Comiskey Park getting new name By Jim Kirk Tribune staff reporter Published January 31, 2003, 5:49 PM CST Comiskey Park will be renamed U.S. Cellular Field under a $68 million, 20-year naming rights deal between the White Sox and the Chicago-based wireless phone company, sources said this evening. Sources said earlier that White Sox executives approached U.S. Cellular within the past couple of months, soon after U.S. Cellular entered the Chicago market following its acquisition of the former PrimeCo. Since then, U.S. Cellular has been trying to quickly establish name recognition in the highly competitive Chicago wireless market. "U.S. Cellular was intrigued because it is looking for several different ways to establish its name in the market," said a source. It also helps that Comiskey is hosting this year's All-Star game, which would give any naming-rights sponsor bonus exposure. A source said that the All-Star tie-in was a key in attracting U.S. Cellular. Executives with the White Sox have been attempting to sell the naming rights to the park for several years and have had negotiations with Ameritech, now SBC Communications Inc., and Motorola Inc. in the past. Both companies passed on a deal. Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf had promised the Comiskey family that if the team sold the naming rights to a corporate sponsor, the team would find a way to honor the Comiskey name. Any agreement would have to be approved by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which owns Comiskey. White Sox executives have indicated that if a naming-rights deal is struck, proceeds from the deal would go toward renovating the upper deck and improving sight lines for fans. Reportedly, any major renovation to the upper deck could cost up to $30 million.
I know it's based in the burbs of Chicago, but I don't know if they're offering service outside the city. Maybe this money can rip the upper deck off.
