Royals Owner David Glass yesterday said that the team “has no agreement in place for naming rights to Kauffman Stadium,” according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com. The subject “arose over the weekend in various media reports, prompting the club to issue a statement that while Royals officials are open to listening to proposals, ‘at this time no deal has come to fruition.’” Glass “reiterated that point” saying, “They don't have a deal." He added, "There have been proposals made. The Royals have not been out looking for a naming-rights deal, but as proposals come in, obviously they have a responsibility to look at them.” Obtaining naming rights this winter “would be significant because the stadium will be the site of the 2012 All-Star Game and will be the center of worldwide exposure.” Glass said that the Royals, “like all small-market teams, need to consider various sources of income” (MLB.com, 11/7).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? In K.C., Randy Covitz notes speculation "has persisted in recent days" that the Royals and Chiefs are "close to unveiling a naming-rights partner, but officials from both clubs say nothing is imminent.” Changing the names of Arrowhead or Kauffman, “or adding a corporate sponsor’s name to one of them, could cause fan backlash.” Article XIV of the '06 stadium lease with Jackson County states that the Chiefs and Royals “would keep all revenues from naming-rights deals.” The Chiefs “already have granted naming rights to what they call ‘quads’ in the corners of Arrowhead Stadium” to companies including “HyVee and Sprint, which provide services before and during games, and to Time Warner, which sponsors the Hall of Honor.” The Royals “have similar amenities, such as the Diamond Club, sponsored by BATS; the Pepsi Party Porch in right center; the HyVee Level seats in the upper deck; and the Sonic Slam seats in left-center.” Next year “would seem to be the time for a naming-rights partner to cash in at Kauffman Stadium, as the venue hosts" the '12 MLB All-Star Game. The Chiefs’ two primetime home appearances on national TV this season “similarly enhance a naming-rights partner’s visibility.” No matter how much revenue a naming-rights deal might bring the Chiefs or Royals, “it will come with an emotional price.” Arrowhead is “a sacred name in Kansas City, one forever linked to the late Lamar Hunt, founder of the Chiefs.” The former Royals Stadium “was named for the late Ewing Kauffman, a revered man in Kansas City who resisted attempts to name the park in his honor while he was alive.” It is “hard to believe that Arrowhead or Kauffman wouldn’t remain part of the stadium’s new or revised name.” But even if they “were to be called Sprint Field at Arrowhead Stadium, or Hallmark Field at Kauffman Stadium, fans’ acceptance probably wouldn’t follow unanimously” (K.C. STAR, 11/8).
DONATING DEAL: The K.C. STAR’s Covitz notes not all naming-rights deals “produce revenue for the stadium’s tenants.” For instance, through MLS Sporting KC’s stadium deal for Livestrong Sporting Park, “the team will donate about $7.5 million of all stadium revenues, including ticket sales and concessions, to cyclist Lance Armstrong’s foundation that serves those battling cancer.” Kansas Speedway “has had discussions about a naming-rights partner since it opened in 2001, but has not found the right fit.” Kansas Speedway VP/Marketing & Sales Chris Schwartz said, “We would definitely entertain naming rights, but the right partnership hasn’t come about” (K.C. STAR, 11/8).
