FORD OFFICIALLY PUTS MONIKER ON NEW LIONS DEN

     Ford Motor Co. announced Friday they will pay $40M for the
naming rights for the Lions proposed domed stadium in downtown
Detroit, according to John Hughes in the DETROIT NEWS.  The name
of the facility will "remain a mystery" and Ford Chair Alex
Trotman indicated that they "may sponsor a naming contest."
Trotman: "We view this in Ford as an excellent marketing
opportunity for the company."  Trotman also said that Ford "will
be part of the name" and there was a "high probability" that the
dome "will have a giant Ford insignia across it" (DETROIT NEWS,
10/12).
     POTENTIAL CONFLICT? Ford's deal is examined by Robert
Sherefkin in CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, who writes "the apparent
conflict of interest of a major publicly held corporation such as
Ford spending $40 million to benefit Ford family members who own
the Lions could provoke shareholder action."  Detroit corporate
attorney Justin Klimko: "Is there a conflict? Yes.  But is there
something improper?  That is a different question" (CRAIN'S
DETROIT BUSINESS, 10/14 issue).