From Deseret News archives:
Will ballpark get new name?
Executives at the Utah-based business management and training company are contemplating whether to renew a soon-to-expire 15-year naming rights agreement with Salt Lake City. The city-owned ballpark is leased to Bees owner Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Group.
"We don't know what we're going to do," said Franklin Covey spokeswoman Debra Lund. She would not elaborate on the company's internal discussions.
Bees representatives have met with Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker in the past couple of weeks and anticipate meeting with Franklin Covey "in the very near future," said Randy Rigby, president of Miller Sports & Entertainment.
"We're anxious to address that sooner than later," he said, adding the city intends to turn negotiations over to the Bees.
Rigby said the team has fielded inquiries from companies interested in putting their names on the stadium. It's waiting on talks with Franklin Covey before pursuing them.
Miller Sports & Entertainment has discussed but not finalized with Becker a dollar amount the team and city will ask for naming rights. Rigby said it will be more than what Franklin Covey paid.
The going rate for Triple-A baseball stadium naming rights is "all over the place," said Dennis Howard, a business professor at the University of Oregon's Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.
The Fresno Grizzlies set the bar when the Chukchansi Tribe, which has gambling operations in central California, agreed to pay $16 million over 15 years to have its name on a now 2-year-old ballpark. At other end of the spectrum, the Principal Financial Group signed a 10-year $2.5 million deal with the Iowa Cubs, who renovated their stadium in 2006. The difference between the high and low, Howard said, is whether the park is new.
Howard expects Salt Lake City to be "close to the bottom" of the scale.
"With so many companies already investing with sports naming rights, there aren't many left," he said. "As the pool of prospects shrinks, so does the rights fee."
And the Bees aren't the only team in town looking to secure a corporate partner. Real Salt Lake had three prospects as of last month for its new stadium, according to team owner Dave Checketts.
Recent comments
Can anyone say Gordon B. Hinckley Memorial Field.
Ronald A. Young | April 14, 2008 at 9:50 p.m.
I have a VERY hard time with modern sports. And I'm not even that old...
Purist | April 14, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.
Beehive? Russ, you must have passed the 4th grade up or out test....
leroy | April 14, 2008 at 6:31 p.m.
- Nobel Prize-winner credits Utah 9:45 p.m.
- Making 'journey to Bethlehem' 9:44 p.m.
- Purdue defeat's St. Joseph's 9:39 p.m.
- Super Bowl starting QBs injured 9:38 p.m.
- 'Kick the Stuffing Out of Cancer' 9:37 p.m.
- Photos of the week, Nov. 22 9:34 p.m.
- Chiefs coach Haley has matured 9:27 p.m.
- No. 5 Villanova beats Ole Miss 9:13 p.m.
- Al-Maliki targeting Iraq Sunnis 9:03 p.m.
- Indonesian ferry sinks, 29 die 9:03 p.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
201 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
183 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
127 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
blowing away mediocre teams at home I am not taking anything for granted....
I'd believe Daniel Hill over our government. This man knows what he's talking...
BYU wins 3-2 in a boring snowy game?
Dan you need to be more specific in your reporting. "Scramble" "Gleefully...
because i'm rooting for them. they had those cute ladybug uniforms
It's funny that N.O.W. decides to comment on 'sexist' comments about a dirty...
Are you serious? MAYBE that might be remotely possible if BYU had beat FSU...
If the Cougs win by l-------That will be the greatest satifaction to me. I...
I think Max Hall will scramble 75.5 yards for the winning touchdown as time...
No wonder Bronco thinks his own fans are ignorant. There is absolutely no...


