Chicago Bears avoid renaming Soldier Field, instead rename team from Chicago Bears to "Bears football, from Bank One"

[UncleButternutts]

Now presenting `Bears football, from Bank One'

(KRT) - The politicians persuaded the Chicago Bears not to sell the naming rights to the team's newly rebuilt stadium. But the Bears figured out how to get the big bucks anyway.

On Monday, they sold the name of the team, or came pretty close.

No longer will the old franchise, which was there at the NFL's creation, refer to itself exclusively as the Chicago Bears. From now on, whenever possible, it will be "Bears football presented by Bank One."

The bank, which is based in Chicago, paid an undisclosed amount to be the team's "presenting partner" for the next 12 years, the first such arrangement in NFL history.

Although one media report placed the number at $50 million, sources familiar with the deal said the actual figure was somewhat less.

Ted Phillips, the Bears' president and chief executive officer, said the deal would bring "a new level of corporate partnership to the city of Chicago and the NFL."

For its money, the bank will get signs all over the stadium, advertisements on the Bears' radio broadcasts and nongame television programs, the franchise's banking business, a presence at training camp, and a sponsorship role in the team's community outreach efforts.

In addition, the team will make frequent use of the signature phrase that includes the bank's name on the air and in print. Whether anyone else uses it remains to be seen.


Full story

 

[drunkguy]

gotta love capitalism.

Next thing you know the announcers will be saying:

"This Hail Mary pass is made possible by the sponsorship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"

 

[UncleButternutts]

drunk

"Oh my what a hit! That sack brought to you by the friendly folks at Trojan.

Trojan, don't you get sacked without the proper protection."

 

[areeff]

only when capitalism reaches its vile maxim will people see the problems. This is sick. I'm sick of seeing advertisements everywhere telling me what to buy, what to think, and how to think it.

I'd love to see a campaign of nonviolent "terrorism" of spraypainting/blacking out annoying advertisements.

 

[drunkguy]

"That Sammy Sosa home run was brought to you by Kendall-Jackson wines: always tightly corked for quality"

 

[snowtime]

The Bad News Bears are being posted by Chico Bails and Bonds,The McClaskey clan have been watching too much of NFL Europe this past few months. What's next the Green Bay Packers are being renamed to Acme Packers to recreate the nostaglia feel to the Lambeau?

 

[Jazz]

This is hilarious - man, Chicago fans are going to take it up the arse on this one!!! Ha! Actually, I love capitalism but I never watch commercials on TV unless it's the Super Bowl - can't stand them. areeff, if you're sick of capitalism and its vile commercialism, there are plenty of outstanding, people-friendly countries with outstanding economic systems and great standards of living that have absolutely no commercial tie-ins whatsoever that you could escape to. I hear Pyongpyang is the trendy place to be these days, where one can throw off the horrible chains of commercialism and just enjoy life as it was meant to be lived.

 

[snowtime]

I couldn't imagined that the Bears fans would buy and wear the new NFL junk with BankOne plastered somewhere like normal sportswear logo are being located. LMAO at whomever wears the Chicago Bears boxer shorts and/or underwear with BankOne logo being placed on the front fly and back area.

 

[Jazz]

Here's the part of the story that infuriates me - notice, as usual, that the large majority of funding for the new stadium is provided for by hotel-motel taxes, paid of course by people who don't even live in the ****ing community. Isn't that sweet how professional teams get the locals to stick it to the tourists and travellers? Of all the freaking money for this stadium, the owners only put up $30 million - and of course the locals should be grateful and kiss their asses for allowing Chicago to be a 'big league' city. You have to admire these guys ...

"In addition to the sponsorship deal with Bank One and smaller ones still being sought, the Bears are expected to boost their profits significantly when they move back into the rebuilt stadium, which is being paid for largely with public funds.

The project to build a new, 61,500-seat arena within the 1924 stadium's colonnades is being financed with the sale of $432 million in bonds backed by hotel-motel taxes. There also is a $200 million contribution from the Bears and the NFL to come in part from the sale of stadium seat licenses. Only $30 million will come directly from the Bears' owners."

 

[rickyroma]

The Cowboys would never stoop to this level. OMG, this is pitiful. I knew the Bears and their fans we're going downhill but this is on another level..

 

[JoeyC]

Look at the deal the Rangers got when Bushie was at the helm..

 

[Skyweasel]

I think the Packers should get a sponsorship from Fanny Farmer Fudge. It would bring a whole new meaning to "Green Bay Fudge Packers".