The Red Bulls have begun exploring a naming-rights deal for Red Bull Arena, sources said. The MLS club is seeking at least a 10-year deal that would be valued at seven figures per year, according to the sources. While the club has met with potential agencies that would assist in selling the rights, it has not hired one yet and could instead choose to use internal resources through parent company Red Bull. Opened in '10 in Harrison, N.J., Red Bull Arena has never sold its naming rights. The Red Bulls did not respond to a request to comment (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).
TEMPERED EXPECTATIONS IN TAMPA: In Tampa, John Romano writes while two St. Petersburg City Council members "have offered new plans" over a potential new Rays ballpark that involve higher financial returns for the city, they have also offered "the same end result" for the ballpark search. Either new deal "would cost" St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman "some glory." The plans "would also cost the Rays some extra millions." Romano: "I would argue both are a small price to pay. ... If finding a permanent home in Tampa Bay is truly the goal, then Rays owner Stu Sternberg needs to find some wiggle room in his final offer" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/20).
PEEKING DUCKS: In California, Steve Fryer writes Honda Center's new scoreboard is "half as good as the old one," but only because "two sides of the four-sided apparatus worked Sunday." The two sides that "did not work were side-by-side screens, one that traces the length of the ice and a shorter one that faces the stands behind a goal." The ones that "did work were fantastic, such stunning clarity." Honda Center execs said that the issue "has been repaired and the boards should be good" to go for Thursday’s Lakers-Warriors preseason game (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/21).
