ALAMEDA COUNTY INKS MARKETING FIRM FOR NAMING RIGHTS HELP

          Alameda, CA, County officials have hired OH-based
     International Merchandising Corp. to "help them find a
     corporation" to purchase naming rights for the Oakland
     Coliseum, according to Frances Dinkelspiel of the SAN JOSE
     MERCURY NEWS.  The $25,000 contract is "recognition that the
     Coliseum's informal approach to finding a corporate sponsor
     has not paid off."  County and city officials had hoped to
     sell stadium naming rights for $1.5M and use the funds to
     pay off bonds that have been floated to renovate the stadium
     and arena, but "no corporation has been seriously interested
     yet."  International Merchandising Corp. "pledged to prepare
     a marketing plan to sell the naming rights within 60 days"
     (S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 6/24).