And lest we all forget, there's 3 B1G football stadiums (Maryland, Minnesota, and Rutgers) that are currently having naming rights on their football stadiums.
NCAA allows on-field corporate sponsorships
This is not the worst that can happen. If schools can pay players, more revenue needs to be generated. Do we wanna be good or not?
The tradition has always been about money. Now it’s just a matter of how much more money.
I’m not sure. Eventually it’s only an illusion designed to resemble what we once knew as college football. When it becomes just a pro team playing in a (named) college stadium, the only difference between college and NFL is an age/eligibility restriction, right? At that point, will some fans shift their attention to the NFL rather than the lowly farm teams? Or to other college sports? My wife is watching Oklahoma softball as I write this. She tells me college likely wasn’t an option for her w/o athletic scholarships. Real student athletes still exist in some sports.
the sponsorships on jerseys will happen.
If it means beating Michigan in football, let'em wear whatever they want - including a German WWI helmet with spike on top.
I don't really care about naming facilities. It really is just another facet of putting a large donor's name on it as has been done for years. The line I feel needs to be maintained, and was crossed with the SFC, is that the original name needs to be maintained. Should have been "State Farm Assembly Hall" or "xxxx Memorial Stadium". Don't completely get rid of the original name!
Would you have preferred Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall like they have in Bloomington?
Colangelo Assembly Hall would be just fine by me.
I could be wrong but I though that IU's arena being named after Simon Skodjt was an issue since she didn't go there.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
It's just the Golden Rule - "Who has the gold makes the rules."
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
I think we can sell ever 5 yards.
"Illini take over from the Ameren IP 25 yard line...."
"Illini take over from the Ameren IP 25 yard line...."
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
I know that in past years, we had the "Case IH Red Zone" or something like that for Illini football broadcasts. Might as well just go all out.
And these things will likely spell the end of my fandom.......... But my connection will have probably been severed long before that point..........
No one is willing to admit, because it will impact the immediate short term $$$, that this is just a step towards the MLS-ification of college sports (or whatever unprofitable generic sports league failure you choose).... And that is the HIGH END of where this will end up. It's sad, it's crazy, it's a foregone conclusion. New fans are not coming in, and this will KILL whatever support is left from the legacy/old school fans...... I honestly expect to be a non-NCAA sports fan in the next 5 years if things continue along this current trajectory.
State Farm Fighting Illini? Chief will come back?
50%of the time, every time.
I can picture Brian Barnhart with a Rolodex of sponsorship cards he has to read after every other play.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Yes! And can you imagine a long touchdown call?
He's to the Chief Takomasak* 35... cuts inside to the Casey's 40....
Exhausting!
* Freshman year I encountered Steak n Shake for the first time and I thought that was the Chief's new name.
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Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
kinda sadly, a bunch of them closed in the Chicago area the past 2-3 years
Steak n Shake - home of the shoestring french fries .
originated in Bloomington IL area if I remember correctly