"Citi" Will Stay On New "Shea Stadium"

Even an economic collapse, government bailouts, bankruptcy and total embarassment will not be enough to coax the Mets into removing the name "Citi" from its new ballpark in the old Shea Stadium parking lot.

"The company is still an ongoing company and a vital company that is doing business around the globe,” Mets chief operating officer, Jeff Wilpon, said Tuesday. “The taxpayers are backstopping what’s going on in the global economy. It’s not really Citi’s fault that they’re in this problem. There are a lot of other banks in the same situation — with naming-rights deals, also.” (Qtd. by Blum, AP Baseball Writer).

Citigroup agreed to a ridiculous $400 million dollar naming rights contract with the New York Metropolitans to place their now disgraced name on the new Mets stadium for the next 20 years. Even with the economic downturn, which saw Citi tank more than 60 percent of its stock value, it was not enough for the Metroplitians to reconsider using the name.

Maybe misery loves company. The Mets have become a franchise that banks on bankrupt ballplayers who are waaaaayyyy toooo old or just past their prime in hopes they can win a World Series. Having a name of a bank that took a huge dive a week ago is almost fitting.

Even some Long Island Republican representatives said that the stadium should be called "Citi/Taxpayer Ballpark." I hope they are just kidding. Perhaps, the Mets should rename it "Bankrupt Ballpark!" Has a nice ring to it; doesn't it?

Remember years ago at the turn of the century, the Houston Astro's new stadium was called ENRON Field. That title was immediately replaced after the infamous ENRON scandal took place in 2002. The Astros stadium is currently called "Minute Maid Ballpark."

There are plenty of other reputable companies out there for the Mets with whom to partner for naming rights. Apple Computers is one that is really doing well with it's highly advanced computers, IPods and other digital media that are popular amoung college age people and young adults. Maybe Sovereign Bank is the name the Mets should consider since their commercials are all over the Mets TV network, SNY, with former Mets pitcher Ron Darling as a spokesman.