St. Paul Saints Ink Unique One Week Naming Rights Deal

Skinny Nutritional Acquires Naming Rights Of Minor League Ballpark For Just One Week

The independent American Association St. Paul Saints in July signed a one week naming rights deal -- from August 3-9 -- with the Skinny Nutritional Corp. to rename Midway Stadium the Skinny Water Stadium, according to Stuart Elliott of the N.Y. TIMES. Skinny Nutritional President & CEO Don McDonald said that the company "paid $50,000 for the promotion with the Saints ... which includes $30,000 worth of media in the form of radio, television and newspaper ads that were run by the team as well as the ballpark ads like the signs and the stencil in the outfield." During Skinny's sponsorship, the stadium was "marked with advertising, giveaways, contests and stunts -- about a season's worth, but condensed into a week."  Goldklang Group President and Saints President Mike Veeck said of teaming with Skinny Water, "We felt we could give them a real push and have some fun with it." McDonald said of the Saints, "We liked the way they were thinking. They're very promotion-minded." McDonald added that the news that the Saints would play for a week in Skinny Water Stadium "garnered coverage in the local media"  (N.Y. TIMES, 8/11).