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Holy crap. And not in a good way.

Flashback: “council is allowed to reject a name only if it is tied to an inappropriate business or identity” (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2012/04/03/flashback-council-is-allowed-to-reject-a-name-only-if-it-is-tied-to-an-inappropriate-business-or-identity/)

Posted by slackmeyer on April 3, 2012M at 11:07 pm

Ballpark Gets Corporate Nameplate

By Bob Hersom, Steve Lackmeyer and Jack Money
Staff Writers

Oklahoma City’s new era of professional baseball will have a familiar ring to it.
That message rang clear on a windswept Tuesday at the new Bricktown ballpark, when the Oklahoma RedHawks officially introduced their home as Southwestern Bell Park.

Not to pull a metro, but I just wanted to connect the urban dev-first folks like myself (I finally saw the other thread) to the thread with more responses already:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=29341&p=525425#post525425

Newcastle Field at Bricktown

I hope they have Newcastle on tap

Can you imagine how much that will cost at that ballpark though?

Newcastle Field at Bricktown...not the end of the world. Its way better than Newcastle Casino Field.

Newcastle Field at Bricktown...not the end of the world. Its way better than Newcastle Casino Field.

i agree

What a joke... our ballpark we paid for is named after a suburb. Incidentally I'm sure...but still. How about Moore Convention Center?

What a dumb name, credibility for the ballpark just went from a 8 to a 1. I will always refer to it as Bricktown Ballpark...

Unfortunately I already committed to the significant other that we were going to go to tomorrow night's game. I would rather not go now.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=29341&

Unfortunately I already committed to the significant other that we were going to go to tomorrow night's game. I would rather not go now.

you've got to be kidding ...

you've got to be kidding ...

The name is a complete joke, why should I support something with my money that is so short-sighted and poorly thought out?

The name is a complete joke, why should I support something with my money that is so short-sighted and poorly thought out?

Because you will be going to watch and support the Oklahoma Redhawks in the Bricktown district of OKC. None of your dollars you spend will be going to Newcastle, Newcastle Casino, or the Chickasaw Tribe. The Mandalay group sold the rights to the highest bidder and all they get is to name the feild/stadium. They dont get percentage of sales or anything. You are still supporting OKC and the Redhawks when you spend your money there. Dont go to Newcastle if this upsets you, thats pretty much the only way to punish them.

Holy crap. Who cares what it is named? No matter what it will be Bricktown Ballpark. And to not go cause of the name change is just childish.

This does not bother me in the least. I see Steve is doing his best to foment outrage on Twitter. I am still at a loss as to what I'm supposed to be outraged about. It's a minor league baseball park, not Dodger Stadium. Bricktown Ballpark is a perfectly good and sensible name, but I see no problem in them doing this if it provides them with another important stream of revenue.

I've never cheered a team or a performer or even heard a speaker where my presence was in any manner based on the name of the facility. On the bright side folks, at least it dinna get called Oklahoma City Field at the Oklahoma City Ballpark in Bricktown District of Oklahoma City. You'd need a monster truck just to fit that bumper sticker on your ride.

Because you will be going to watch and support the Oklahoma Redhawks in the Bricktown district of OKC. None of your dollars you spend will be going to Newcastle, Newcastle Casino, or the Chickasaw Tribe. The Mandalay group sold the rights to the highest bidder and all they get is to name the feild/stadium. They dont get percentage of sales or anything. You are still supporting OKC and the Redhawks when you spend your money there. Dont go to Newcastle if this upsets you, thats pretty much the only way to punish them.

this+1

What a dumb name, credibility for the ballpark just went from a 8 to a 1. I will always refer to it as Bricktown Ballpark...

Credibility was already low. Thats why they could only get a local casino to sponsor the ballpark and it wasn't even one of the larger Casinos like Riverwind.

Its another "side effect" of the Thunder coming to town. People are just willing to fork out more money for NBA games. Especially for a team that is doing awesome right now.

Holy crap. And not in a good way.

In this instance, Spartan, I agree with you 100%.

I may send out a press release. :tiphat:

For all the good things going on in Bricktown, slapping a stinking casino sponsor name on our ballpark (or field or whatever) just reeks of, well, tacky. I think our Redhawks have been on shaky ground ever since Ryan pulled the switcheroo on the Red Rock/Rangers AAA team, and we got stuck with the Astros leftovers. Really, really sad.

Now I'm even angrier:


The renaming also will result in the Oklahoma City ballpark being named after the town of Newcastle.

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-bricktown-ballpark-to-see-sixth-name/article/3663312#ixzz1r5Nt7vpr


I thought the naming rights were just for the field, but the whole PARK gets renamed to Newcastle?????????????

No. Stinking. Way.

Exactly zero Newcastle dollars paid for that facility. The taxpayers of Oklahoma City paid for it. Their right to name it? Zero.

I believe the City can, and should, override this.

I haven't started a letter writing campaign in a long time.

Credibility was already low. Thats why they could only get a local casino to sponsor the ballpark and it wasn't even one of the larger Casinos like Riverwind.

Its another "side effect" of the Thunder coming to town. People are just willing to fork out more money for NBA games. Especially for a team that is doing awesome right now.

the Chickasaws own newcastle and riverwind .. and winstar for that matter ... and they just rebranded and are expanding newcastle .. we don't know yet how much they are paying ..

Unfortunately I already committed to the significant other that we were going to go to tomorrow night's game. I would rather not go now.

The only recourse the average citizen has in most cases is to simply not spend their money on things they don't agree with. I 100% support your one-man protest. If other Bricktown business get hurt in the process of taking a stand then they need to get on the horn with Mandalay and express their concerns.

...
Exactly zero Newcastle dollars paid for that facility. The taxpayers of Oklahoma City paid for it. Their right to name it? Zero.
...

You might ease up a step. Your first and second statements are borne of outrage and are not correct, unless of course you have some manner to prove that no newcastle resident ever spent any money inside OKC proper during the first MAPs.

The ballpark was paid for by folk from OKC, Edmond, MWC, Del City, Moore, Valley Brook, Yukon, Newcastle, Norman, Purcell, Poteau, Sallisaw, Tulsa, Stroud, yada, yada, yada. Shoot, even out of state folk kicked in for it, and the library and the canal, etc., with every soda and burger and shirt they enjoyed as they visited and/or passed through. It was not was a paid for 100% by OKC folk only, though they obviously paid the lion's share based on the projections of that MAPs and the versions since enacted.

As to right to name it, the OKC city fathers, elected by folk in OKC, way back when it was built provided for the team owners to be able to capitalize on naming rights. So any blame about giving up naming rights rests with the politicos of the day. More recent politicos have done similar on other projects. The owners have a wide latitude to rename the place as they see fit. It is not absolute but it was freely given.

As to being named after another community, that's just how a cookie crumbles sometimes. If the tribe had built their gaming center in Moore instead of Newcastle, it might indeed be called Moore Field at Bricktown today. On the bright side, they dinna build their gaming center on the banks of Stinky Creek.

Bottom line is short of sportscasters and print media and the occasional scout night flyer, the bulk of the folk around will call it The Brick, Bricktown Ball Park, or just about anything other than the name name of Newcastle Field at Bricktown. After all, when was the last time someone raved about what fun they had at Redhawks Field at Bricktown?

After all, when was the last time someone raved about what fun they had at Redhawks Field at Bricktown?

i would bet that most on this board didn't know that "Redhawks Field at Bricktown" was the name of our downtown baseball stadium

Now I'm even angrier:



I thought the naming rights were just for the field, but the whole PARK gets renamed to Newcastle?????????????

No. Stinking. Way.

Exactly zero Newcastle dollars paid for that facility. The taxpayers of Oklahoma City paid for it. Their right to name it? Zero.

I believe the City can, and should, override this.

I haven't started a letter writing campaign in a long time.

I don't give a BIG RATS TAIL what they call it. There was outrage the first time it was named, SOUTHWESTERN BELL BRICKTOWN BALLPARK', or something of the sorts. So it was changed to SBC Bricktown Ballpark.......but was later just referenced as the 'BRICK". Some of you folks are losing credibility for just getting all wadded up over this.......lighten up folks, you're exposing yourselves.....

File this under much ado about nothing

I don't give a BIG RATS TAIL what they call it. There was outrage the first time it was named, SOUTHWESTERN BELL BRICKTOWN BALLPARK', or something of the sorts. So it was changed to SBC Bricktown Ballpark.......but was later just referenced as the 'BRICK". Some of you folks are losing credibility for just getting all wadded up over this.......lighten up folks, you're exposing yourselves.....

it was originally named Southwestern bell park ... then after the uproar .it was changed to Southwestern bell BRICKTOWN ballpark .. then Southwestern bell changed its name to SBC global ... so the name changed to SBC Bricktown ballpark .... then SBC became ATT so it became ATT Bricktown Ballpark ... that lease ended when Mandalay bought the team .. and last year the name was Redhawks Field at Bricktown ....

now i gues it will be Newcastle field at Bricktown ....

not ideal but not a big deal either

No matter which side of the issue you are on, here are the email addresses for the Mayor & Council


Mayor Cornett
mayor@okc.gov

Gary Marrs
ward1@okc.gov

Ed Shadid
ward2@okc.gov

Larry McAtee
ward3@okc.gov

Pete White
ward4@okc.gov

David Greenwell
ward5@okc.gov

Meg Salyer
ward6@okc.gov

Skip Kelly
ward7@okc.gov

Pat Ryan
ward8@okc.gov

The City Manager makes recommendations to the Council, so it couldn't hurt to contact him too…

Jim Couch
citymanager@okc.gov

Newcastle Field at Bricktown

I hope they have Newcastle on tap

Now you're talking!!

You might ease up a step. Your first and second statements are borne of outrage and are not correct, unless of course you have some manner to prove that no newcastle resident ever spent any money inside OKC proper during the first MAPs.

Completely and utterly wrong. I never said citizens from those cities may not have contributed through their commerce in Oklahoma City. I said the taxpayers of Oklahoma City paid for it. Further, the revenue generated by the MAPS sales tax was Oklahoma City sales tax revenue...unless, of course, you have some manner to prove that the city of Newcastle, Edmond, MWC, Del City, Moore, Valley Brook, Yukon, Purcell, Poteau, Sallisaw, Tulsa, Straud, yada yada yada actually wrote a check out of their own city coffers to contribute to its construction. You don't.


The ballpark was paid for by folk from OKC, Edmond, MWC, Del City, Moore, Valley Brook, Yukon, Newcastle, Norman, Purcell, Poteau, Sallisaw, Tulsa, Stroud, yada, yada, yada. Shoot, even out of state folk kicked in for it, and the library and the canal, etc., with every soda and burger and shirt they enjoyed as they visited and/or passed through. It was not was a paid for 100% by OKC folk only, though they obviously paid the lion's share based on the projections of that MAPs and the versions since enacted.

It was an Oklahoma City project. It was an Oklahoma City tax. It was an Oklahoma City initiative. It sits on Oklahoma City land.


As to right to name it, the OKC city fathers, elected by folk in OKC, way back when it was built provided for the team owners to be able to capitalize on naming rights. So any blame about giving up naming rights rests with the politicos of the day. More recent politicos have done similar on other projects. The owners have a wide latitude to rename the place as they see fit. It is not absolute but it was freely given.

And I'm delighted to point out that the City reserves the right to revoke such rights if they deem the naming to be inappropriate.


As to being named after another community, that's just how a cookie crumbles sometimes. If the tribe had built their gaming center in Moore instead of Newcastle, it might indeed be called Moore Field at Bricktown today. On the bright side, they dinna build their gaming center on the banks of Stinky Creek.

That's your opinion, and you're welcome to it.


Bottom line is short of sportscasters and print media and the occasional scout night flyer, the bulk of the folk around will call it The Brick, Bricktown Ball Park, or just about anything other than the name name of Newcastle Field at Bricktown. After all, when was the last time someone raved about what fun they had at Redhawks Field at Bricktown?

I remember the furor over the Southwestern Bell Park a few years ago, and while I realize the level of indignation for this won't rise to that level, I wish it would. I hate the fact that a suburb name, particularly one attached to the American blight that is these ghastly star-building casinos, is buying its way into this.

File this under much ado about nothing


B - I - N - G - O
(sorry, I just had to.)

B - I - N - G - O
(sorry, I just had to.)


I don't think they do Bingo at casinos.

But they should have built a big shiny new casino on the river downtown and then named the park after that one.
Like Harrahs Bricktown Ball Park or something along those lines.

I don't think they do Bingo at casinos.

But they should have built a big shiny new casino on the river downtown and then named the park after that one.
Like Harrahs Bricktown Ball Park or something along those lines.

Actually, all of the Native American Casino slots come up as a 'bingo game'.....at least they did a few years back...

http://oklahomacity.redhawks.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120404&content_id=27899956&vkey=pr_t238&fext=.jsp&sid=t238

I already received a reply from my Councilman Shadid's office letting me know it is being forwarded to his attention.

Actually, all of the Native American Casino slots come up as a 'bingo game'.....at least they did a few years back...
That was true before the law was changed allowing Class III (Vegas style machines) back when the Lottery passed too. If I recall correctly they could look like a slot machine (even down to the different "brands") but had to be "bingo based" or skill machines (where the player can stop the spin) or essentially a "pull tab" dispenser. You can still find the older style machines (where you can switch it over to bingo) or it may even display the bingo equivalent outcome of the slot results.

Who cares? I swear, some people get bent out of shape over nothing. When I saw Newcastle Field, I honestly thought of the Ale. Not bad for a baseball park.

I'm with Rover; who really cares?

No one will call it Newcastle Field, or if they do, they won't know it's the name of a suburb. Hell, I've never referred to it as anything other than the Bricktown Ballpark. How many of you called it Redhawks Field or anything other than Bricktown Ballpark or The Brick? Very few, if any, I bet. I'm willing to bet that's what 99% of people will continue to do so, even when it undergoes its 7th name change.

seems to me that with baseball's past gambling problems - black sox, pete rose - that a baseball team wouldn't want this kind of association with a casino.

So something that happened about 90 and 35 years ago is a problem right now? Casino isn't even in the name. Most people will wonder why the town of Newcastle is involved with the naming. To be honest, I think the Chickasaws are wasting their money. Either way, the talk of not going to games because of this is nonsense. You would only be hurting okc by doing that.

So something that happened about 90 and 35 years ago is a problem right now? Casino isn't even in the name. Most people will wonder why the town of Newcastle is involved with the naming. To be honest, I think the Chickasaws are wasting their money. Either way, the talk of not going to games because of this is nonsense. You would only be hurting okc by doing that.

I don't go to casinos anyway (at least often, every now and then twice a year I might go to Riverwind -- hardly a regular), so I could say I won't visit their fine establishment, but they won't feel that. They (Mandalay) probably won't feel me not attending their games either, but it's the only way I can not support this name change. Money talks BS walks. My $10 admission ticket probably means nothing to them anyway, but I feel better anyway.

We can bitch.....or...

Mandalay Entertainment Group
ATTN: Mandalay Baseball
4751 Wilshire Boulevard Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010

Telephone: 323-549-4300

info@mandalay.com

CEO for Mandalay Baseball is Art Matin

OR

The City Council. As Steve pointed out in his post at OKC Central, the council can reject naming rights for certain reasons and this could be one.

So something that happened about 90 and 35 years ago is a problem right now? Casino isn't even in the name. Most people will wonder why the town of Newcastle is involved with the naming. To be honest, I think the Chickasaws are wasting their money. Either way, the talk of not going to games because of this is nonsense. You would only be hurting okc by doing that.

alex rodriguez was being investigated by major league baseball last summer for participating in illegal underground poker games. i'm sure he was cleared because you didn't hear of any suspensions or fines, but it's an image that mlb doesn't want anything to do with, considering the past.

and in the picture of the ballpark facade on the newsok story, "casino" does appear underneath "newcastle." so while not officially in the name, it appears it will be there on the ballpark.

from the Redhawks website:
The new name will go into effect immediately, with Opening Night for the 2012 RedHawks season scheduled at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow night. Signage at the ballpark will be manufactured and installed over the coming weeks.


Now, just a guess on my part, but I'd speculate someone did some informal temp taking well before this was announced and ready for immediate implementation.

I assumed this was some sort of late April Fool's Day joke. What marketing exec thought this was good idea? And how did they keep their job after proposing it?? It's nothing less than embarrassing.

if the money used from selling the naming rights goes to continue with the renovations and improvements that they did this past winter, then i'm all for it. I'll still just call it the "bricktown Ballpark" like i always have

C'mon guys ur gonna protest, just because of the name grow up. Now if it was Justin beiber ballpark.........I would fully support u

C'mon guys ur gonna protest, just because of the name grow up. Now if it was Justin beiber ballpark.........I would fully support u

It practically is. This is one of our city's gems, a piece of our pride and joy. I don't want it named after some Indian casino on the edge of the metro area. This is a huge slap in the face, and it devalues the Brick.

Riverwind Field would've sounded better.

I don't go to casinos anyway (at least often, every now and then twice a year I might go to Riverwind -- hardly a regular), so I could say I won't visit their fine establishment, but they won't feel that. They (Mandalay) probably won't feel me not attending their games either, but it's the only way I can not support this name change. Money talks BS walks. My $10 admission ticket probably means nothing to them anyway, but I feel better anyway.

You are right. Money Talks, BS walks, that's why they sold the naming rights....it's all about the money.

It practically is. This is one of our city's gems, a piece of our pride and joy. I don't want it named after some Indian casino on the edge of the metro area. This is a huge slap in the face, and it devalues the Brick.

it "devalues" the brick ... more than the current name Redhawks field at Bricktown??

You feel that way because you aren't used to hearing casino names associated with public works. Take a look in cities/states where the casinos aren't so new and it's very different. They are an enterprise like any other, so while we may not like it, it would also be hypcritical to say company A should allowed but company B should not. And if the city rejects it, get ready for the city to have to eat legal fees in the court battle. It's no different from the anger people started feeling when any facility had its naming rights sold. We don't always like it, but we have to live with it. Personally, I hated every AT&T/SBC/SWB name on it before. I can't say I like this one either, but it's still fair.

And I understand what you were saying Kayne, but that's exactlly what I'm pointing out. It does flow off the tongue better, but it's hypocritical to accept one in Newcastle and not another....remember they are both in Newcastle. Riverwind is not in Norman. Even though their website lists the address as Norman, the city stops at the river. It's symantecs, but i think you see the point.

it "devalues" the brick ... more than the current name Redhawks field at Bricktown??

Well, could you explain what you think is wrong with that?

It practically is. This is one of our city's gems, a piece of our pride and joy. I don't want it named after some Indian casino on the edge of the metro area. This is a huge slap in the face, and it devalues the Brick.

Wow, Spartan, that's two posts in a row where you and I are 100% in sync. Agree completely. The Ballpark arguably represents the core of the entire Bricktown renaissance...and now its got a moniker for a casino??

And, for those interested, the word "casino" most certainly IS emblazoned on the ballpark in very small letters.

I've sent my email to my councilman and the mayor, which I guess is about all I can do.

seems to me that with baseball's past gambling problems - black sox, pete rose - that a baseball team wouldn't want this kind of association with a casino.One would think so, but the Redhawks are now owned by Mandalay, so it's a much more intimate association than just the name of the field...

Perhaps someone should suggest putting the team in the same category as Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson (thanks, Mayor Mick) so long as it's owned by a gambling operator.

One would think so, but the Redhawks are now owned by Mandalay, so it's a much more intimate association than just the name of the field...

Perhaps someone should suggest putting the team in the same category as Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson (thanks, Mayor Mick) so long as it's owned by a gambling operator.

Mandalay is not a gambling operator ... and NEVER has been ..

Are they not the operator of the Newcastle Casino?