Features

Ashley reaches new low

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 17/11/2009
Football betting

In recent times Newcastle United have turned their farcical predicament around by zooming to the top of the Championship table following last season's relegation from the Premier League.

However, owner Mike Ashley's ludicrous decision to re-name St James' Park, sportsdirect.com@St James' Park Stadium, has brought further outrage to the north-east city.

In a move to generate further income, the introduction has wound many bewildered Geordies up on Tyneside as Americanisation homes in yet again.

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It isn't the first time a club on English soil has sold the rights to a commercial organisation.

The argument remains that it dilutes the proud history and heritage of a club and football fans around the country can relate to this.

Bradford City's Valley Parade ground was re-named Coral Windows Stadium in July 2007 after the Bradford-based double glazing firm signed a three-year deal, taking over from Intersonic, who had called the ground the Intersonic Stadium.

Before this it had also been called the Pulse Stadium and the Bradford and Bingley Stadium but, if the truth be told, locals still insist on calling their home the more traditional Valley Parade.

Accrington's commonly known Crown Ground is now named the Fraser Eagle Stadium after being sponsored by the company who specialise in passenger transport, travel and logistics.

If an award should be granted for such name changes though, it would have to go to Darlington.

After their move from the dilapidated Feethams ground in 2003 to the newly built Reynolds Arena, named after the club's then-owner George Reynolds, things soon turned sour for the rock-bottom League Two outfit.

Following Reynolds' bankruptcy, the stadium was named The New Ground.

The board then sold the naming rights and soon followed the Williamson Motors Stadium and then the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena.

Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena and Northern Echo Arena have also had the honour of boasting the rights at the 25,000 capacity stadium.

It is now called the Northern Echo Darlington Arena although locals simply refer to the ground as the Darlington Arena.

In America, many of the main playing arenas are sponsored by corporate conglomerates and thriving international businesses.

Tampa Bay Rays baseball team play at Tropicana Park, sponsored by the fruit juice company, Major League Soccer outfit FC Dallas' home is Pizza Hut Park.

Named after a stationery giant, Staples Center in Los Angeles is used by the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Fellow NBA outfit Cleveland Cavaliers reside at Quicken Loans Arena and NFL giants Washington Redskins play at FedEx Field, named after Federal Express, a logistics services company.

Perhaps all is not lost for Newcastle United, one of the online favourites to win promotion from the Championship this season, and it could well be a sign of things to come.

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