U.S. Cellular name change in future?

[mantis1212]

Wouldn't Sprint have the right to change it to "Sprint Field" then? Is there already a Sprint Field somewhere?

[Nellie_Fox]

Originally Posted by mantis1212

Wouldn't Sprint have the right to change it to "Sprint Field" then? Is there already a Sprint Field somewhere?

Maybe, but that wouldn't stop them. Do you know how many Verizon Centers there are?

[Lamp81]

Originally Posted by Nellie_Fox

Maybe, but that wouldn't stop them. Do you know how many Verizon Centers there are?

Or American Airlines Arenas, and a potential additional one when US Air and American merge.

[anewman35]

Originally Posted by mantis1212

Wouldn't Sprint have the right to change it to "Sprint Field" then? Is there already a Sprint Field somewhere?

Sprint isn't buying US Cellular - US Cellular is selling some of it's assets to Sprint. That doesn't include the naming rights to the Cell, so Sprint won't have any say over that.

[skobabe8]

There's a US Cellular Arena in Milawaukee.

[SephClone89]

Originally Posted by skobabe8

There's a US Cellular Arena in Milawaukee.

And a US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington-Normal.

[StillMissOzzie]

Originally Posted by Viva Medias B's

I would think we'd see a name change eventually. Would it make sense to have a ballpark named after a company that is essentially defunct in Chicagoland?

Since US Cellular waved the white flag in the Chicago market, maybe JR thinks it is still the perfect name.

Still, even with the naming rights until 2023, I would not be surprised at all if a new name were to be granted to The Cell.

SMO

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by StillMissOzzie

Since US Cellular waved the white flag in the Chicago market, maybe JR thinks it is still the perfect name.

Still, even with the naming rights until 2023, I would not be surprised at all if a new name were to be granted to The Cell.

SMO

That depends on the language in the contract. I see no reason why US Cellular would agree to someone replacing them to the effect that they get less for their $63 million (or whatever that was).

[Lamp81]

I wonder if the contract allows US Cellular to sub-lease the naming rights.

They probably wouldn't want to grant the naming rights to Sprint, as Sprint will still be a competitor of theirs, just not in the Chicago market. They wouldn't want the Sprint mentions when the Sox are on ESPN, MLB, or WGN America, as those broadcasts would reach markets where Sprint and US Cellular still compete.

I'd guess that we'd be seeing a non-cell phone name on our stadium within the next couple of years. Any other national businesses that have a great relationship with the Sox?