Tottenham's New Stadium

Let's talk a bit about stadiums.  Not that the following information should surprise you, but I think it's interesting to consider the ramifications of corporate naming of stadiums across the world.  We know of the thousands of examples in the States, where corporate names attached to stadiums is so commonplace that venues such as Cowboys Stadium or Giants Stadium or Camden Yards are the exception to the naming rights deals rule.

This brings me to North London, England, home to the Tottenham Football Club.  I will begin by stating that this is a classic team with a classic logo (and color scheme).

Formed in 1882, the team has resided in its current grounds, White Hart Lane, since 1899.  White Hart Lane holds approximately 36,000 fans and, as a result of the stadium's history and capacity, Tottenham has been compared to the Boston Red Sox and historic Fenway Park (built in 1912 with a capacity of 37,000).

Both teams feature beautifully old stadiums that have been consistently upgraded throughout the century and each team offers a rich history in their respective sports as a counterpart to the incredible structures.  That is why it disturbed me to find out that Tottenham are currently developing a plan to build a new stadium on the same property as their current grounds.  And not just a new stadium, but a 58,000 seat monster that would look something like this:

Apparently, with over 70,000 fans on a waiting list for season tickets, Tottenham couldn't prevent the development of a new stadium any longer.  The especially sad thing, however, is that this new sport/entertainment/residential complex (there will be housing, retail, a hotel, and a 'public square') will literally have corporate naming rights written all over it.  In fact, the development team from Tottenham was so certain that "White Hart Lane" would be no more that they digitally imprinted the new stadium with as-yet-unknown title "Naming Rights" in what is the first image of the new design.

To think, would the designers for a new Fenway Park - if ever it was built - be so brazen as to implant a blank space for a corporate name on the new stadium design? Wouldn't people, as my North Shore cousins are wont to say, be ripped?

Turns out that in the top flights of English football, Tottenham is not alone in their attempts to cash in.  Much like stadiums in the 'States, the steady stream of corporate naming began in the early 1990s and has slowly spread.  In late 2009, Newcastle FC decided to rename their 117-year old stadium, St. James Park, to the following mouthful:"Sportsdirect.com@St. James Park."

A stadium which opened in 1892 now has a website-dot-com address preceding the title it held for over a century.  The corporate takeover trend does not end there as another London-based football club, Chelsea FC, also recently announced plans to sell the naming rights to its stadium, Stamford Bridge.  Named for the bridge that connects the Chelsea area of London to neighboring rival Fulham, "The Bridge," has been affectionately known as such since 1877.

Take a look at how long these stadiums have been around and to contemplate a name change, for any of them, is just sad (teams with/or considering corporate naming are highlighted).

• 1860 - Deepdale Stadium; Preston North End FC
• 1877 - Stamford Bridge; Chelsea FC
• 1882 - Ewood Park; Blackburn FC
• 1883 - Turf Moor; Burnley FC
• 1884 - Anfield Park; Liverpool FC
• 1889 - Molineux Stadium; Wolverhampton FC
• 1892 - St. James Park; Newcastle FC
• 1892 - Goodison Park; Everton FC
• 1896 - Craven Cottage; Fulham FC
• 1899 - White Hart Lane; Tottenham FC
• 1900 - The Hawthorns; West Bromwich Albion

To use another parallel, Lambeau Field is - and will always be - Lambeau Field...and it's only been open since 1957!  To seriously entertain the idea of something GoDaddy.Com@Lambeau Field is disheartening and I can only feel bad for Tottenham fans, who must be looking forward to 2012 when Naming Rights Stadium opens.

...I realize this is not new information, it just shocks me to see how easily we are overcome by corporations in what is supposed to be our strongest devotion (let's see corporations sponsor churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.)  Is it fan weakness or corporate strength or both?  Either way, and on the precipice of the Citi BCS National Championship Game, I miss the original bowl games: the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange.  (Don't talk to me about the Citi, Tostitos, Allstate, or FedEx games...)