What should the New Ballpark be called?

by Cooperstown Kid on May 10, 2008 2:56 AM EDT Comment 25 comments

Whether or not the Rays front office have a name for the new Stadium, I haven't the slightest clue. But I do know that Sternberg reads this blog quite a bit so I thought who better to come up with names for the new stadium than the butts that will be sitting in it. So to all the Rays fans out there what should the new Ballpark be called? Be creative as hell. Let the front offices know you got ideas, who knows they might actually like the idea. In Washington, D.C. they called their new ballpark for the Nationals... get ready for this... Nationals Ballpark.... BORING! C'mon Rays fans we live in probably the coolest state ever. Think of an awesome name and lets see what happens. I'll start the ball rolling I guess...

The Cove (sounds nautical I guess)

James Shields' Stoming Grounds

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Coppertone Field!

Hey the team are the ~~Sun~~ Rays… right?

In the Name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on May 10, 2008 3:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tropicana could retain naming rights, then you could have: The Saint Petersburg Outdoor Trop, or The SPOT! I dunno, something to let folks know the team plays in St. Pete.

by PSmith7 on May 10, 2008 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Apparently Tropicana's naming rights only apply to the current dome

Although they obviously could purchase the rights to the new stadium as well, but I could see TECO also getting involved in the bidding.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 10, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fenway South

Rays Bay
Davey Jone’s Locker
Home Run Harbor
The Reef
Scuttlebutt Stadium
The Plank

by floridaroar on May 10, 2008 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To be honest,

i would take a boring name like Rays field, then anything including a corporate name (i.e. tropicana field). few teams in the country have not sold out for that couple million a year that a corporate sponsor gets them, but i truly feel that all this corporate naming of stadiums and fields and arenas is really stealing a lot of a teams ability to connect with a community. name is something like

Rays Field on Tampa Bay

that way you get the team name and the location in there.

by davidsmarch on May 10, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can almost guarantee there will be a corporate name

Financially, it would be stupid for the team to not pursue one.

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on May 10, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Necessarily

Some teams have decided that the ability to effectively brand/market the team is worth more than what could be acquired via marketing rights, the Nationals at National Park for example.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 10, 2008 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Nationals are currently seeking a corporate sponsor

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on May 10, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But they haven't found their price yet

Because there is a break even point that accounts for the value of playing in a team-branded venue. There is a reason that Wrigley gets a free ride from the Cubs, and why Steinbrenner never sold the naming rights to Yankee Stadium.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 10, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree btw

It makes sense to sell out eventually. But I think david is right in that at least for a few years the goodwill may prove more valuable than the extra revenue.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 10, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrigley Field...

is not a corporate name that gets a free ride. It’s simply named after P.K. Wrigley who just happened to own both the Cubs and the Wrigley Chewing Gum Co.

by ams05g on May 11, 2008 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a Free ride

to the extent they haven’t changed names, while others have.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 11, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind the Trop

At least it is a company that has strong historical ties to the local economy, and continues to employ thousands of Floridians.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 10, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lol, how corpoarate is this...

Ocean Spray Park in Tropicana Yards (Oriole Park in Camden Yards)... the Rays would have be stuid to pass that up.

by Cooperstown Kid on May 10, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i know from the deal the bucs got for the naming rights to Raymond James Stadium,

that they really do not make all that much money. we are talking about a couple million dollars a year. i know, that IS a lot of money to you and i and most fans. but in terms of a 100’s of millions a year venture, i would think a couple mil naming rights are something they ownership could, and in my opinion should, forgo in the name of fan,city, team unity and pride.

by davidsmarch on May 10, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What do you call it then

Naimoli Field? Sternberg Park? If you really want to open it up to open bidding I bet we’d see a Steinbrenner get involved.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 10, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you don't have that decision

it will be named after some company

by columbusOHcubsfan on May 10, 2008 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i still like: Rays Field on Tampa Bay

by davidsmarch on May 10, 2008 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stadium Name?

How about unnecessary, or maybe usless, or where the Heck to we Park…Park

by leftout on May 10, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how about,

you’re a friggin idiot.

by davidsmarch on May 10, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unnecessary?

We have the worst freakin park in all of baseball

by ams05g on May 11, 2008 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Unnecessary

We have a ball park, grant it’s not the newest, brightest; but considering the economy and what it will cost a new one is unnecessary.

If the team can totally finance it then I can get on board, but I can’t see the taxpayers having to pay for it.

Rather then playing all those games at Disney maybe they should try having a 3 game series at Al Lang in late July and see how that plays.

The of course there is the parking issue.

by leftout on May 11, 2008 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes, idiotic

1. the economy has nothing to do with the stadium plan; if the banks want to finance it, then that’s their decision. all other aspects will be paid for via the rays plan. obviously, since they have 3 bids on the site, the economy is not an issue.

2. the taxpayers are on the hook for $0.00, you need to learn more before you start spewing this nonsense.

3. there is no parking issue, try reading the commissioned reports instead of believing the negative hype.

by davidsmarch on May 11, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And not only that...

Speaking of the economy, wouldn’t it be great to have a stadium that actually promoted the area as a possible tourism destination? How cool would it be to watch SportsCenter highlights with panoramic views of the St Petersburg waterfront rather than showing off the insides of a dingy gray warehouse?

I’d love to see a game at AT&T Park (Giants), seeing that view on TV makes me want to fly to San Fran and catch a game. I’m sure building a stadium on St Pete’s waterfront would have a similar effect on baseball fans across the nation.

by floridaroar on May 12, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs