Massachusetts-based firm Hilco Streambank said that it has been "hired to sell off Sports Authority's intellectual property -- including its naming rights at Sports Authority Field at Mile High," according to Harden & Mendoza of the DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL. The announcement "seems to signal that the failing sporting-goods chain intends to at least try to sell off the rights to name" the Broncos stadium despite "objections from the stadium’s managers that the naming rights can’t be transferred without their approval." Hilco Streambank said that it will "also market and sell the sporting-goods chain’s trademarks and brands, its website domain name, patents and customer databases." Bids on the IP "will be accepted through June 23." Denver's Metropolitan Football Stadium District Dir of Stadium Affairs Matt Sugar said that the district "has filed a 'placeholder to object' with the Bankruptcy Court if the naming rights contract is sold." The district has "told the court it has the right to veto any naming-rights sale that would lead to a name change for the stadium, citing NFL rules." Sugar said that the district's position is "unchanged -- that it should have the right to review any naming rights transfer to another party." It is waiting until after the June 23 bidding deadline "to see who, if anyone, wants to buy the rights" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/9).
