Comments on: Another evil of corporate football, or just a fuss about a name?

By: Andrew Curry

Andrew Curry — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:06:14 +0000

The fact that the Chief Executive says it has to be “right for the business” is – as you say – the most chilling part of it. We care about this because we don’t think it is a business; it’s a club, a team, part of our histories. But while clubs continue to be owned by billionaires rather than fans, this is the sort of language we’ll get from football’s CEOs, just like we get the endless toadying from David Gill to the Glazers (the sound of a man who knows who pays him his millions). It reminds me of a quote Martin Kelner picked up in a review of a recent documentary on the Baltimore Colts:

“There are probably not too many parallels to be drawn between the NFL and the Premier League, but the problems currently afflicting some English football clubs were neatly encapsulated in a fine documentary on ESPN America about the Baltimore Colts, in which the late owner of the club, the flamboyant, bibulous Bob Irsay, snapped at a TV interviewer: “It’s not ‘your’ club, it’s not ‘our’ club, it’s my club. I paid for it.” ”

Andrew

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By: salutsunderland

salutsunderland — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:30:29 +0000

Good point , Jeremy. I’ve certainly never told anyone I was going to the Stadium of Light, even when I had a birthday party there. I have got used to the name, but never liked it and never will. But I did I talk of going to Roker Park (which i loved as both name and place)? No, it was always the match/game/ground.

It’s just that the thought of seeing it described by others as the Vodafone SoL, Seaham Hall SoL or – if our boats came in – Salut! Sunderland SoL fills me me with dread.

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By: Jeremy Robson

Jeremy Robson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:20:30 +0000

Am I alone in just calling it “the ground”?

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By: Keith Hutton africa

Keith Hutton africa — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:23:54 +0000

To sell somebody the Stadium Of Light is now called the………. Stadium of Light won’t change the place and we will go and watch our beloved team there. But what will we call it the only people that matter? Sam Matterface may use the full corporate name but it will to us be SoL, why anyone would be prepared to pay million for this obvious irony is beyond me but it helps us buy a top class player let’s go for it

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By: Bill Taylor

Bill Taylor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:42:28 +0000

It’s so commonplace now, does it really matter if there’s a prefix to Stadium of Light — which let’s face it, gets called a lot worse as a matter of course by the fans of lesser clubs. Weren’t a lot of people outraged when players first started wearing sponsorship names on their chests? Who even notices that any more?
I do think someone on the Sunderland board might have had the foresight to jump on Mike Ashley’s sportsdirect.com opportunity. How nice it would be if the Magpies played at MackemsRule@St. James’ Park. Just to keep them in their place.

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