refer to it as Invesco. I don't want that to happen in KC, but it probably will.

I'm surprised it took so long actually.

IMO Denver is a poor comparison because it's an entirely new/different stadium. Mile High was bull-dozed into a parking lot for Incestco.

Arrowhead will still be Arrowhead.

But other than that, I agree about keeping Arrowhead in the name.

[Mile High Mania]

"His momma called him Clay, I'm gonna call him Clay"

I still call it Mile High and it's in the official logo, so I don't let it bother me. It was upsetting at first, but this is inevitable with every team.

[Chief Chief]

Recent Super Bowl winners and the names of their stadiums:

Indiacrapolis Dolts - RCA Dome
Pittscourge Squealers - Heinz Field
Boo England Patsies - Gillette Stadium
Dumver Bonkos - Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium
St. Loser Lambs - Edwards Jones Dome

No matter what official title is assigned to our stadium, we'll always call it Arrowhead!

[Wile_E_Coyote]

No company wants to attach their name to the product at this time?