Jan
31
2009

What’s In A Name Anyway?

An article by Jessica DeMattia

Representatives Dennis Kucinich and Ted Poe are urging the Obama administration to get Citigroup out of Citi Field. They are demanding that to 20-year/$400 million deal be dropped because of a $45 billion bailout and because 50,000 employees will be losing their jobs.

I never liked the name Citi Field. To me, it sounded kind of silly. Even sillier was the explanation that it was the city’s field. Or something like that. Like, what happens if the Mets are bad? Are we as fans going to dub it Chitty Field?

Of course, there have been talks of Taxpayer Field. I would hope that if this happened, the Taxpayers would get to name the field and name it something reasonable.

Before Citigroup swooped in and purchased the naming rights, the new ballpark was slated to be called Mets Ballpark. Not corporate? Check! Something we as fans can live with? Check! Still wishing this could happen? I know I am.

We called Shea Stadium home from 1964-2008. We’ve had good times and bad times. And sure, Shea Stadium was a giant blue cupcake with unsanitary bathrooms, but it was OUR giant blue cupcake with unsanitary bathrooms. Would I be opposed to New Shea Stadium? No, considering the Cardinals have been through 3 Busch Stadiums.

Of course, I also wouldn’t be objected to changing the name all together. If it were my choice, I would either name it after Joan Whitney Payson or our greatest Met, Tom Seaver. Personally, Payson Field or Seaver Field has a much better ring to it than Citi Field.

Whether the Obama administration orders Citigroup to forfeit the naming rights or not, we still have a new home to look forward to in 2009. I think I’ll be happy as long as we don’t end up in Wilpon’s Tomb.

About the Author: Jessica DeMattia

9 Comments + Add Comment

shea January 31, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Re-name it Shea Stadium damn it!!
Rob (Tie Dyed) January 31, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Great article, Jessica.
Great idea about naming it Payson Field. I also like the sound of it. It would pay homage to our past–just like Citi Field, in its design–honors NY Baseball Past and just like ‘Shea’ honored Bill Shea, I think ‘Payson Field’ would be a great idea. The design of the stadium honors NY baseball past and Payson Field intertwines OUR past into that.
Sadly, though, we are living in a time where corporate sponsorship and naming rights has surpassed ‘tradition.’
It’s more important for some corporation to spend money on ‘name recognition’ and owners are more than eager to pimp out team tradition for want of the almighty buck.
Des January 31, 2009 at 2:24 pm

Dennis Kucinich is part of the new regime that sees only depressing and wrong things about America. He is a screwball who claims he has UFO sightings. He is a nut who is politically related to “Che” Guevara, the legendary guerrilla. So he is not to be taken seriously.
What makes Kucinich think he is needed to run sports businesses and the advertising of other businesses? Besides, if CitiGroup’s deal generates revenues for the Mets and for Citi, why is it wrong??
Russell Zanca January 31, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Yeah, Kucinich is a little kooky, but he’s dang bright, and he’s always on the side of the common person. You know, like us Mets fans, but maybe not you Des.
I totally support his effort. I’d love to call it Mets Park or Mets Field.
nate January 31, 2009 at 3:06 pm

considering the plans to buy and push everything out of the area…how bout willets point park?
Des January 31, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Russell Zanca: I assure you I’m a common person and a Mets fan too. I just have a different opinion.
Be very careful of handing your wallet and brains over to the government. It has never worked in the past and likely won’t again!
I want to stay out of the businesses of the Mets and CitiGroup.
Rissa January 31, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Say what you will about Rep. Kucinich but I think he makes a good point. If CitiGroup is in such bad shape that it has to be bailed out by the government then maybe they need to reconsider how they have been spending their money in the first place. Personally I think the government should not be bailing anyone out – period. Let them live with their stupid financial mistakes and suffer the consequences of their bad decisions like the rest of us. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
And just for the record, I am a conservative-type libertarian, not a “left wing nut” like Rep. Kucinich is being called. He just happens to make a good point. I personally don’t care what CitiGroup does with their money. If they want to throw it away then that’s fine. It’s their money to do with whatever they want. But I am very much against corporate welfare and taxpayers bailing out big business because then it starts to affect innocent Americans.
Name the stadium whatever you want but as far as this particular situation goes, he’s absolutely right. If they want to be frivolous with their money then fine, but they can (and should) do it without the help of taxpayer funded bailouts.
I seriously think/hope that is likely the bigger issue, more so than a baseball field named Citi Field. My guess is they are just trying to make an example out of CitiGroup.
Then again, maybe I am way off base. It wouldn’t be the first time, lol.
And for the record, I think Seaver Field sounds pretty darn good too!
Joey B January 31, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Retire Piazza’s #31 on Opening Day, and unveil “Piazza Park”. Just thought I’d put it out there
Rissa January 31, 2009 at 5:55 pm

Actually, when you consider what piazza means in Italian (like the center of town or the town square), maybe they could name it Mets Piazza?? Kind of a play on words? lol