When it comes to naming rights for stadiums, it's not just brands that are calculating the ROI. Some of those venues are named for banks receiving federal bailout funds, including the New York Mets' new Citi Field (above); the Bank of America Center in Charlotte NC, home of the NFL Carolina Panthers (right); and the New Jersey Nets' planned Brooklyn home, so far named for Barclays Bank, which receives
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When it comes to naming rights for stadiums, it's not just brands that are calculating the ROI. Some of those venues are named for banks receiving federal bailout funds, including the New York Mets' new Citi Field (above); the Bank of America Center in Charlotte NC, home of the NFL Carolina Panthers (right); and the New Jersey Nets' planned Brooklyn home, so far named for Barclays Bank, which receives government aid for its stake in insurance giant AIG.
At press time, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has not agreed to Congressional calls to vacate those naming deals or cut off the banks' rescue money. But House Financial Services chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., has spoken out against the “pure ego” of buying naming rights.
