Naming rights for the Seattle venue that houses the Seahawks and the Sounders are "coming to market," with CenturyLink's current deal set to expire after the '18 season, according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Sources said that the Seahawks "will handle the sales internally" and are already "proceeding with due diligence." The stadium has been called CenturyLink Field since '11, when that company acquired Qwest Communications, which signed on for the venue's original naming-rights deal in '04. CenturyLink’s "exclusive negotiating window expires" in January '18. However, sources said that the deal "was done in support" of the Qwest merger and is "unlikely to be renewed." With the likelihood of a record naming-rights deal for the forthcoming Rams stadium in Inglewood, "along with a likely new stadium for either Oakland or San Diego or both, and it adds up to a crowded market for naming rights" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/25 issue).
MILES TO GO: In Denver, Danika Worthington notes yesterday's deadline for bids on the Mile High Stadium naming rights set by Sports Authority’s national liquidator Hilco Streambank "came and went without a lead bidder -- although one likely will be identified by the end of the week." Hilco Streambank Exec VP Jack Hazan said that several interested parties "have approached his firm." Sports Authority is "due to make" a $3.6M payment Aug. 1. Missing the deadline "starts a 30-day grace period after which the naming rights return" to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District and the Broncos (
DENVER POST, 7/26). Hazan said, "If a company is smart, they would put in a bid now because it's only going to get more expensive if the Metropolitan Football Stadium District sells it." Hazan added that if his company "is able to make a naming deal with a company, he believes the bankruptcy court could approve the new name without needing the approval of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District or the Broncos" (
ESPN.com, 7/25).
