Jacobs Field renamed Progressive Field

[WVRed]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...g_N.htm?csp=34

CLEVELAND (AP) — The field known as "The Jake" is no more. The home of the Cleveland Indians now will be called Progressive Field.
Car insurance company Progressive Corp. and the American League team have come to terms on a 16-year naming rights deal for the 42,000-seat downtown ballpark.

The park had been known as Jacobs Field since it opened in 1994, named when the team had been owned by Cleveland-area businessman Richard Jacobs. Progressive will pay $3.6 million a year for the rights.

Indians president Paul Dolan said at a news conference on Friday that the club is aware that the team's history _including two World Series appearances — is tied to fans' emotional connections with Jacobs field.

"I'm sure the fans' thinking about this place being something other than Jacobs Field will take a while," Dolan said. "But I'm also sure that over time, Progressive Field will also sink in with the fans' psyche."

Glenn Renwick, Progressive's chairman and chief executive, said that the cost of the naming rights represents about 1% of Progressive's annual advertising and marketing budget.

"Quite frankly, as a company we are approached all the time with opportunities for various sponsorships. This came after a lot of thought. It's a great opportunity for both our customer base and the fan base," Renwick said.

Does anybody else see irony that a team that has a native American nickname is playing in Progressive Field?

[Chip R]

No more irony than seeing the perennially mediocre Reds play in Great American Ball Park.

[westofyou]

No more irony than seeing the perennially mediocre Reds play in Great American Ball Park.

Or that a Wrigley hasn't owned the Cubs for 25 years.

[top6]

Or that the Bengals play abysmal football in a stadium named for a football genius.

[BCubb2003]

Or that the Bengals play abysmal football in a stadium named for a football genius.

Or that the Browns were actually named for Joe Louis?

From The Jake to The Prog?

[Danny Serafini]

My personal favorite is the University of Phoenix Stadium, being as the University of Phoenix doesn't have a football team.

[Caveat Emperor]

My personal favorite is the University of Phoenix Stadium, being as the University of Phoenix doesn't have a football team.

They have a killer Madden squad on X-Box Live, I hear.

[Highlifeman21]

My personal favorite is the University of Phoenix Stadium, being as the University of Phoenix doesn't have a football team.

And some might argue it's not a real university.

[Yachtzee]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...g_N.htm?csp=34



Does anybody else see irony that a team that has a native American nickname is playing in Progressive Field?

Kind of like rain on your wedding day?

Personally, without the "Insurance" part, it sounds like the park was named after a European political party, like "Social Democratic Stadium" or "Labor Party Park."

[Rojo]

Maybe Dennis Kucinich could toss out the opening pitch.

[StillFunkyB]

Ridiculous.

[Yachtzee]

Maybe Dennis Kucinich could toss out the opening pitch.

That's a good one.

[RedEye]

No more irony than seeing the perennially mediocre Reds play in Great American Ball Park.

I suppose the ultimate irony would be if the Indians were now to play in a place called Progressive American Ball Park. But that's not a real corporation, so that would never happen.

[RedEye]

Strange thing is I didn't even think about the political incorrectness of the franchise's name at first... I just thought of the statistical analysis approach of their FO, which might accurately be termed "progressive." Shows how sensitive I am these days, I guess.

[wheels]

I like how Dolan thinks the new name will sink in to the fans' psyche.

Does he even have a clue about his fan base?