Shortline Bus Posted February 4, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 4, 2009 I am sure most of you know by now, the Mets open a new stadium in April. Oringally it was supposed to be called "Citifield' after the global banking Giant. Now with the ecomony crisis and this megabank receiving 'bailout' monies from the feds, many people are now calling on Mets Owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon to drop the naming rights deal. So my question guys is this? Should the Mets and several other teams in MLB, NFL NBA and NHL drop their naming rights deals on their home stadiums with Multi Billion Dollar banks that were part of the bail out deal. Examples of current deals. Arizona Diamondbacks-Chase Field, Phoenix Carolina Panthers(NFL)Bank of America Stadium, Charlotee Baltimore Ravens(NFL)M & T Bank Stadium Here the NY Daily News article on it. Mets deny rumors their naming rights stadium with Citigroup will end. By GREG B. SMITH and LARRY McSHANE NY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Wednesday, February 3rd 2009 Bailout backlash or not, the Mets' are publicly for now said their new home field is keeping its $500 million moniker: Citi Field. The team and Citigroup, ignoring congressional carping over their pricey naming rights deal, said Tuesday there are no plans to rechristen the stadium before its April 13 debut. Citigroup officials reiterated their commitment to the 20-year deal in separate calls to Mets owner Fred Wilpon and his son, chief operating officer Jeff. The Wall Street Journal reported that Citigroup, under attack for taking $45 billion in federal bailout money while spending millions to splash its name on the stadium, was reconsidering the deal. Jeff Wilpon, at a news conference announcing the signing of pitcher Oliver Perez, said the agreement was still on - and complained it was getting unfair scrutiny. Holding a list of 44 corporations that applied for the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program, Wilpon said every one had purchased sports-related naming rights or sponsorships. "I think they're unfairly, right now, singled out," he said of Citigroup. The corporation was blasted by two members of Congress last week over the naming-rights contract. A Mets source confirmed the deal, often reported as $400 million, is worth a half-billion dollars. The $25 million a year is a negligible amount in Citigroup's multibillion operating expenses. But critics - including U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich, (D-Ohio), and Ted Poe, (R-Tex.) - charged the deal sent out the wrong message. "Citigroup is now dependent on the support of the federal government for its survival as an institution," the pair wrote to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "As such, we do not believe Citigroup ought to spend $400 million to name a stadium at the same time that they accept over $350 billion in taxpayer support and guarantees." Tuesday, Kucinich demanded documents from Citibank proving that none of its taxpayer dollars wind up paying for stadium naming rights. In addition to the federal funds, Citigroup announced last year that it planned to cut 53,000 jobs worldwide. Citibank said none of the bailout money would go to the Mets. They confirmed the 2006 deal remained intact, as did the Mets. "In conversations this morning, Citi reinforced that they will honor our legally binding contract," the Mets said. c)2009 NY Daily News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1447 Posted February 4, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 4, 2009 Leave it shea staduim. Its known!!! Not fair that the bs Yanks can hkeep there bame grrr Plus imagine that the station name on the would change.. Citifireld - not Shea Staduim =|!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R421969 Posted February 4, 2009 Share #3 Posted February 4, 2009 Yeah a agree...and that brings up a question; what will the station known as " willetspoint/shea stadium" be calle now that shea is no longer the stadium...willetspoint/citifield? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted February 4, 2009 Share #4 Posted February 4, 2009 The shea stadium signs have been removed from the station. I say call it mets ballpark/willits point station. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UlmerPark B6 Posted February 4, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 4, 2009 Leave it shea staduim. Its known!!! Not fair that the bs Yanks can hkeep there bame grrr Plus imagine that the station name on the would change.. Citifireld - not Shea Staduim =|!? METS could keep their name also, but they wanted the money from Citibank, so the name is Citifield. This is how teams make money. The Yankees made enough money. What are they gonna do with the signs at Willets Points? I think Citi shoudl pay them less and get the name "Met's CitiPark", or "CitiMets" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7LineFan Posted February 4, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 4, 2009 The shea stadium signs have been removed from the station. - A ??? Just passed through there today, they were still up. At least inside the station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted February 4, 2009 Share #7 Posted February 4, 2009 ??? Just passed through there today, they were still up. At least inside the station. They may have been put back up temporarily but i saw photos of them in a pile. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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