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George Vecsey gets silly

metsguyinmichigan Dec 12 2007 08:50 AM

George Vescey has finally discovered that stadium naming rights are being bought by companies, and gosh darn it, he doesn't like it. His story today contains this 'graph. "Not known for their good taste, the Yankees have kept the name Yankee Stadium for the new stadium being built for 2009 on a former municipal park in the Bronx. The Mets could have named their next stadium after Jackie Robinson, and they did honor that American hero with a pavilion in front. But they cut a 20-year deal with Citigroup for a reported $400 million to have the stadium called Citi Field when it opens in 2009." Uhm, the Yankees could have named the stadium after Robinson, too. Of course, had the Mets gone and named the stadium after Robinson, Vescey and his ilk would have written endless columns about the team naming its stadium after a player who never played for them, how they don't have any real history and many more predictable rants. The Mets just can't win with some of these guys. At least he takes a half-assed swipe at the Yanks. And for the record: Jackie Robinson is in fact a tremendous American hero and someone who should inspire all of us. I'm glad the Mets are paying tribute him. I will happily pose next to the statue when I first visit Citi Field. But I don't think the Mets should name the stadium after him.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 12 2007 09:04 AM

The Mets, as heirs to the Brooklyn Dodgers (and the New York Giants too) would be the team to name a ballpark after Jackie Robinson. It would make no sense at all for the Yankees to do it. It would be like the Mets naming a ballpark after Derek Jeter.

HahnSolo Dec 12 2007 09:16 AM

Has Boba Fett had George Vecsey frozen in carbonite the last two years?

Frayed Knot Dec 12 2007 10:42 AM

This is hardly the first time GV has written about this subject. He tends to be a bit old-fashioned on these kinds of issues and is darn proud of it for the most part.

G-Fafif Dec 12 2007 10:56 AM

A Faith and Fear reader recently alerted us to this little-reported fact (from the Washington Post in October): ]Starting in 2009, the New York Mets will play in the new Citi Field, ditching the old Shea Stadium name in exchange for $400 million over 20 years from Citibank. The Yankees' new stadium will be named, oddly enough, Yankee Stadium, but only because the city reduced the annual rent from $10 million to $10 to keep corporate sponsors out.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 12 2007 11:00 AM

If that's true, it's pretty outrageous.

Gwreck Dec 12 2007 12:05 PM

="Benjamin Grimm"]The Mets, as heirs to the Brooklyn Dodgers (and the New York Giants too) would be the team to name a ballpark after Jackie Robinson. It would make no sense at all for the Yankees to do it. It would be like the Mets naming a ballpark after Derek Jeter. Naming something after Robinson would be to honor something far greater than his playing for a particular team. Hence, it wouldn't be inappropriate for ANY team to name their stadium after him. Granted, taking potshots at the Mets for taking naming rights $$ is fairly silly given that it's a fairly common practice these days. I will of course choose to ignore the corporate name and just call it "Shea." If the media wanted to, they could (aren't there several news organizations that refuse to use "Redskins" when talking about the Washington football team)?

Kid Carsey Dec 12 2007 03:02 PM

I think the part about it staying Yankee Stadium was pretty commonly re- ported or at least speculated about. That rent part is just downright wrong if the city gives a break to one team and not another if it's true. It would be funny if the Yanks sold other parts of the stadium's naming rights like Monsanto Monument Park, Budweiser Bleachers, Pfiezer LF Porch, etc. Who knows, but that rent thing needs to stay on close watch to see if it ac- tually comes to pass.

G-Fafif Dec 12 2007 03:40 PM

I was also under the impression that there was a most favored nations clause to all this, both getting or at least getting offered the same treatment. It's possible both teams were offered this and only the MFYs took it. Remember, their break is half of what the Mets are getting from Citi. Maybe Wilpon declined the money and ran to the banker instead of preserving the sanctity of Shea for the extra 10 mil. (Sanctity used without irony.)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 12 2007 05:06 PM

Gwreck wrote: I will of course choose to ignore the corporate name and just call it "Shea." That's what I was thinking. Shea, or maybe, Subprime Crisis Park.

Edgy DC Dec 12 2007 05:07 PM

Yankee Stadium is a giant ad for the team, smothered in the brand. It'd be no surprise if the Yankees valued that more than the Mets valued "Shea."

holychicken Dec 13 2007 05:55 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It would be like the Mets naming a ballpark after Derek Jeter. Wow. Great. Thanks a lot. I won't sleep for a week now.

TheOldMole Dec 13 2007 07:50 AM

I'm not sure I would compare Derek Jeter in importance to baseball, or even New York baseball, with Jackie Robinson.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 13 2007 08:34 AM

That's not what I'm doing. My point is that Jackie Robinson was, to the Yankees, a prominent player for a crosstown rival.