Kentucky becomes first SEC school to sell naming rights to football stadium
Commonwealth Stadium is no more, as Kentucky has announced it will rename its football stadium Kroger Field. Kentucky announced the news during a 1 p.m. Monday afternoon press conference from Lexington.
Opened in 1973, Commonwealth Stadium looks to become the first SEC stadium to sell its naming rights for sponsorship dollars. Following its most recent renovations in 2015, the stadium can hold up to 61,000 fans. The renovations cost the school $120 million and included the following amenities: a new press box, club seats, recruiting room, suites, concourses, bathrooms, lights and exterior facade to the stadium.
News of the stadium’s new name was broke by Patrick Loney of Scout.
The new stadium name will be called Kroger Field. #BBN
— Patrick Loney (@PatrickLoney) May 1, 2017
It will be interesting to see if other SEC schools follow Kentucky’s lead and sell their naming rights to their stadiums. It’s safe to say, if the price is right, each SEC school could soon have a sponsorship deal in place in the near future.
Kentucky official announced the change following as part of a comprehensive partnership:
We are renaming our football stadium to Kroger Field as part of a comprehensive partnership. #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/6u5PzX9zWX
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) May 1, 2017
Mitch you f*cked up big time
It’s going to be called Commonwealth stadium no matter what. Mitch is an egomaniac, if it’s the field name he’s doing it because he doesn’t like CM Newton, our former AD. But seriously, it better be the field name, he will get hell for this if it isn’t. Who in their right mind would do this, honestly??? Kroger field? Of all names to rename it, that’s the stupidest name I’ve heard.
They didn’t pull the name out of the hat, Kroger bought it. You should have made an offer.
UK = University of Kroger.
Honestly could’ve been worse. Kroger Field at Commonwealth Stadium doesn’t sound too bad.
It’s just “Kroger Field”. The BOT still must approve, but they expect it to pass.
I spent two years assigned to the Army ROTC department at UK and loved it. Changing the name of Commonwealth Stadium to Kroger Field is shabby and unworthy of the SEC. Bad decision.
Maybe it’ll be Kroger Field at Commonwealth Stadium. I’m fine with getting rid of Newton’s name on the football field.
Must be a really big check!
12 years at 1.85 million annually.
Bryant Denny is staying Bryant Denny
Lol combine the name with a brand. That way, ADs get the money and fans keep the name.
Bryant Denny’s
Air Jordan-Hare
Disneyland Stadium
SanFord Stadium
Dreams wouldn’t come true at Disneyland Stadium though:)
Well at least we know that won’t sell Hardware at the new Kroger stadium. They will also have basement dweller prices for those thrifty shoppers.
Ouch!
This is such a tucky move. None of the historically relevant programs would make this move, and if you don’t believe me, ask yourself this: Would UK sell the naming rights to Rupp Arena? Heck no. Just like Bama, Auburn, LSU, UT, UGA, and UF would not sell the names of their football stadiums.
Tucky = Tacky?
They’ve been playing with the idea of selling rights to Rupp for years. Given enough time, it will happen. ADs like price tags too much for it not to happen, at least eventually.
Hmmm
You are aware that just about every professional NFL stadium has a corporate name?
I don’t care for it either but it is the future of College athletics.
Wise business move.
“News of the stadium’s new name was broke by…”
Come on, man, grammar!
Every school other than LSU, Arkansas, Missouri, and Vanderbilt already essentially sold naming rights to large donors (USC, Florida, Miss. State) or named the stadium after a notable coach/alumnus (Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss). Renaming any of these stadiums would be in poor taste.
I hate to agree with him, but Paris is sitting back in his chair laughing at how much we hate Barnhart now saying,”I told you so”, and I agree with him now:/
Don’t encourage the overweight geriatric
I love it when you reply to yourself!
Ole Mitch is such a trend setter!
I just can’t understand why all the other SEC schools haven’t torn out seats, down sized their stadiums and put in a recruiting deck.
Can you imagine Neyland Stadium becoming Neyland-Moon Pie Stadium?
How about Bryant-Denny renamed Bryant-Denny-Golden Flake?
And the crap about not changing Rupp? Show him the money and it will become anything the sponsor wants.
Kentucky Football – Nothing expected, therefore no disappointments.