Name That Stadium

You know, I don't mind when a new arena or stadium gets built...and a corporate sponsor throws their name up there.  Most of the time, the name sounds okay.  Like when Charlotte [where I am from] got the Panthers and the new Ericsson Stadium.  "Ericsson" sounds pretty cool....and you tend to forget that it is a cell-phone company.  But, their lease ran out....and now it is the "Bank Of America Stadium".  I don't care, I'll still call it Ericsson. 

And that brings me to some horrific stadium re-names that have really gotten on my nerves.  Kicking it off is my favorite NFL team....the Redskins.  They now play in FedEx Field.  Doesn't sound too bad....except for the fact that my entire lifetime we played at "RFK".  Then moved to "JKC"...or Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.  Classy.  Then Snyder buys the Skins and sells the naming rights.  Great.

I mean, "Comerica Park" is fine.  "Tropicana Field"...cool.  "Great American Ballpark"....fine.  Hey, most people don't realize that Wrigley Field was one of the original stadium naming rights.  Now, Miller Park and Coors Field sound pretty normal.  Pepsi Center, Target Center, Staples Center, etc......okay.

Of course, some are just ridiculous to me.  Edison International Field of Anaheim will always be "the Big A" to me.  US Cellular Field is always "Comisky"...even if the Jr. isn't as nice as the first one.  "Minute Maid Park"???  PETCO Park??  Fleet Center??  TD Waterhouse??  C'mon!

There's American West Center, Delta Center, United Center, Continental Airlines Arena and Air Canada Centre in the NBA.  You have American Airlines Center in Dallas and American Airlines Arena in Miami.  Whatever happened to the Omni, Reunion Arena, Summit, HemisFair, Richfield, Market Square, the Cap Center or the Chicago and Boston Gardens??  Lord, how many "Memorial Stadiums/Arenas" were there??  </FONT><FONT size=2>Target Center, Office Depot Center, Staples Center, Lowe's Motor Speedway.  Ford Field, Toyota Center, GM Place.  Coors Field, Miller Park, Busch Stadium, Molsen Center [since changed].

An oddity is the fact that you don't find that many restraunts sponsoring stadiums.  No McDonald's Field, Burger King Stadium orThe Olive Gardens.  Rumor had it that if the Hornets moved to Louisville...they'd play in KFC Arena which would be nicknamed "The Bucket". 

I love the "People Named" stadiums.  Ralph Wilson, Paul Brown, Curley Lambeau, Hubert Humphery, Kauffman, Ted Turner, Shea, Gordon Gund and Joe Louis got them. 

Again, many times you do not realize the stadium's name is actually a sponsor.  Like with Wrigley [gum] or Great American Ballpark [insurance].  But, Heinz Field?  Gillette Stadium??  Bank Of America Stadium??  Yeah, yeah....those are big corporations based out of those cities.  Of course, you have Pro Player Stadium in Miami [formerly Joe Robbie Stadium].  Pro Player has been out of business for years....but the stadium retains the name.  Hell, how many names has the Ravens [fairly] new stadium had??? 

Yet, there are still Giants Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Oriole Park and Yankee Stadium.  But how sacred can those be??  After all, Riverfront Stadium turned into Cinergy Field after 25 years.  Jack Murphy turned to Qualcomm.  Candlestick Park turned to 3Com Park....then back to Candlestick.  Gator Bowl is now Altell Stadium.  The HooiserDome is now RCA Dome.  What if they decided to rename Yankee Stadium...."Cablevision Stadium"?? 

-Written by "DirecTV" Assassin