Column says U "is about to sell naming rights to" Mariucci Arena

[BleedGopher]

per Tanick:

Other name changes afoot
Other such name changes are afoot. The Athletic Department, in the mist of its massive $190 million "Nothing Short of Greatness" fundraising drive, is about to sell naming rights to the hockey arena, which has been named since its construction in 1993 for John Mariucci, the legendary Gophers hockey coach and “godfather” of amateur hockey in this state.

Barely a long slap shot from the recently rechristened the McNamara Center, an administrative building with social gathering sites, the hockey rink will lose some of its charm when its new appellation denotes a big money contributor, rather than the iconic hockey legend.

With Mariucci soon to be minted for money, can other historic U of M sports sites be far behind? Williams Arena, recalling ironically the school's pioneering football coach, Dr. Henry Williams, probably can't survive with that name. Opened in 1928, and the second oldest continuous-use campus site of its kind in the country, the facility with the unique raised floor and, at one time, largest college seating capacity in the land, was originally called the Field House until its name was changed in 1950. With its current nickname of "The Barn," dating back to halcyon pre-academic-scandal Clem Haskins days of the 1990s, the title of some commercial agriculture-related giant – and there are many of them around here – will probably grace the venerable home of the men's and women's basketball teams before too long.

Likewise, the relatively new Siebert Field baseball park, named for coach Dick Siebert, who led the squad to three national championships, should get ready for a new corporate christening, along with renaming of the older Bierman Building, where the Athletic Department administration and various practice and indoor performance sites are situated in honor of the esteemed football coach Bernie Bierman, who garnered five national championships before World War II.

https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2017/05/naming-rights-and-wrongs-u

Go Gophers!!

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Tanick did not cite any sources at the U or in industry about the selling of rights to name any arenas or other sports facility. It is pure rumor.

 

[BleedGopher]

per Rand Ball:

A Gophers athletics official told me the U of M (much like other schools) is looking at various potential revenue streams. While there are no plans anytime soon to remove Mariucci and Williams from the building names, the official said adding a sponsor name to those buildings and their existing names is a “possibility” that would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

So yes, it does sound like naming rights could be coming to those hallowed arenas — not as a replacement for the existing names but rather in addition to them.

The first instinct might be to recoil at the idea of a bank or other major corporation (for instance) adding its name to Mariucci Arena or Williams Arena. Those arrangements tend to sound clunky, such as “Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium,” as the University of Washington’s football stadium was renamed a couple year ago.

Altering an existing name to add a corporate name, though, does feel different — offering a stark reminder of how much sports, even at the college level, have become big business.

The guess here is that, like Tanick wrote, changes to Mariucci and Williams are inevitable (and probably sooner than later). If the plan was to wipe out those names entirely, there would be an outcry. Instead, whenever it happens, the outrage level will only reach a collective grumble and fans will just keep on calling the buildings by their old names.

http://www.startribune.com/sell-nam...nd-williams-arena-is-a-possibility/422751704/

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

per Sid:

Naming rights at U

Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle was asked about rumors that the Gophers might sell the naming rights to Mariucci Arena.

“As you know with the athletes village and our ‘Nothing Short of Greatness’ campaign, you know we’ve raised over $102 million for our goal, and our goal is to generate revenue that can go back and support our student-athletes,” Coyle said. “When we talked about partnering with the business community, if there’s ways we can respectfully partner with that community and maintain the tradition of our great facilities and our great programs, we’re going to do that.

“Revenue is such a big part of what we’re trying to do. Our budget at Minnesota, we’re eighth in the Big Ten at $105 million. We’re competing against Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, those people that are in that $140-$160 million range. There’s no doubt we need to continue to be innovative and continue to generate revenue to put back into our student-athletes to let us compete at a high level.”

http://www.startribune.com/former-h...g-run-for-penguins-in-nhl-playoffs/425821363/

Go Gophers!!