The MLB Rangers on Thursday signed current naming-rights partner Globe Life Insurance to a 25-year deal for their new ballpark, and a team official said the negotiations were "very amicable," according to a front-page piece by Bill Hanna of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Rangers Exec VP and Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer Joe Januszewski said of the talks, "That started shortly after the (Arlington ballpark) vote in November and we negotiated through the spring. ... It was a very amicable negotiation. Very professional. We never thought about going out to market and shopping the deal." Globe Life had a "90-day exclusive window to negotiate" the deal, which is reportedly worth $11M annually. Januszewski said that the 90-day window was "extended another 30 days as negotiations progressed." Hanna notes there is "no opt-out for either side." Januszewski said that other parts of the ballpark "may also have naming rights." Januszewski: "One of the particular benefits of the new ballpark is we're going to have the opportunity to design from the ground up several new clubs or entertainment zones -- kids places, family places -- and each of those will have the opportunity to have a naming partner." He also said that entertainment complex Texas Live! "could get a sponsor." Hanna notes the new ballpark's name will "not formally include the city of Arlington like the original name of the current stadium, which many fans still call the Ballpark in Arlington" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/25). Januszewski said that the Rangers and Globe Life were "eager to get a deal done." Januszewski: "We were confident with our 3 1/2-year partnership and felt we were in a good place." Globe Life Direct Response President & CEO Bill Leavell said that he was "pleasantly surprised by the pace of negotiations" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/25).
SAME OLD, SAME OLD: In Ft. Worth, Stefan Stevenson notes the Rangers will "go from playing in Globe Life Park" in '19 to Globe Life Field in '20. Stevenson: "I know, shocking." As for the name, the response from fans was "mostly a shoulder shrug." Since Globe Life remains the club's partner the name "makes sense, even if it lacks pizzazz" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/25).
