Naming rights

[ratcatcher]

Isnt it time we grasped this nettle? We were the first club in England (Britain?) to wear a sponsors name on our shirts. Such was the move both BBC and ITV refused to show highlights of our games when we took to the field adorned with Hitachi.

 

Fans are hotly divided by the thought of re naming Anfield. But, given we took the bold step with shirt sponsorship, is naming rights really that big a leap?

 

New that Real will rename the Bernabeu shows the way forward. Or are we going to be held back again because its a step too far for some?

 

Real Madrid president accidentally reveals plans to rename Bernabéu

• Florentino Pérez caught on camera discussing change
• Part of major redevelopment of stadium for 2017 launch

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• Reuters
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• theguardian.com, Wednesday 19 November 2014 10.57 GMT

Florentino Pérez, left, was unveiling the club's new relationship with Microsoft on Tuesday when he was filmed. Photograph: Paul White/AP

The Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, has been caught on camera apparently revealing the future name of the club’s revamped stadium as either “IPIC Bernabéu” or “CEPSA Bernabéu”.

Real last month agreed a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi fund International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) that will help finance a planned stadium overhaul costing around €400m (£320m) and due to be completed by 2017.

IPIC’s holdings include the Spanish energy firm Compañía Española de Petróleos (CEPSA) and Pérez was captured on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday saying: “We are going to put IPIC Bernabéu or whatever they want ... or CEPSA Bernabéu.”

Real chose a design led by the German architects GMP for the remodelling of the stadium, which was opened in the 1950s and holds just over 80,000 spectators.

The project, to add a striking new roof and exterior to the current structure and include a hotel and a shopping centre, is meant to help the world’s richest club boost revenue.

However, a Madrid court has thrown the plans into doubt by ruling that a deal between Real and the Madrid council, which would allow land adjacent to the stadium to be incorporated into the work, should be suspended because the European Commission is examining it for possible illegal state aid.

Pérez did not reveal what the revamped stadium would be called when the IPIC deal was announced but said the agreement marked “the start of a long journey and the beginning of a strong partnership”.

 

[an tha]

It's a case of hang on to the tradition and be 'better' than all that shite, but be left behind due to the way the game has gone. Or sell your soul and compete.

 

The game has changed but ultimately it's about having a winning team, I hate what it has become, but I also want our club to be at the top. Seems you can't be there unless you play the game and get in bed with these corporations and sell your soul.

 

I am not sure I want my lad to be watching the Reds in ten years or so as a mid table club miles behind those with the money, but clinging on to 'yeah but we haven't sold our soul' but then I don't like the idea of him going to watch us in the dunkin donuts stadium or whatever shite we would be in bed with.

 

I know what my instinct tells me, but I also know what the reality is and will be going forward.

 

What a cluster fuck the game has become. I often think those lads at AFC and the Mancs FC utd have got the right idea...

 

All that said the arse will fall out of it all eventually and the playing field will level again...

[ratcatcher]

It's a case of hang on to the tradition and be 'better' than all that shite, but be left behind due to the way the game has gone. Or sell your soul and compete.

 

The game has changed but ultimately it's about having a winning team, I hate what it has become, but I also want our club to be at the top. Seems you can't be there unless you play the game and get in bed with these corporations and sell your soul.

 

I am not sure I want my lad to be watching the Reds in ten years or so as a mid table club miles behind those with the money, but clinging on to 'yeah but we haven't sold our soul' but then I don't like the idea of him going to watch us in the dunkin donuts stadium or whatever shite we would be in bed with.

 

I know what my instinct tells me, but I also know what the reality is and will be going forward.

 

What a cluster fuck the game has become. I often think those lads at AFC and the Mancs FC utd have got the right idea...

 

That may be a point of view. But there's no getting away from the fact that having HITACHI on the shirt was just as big a leap against tradition as naming rights.

 

Dont AFCL and the new Mancs have sponsors on their shirts, sponsors who wouldnt be there but for us?

[an tha]

That may be a point of view. But there's no getting away from the fact that having HITACHI on the shirt was just as big a leap against tradition as naming rights.

 

Dont AFCL and the new Mancs have sponsors on their shirts, sponsors who wouldnt be there but for us?

Yeah, I see what you are saying.

 

Fact is the game sold it soul a long time ago and you either play the game or fall behind.... Does not make it any less shite to do it, mind

[ratcatcher]

Yeah, I see what you are saying.

 

Fact is the game sold it soul a long time ago and you either play the game or fall behind.... Does not make it any less shite to do it, mind

 

Wouldnt disagree with what you say.

[Bjornebye]

"This is Dunken Anfield Dunkenfuckers"

 

Fuck off

[ratcatcher]

"This is Dunken Anfield Dunkenfuckers" Fuck off

 

Cept its not going to be called that, is it?

[Bobby Hundreds]

The game lost its soul ages ago fuck it. As long as all that money is not spent on players or footballers but used to put St. John's market back to the way it looked in the 80s same clothes the lot. I need a new pair of Adidas phantoms not to wear outside but for round the house and maybe some copycat slacks.

[TheFridge]

It'll be team names before long, it's already out there with the likes of Red Bull Salzburg.

 

10 years or so down the line...

 

Sony Liverpool v Tesco value Everton played at the Dubai Airlines Anfield Pringles stadium.

[Bjornebye]

Cept its not going to be called that, is it?

Who is this Cept you have gotten me confused with BBB?

[sir roger]

I'd take the money because nobody who goes the game would ever call it anything other than Anfield anyway. I still tell people my ticket is in the Kemlyn for god's sake.

[Jairzinho]

The McDonalds IDF Ebay Mugabe Arena.

[ratcatcher]

Dont know why people are throwing silly names in the mixing. I mean Hitachi werent a silly name when we selected the first shirt sponsor.

 

I think Sir Rog has nailed it though.

[xerxes]

The value of naming rights is significantly greater for new stadia. I continue to regard FSG’s handling of the stadium move/ redevelopment inept. For me, rebranding Anfield is less palatable than naming a new stadium.

 

As for the rights and wrongs of naming rights, it’s just the price of fish. And another erosion of identity.

 

Ultimately it’s just another deal in a Faustian pact, the shirt, the stadium, the name, and then there is nothing left to sell, and all you are left with is a shell of what once was.

[Pureblood]

Kellogg's All Branfield

[stringvest]

The McDonalds IDF Ebay Mugabe Arena.

 

I preferred it when it was called White Hart Lane

[Tony Moanero]

The game lost its soul ages ago fuck it. As long as all that money is not spent on players or footballers but used to put St. John's market back to the way it looked in the 80s same clothes the lot. I need a new pair of Adidas phantoms not to wear outside but for round the house and maybe some copycat slacks.

Bobby Hundreds knows.

[ritchie]

Held back? Real Madrid are extensively rebuilding a top drawer stadium into a real world class modern stadium. We're touching up an outdated ground with a stand extension. That's called being held back.

 

If we had a ground like Madrid will end up with (or even the ground they currently have) they could call it the Sir Alex Ferguson stadium for all I care. (maybe not but you get the point).

[Jairzinho]

I preferred it when it was called White Hart Lane

 

[Bjornebye]

Spamfield

[Lario]

If we keep going with our "value for money" purchases, it'll probably be called Matalanfield

[Robbo29]

They can sell the name for the best price they can get, it will still be Anfield. No matter what, people will still go, will still buy tickets. Is it the original Anfield? no, redevelopments have changed it so much from when i first went, Its like "Triggers Broom"

[Section_31]

Any kind of cash injection is pointless anyway until we learn how to spend it well. 

[Robbo29]

Maybe we should spend it on Physio wages, attract one who can keep platers fit

[Furmedge]

Spamfield

Well we are a club that fritters away all our money.