Friday, August 19, 2011

Sports : MetLife Insurance Buys New Meadowlands Stadium Naming Rights


MetLife Insurance Buys New Meadowlands Stadium Naming Rights
The New Meadowlands Stadium, which has gone by its awkward plain-jane name since opening last fall, has finally found a major company to buy the naming rights of the stadium: MetLife Insurance, which you probably know from its Snoopy-flying blimps above golf tournaments and other sporting events. The New York Post is reporting that the deal will bring in $20 million per year for the next 20 years. So for those keeping score at home, the Mets play at Citi Field, the Nets play will soon play at Barclay Center, and now the Jets and Giants will play at MetLife Stadium.

According to the Post:

MetLife bought one of four smaller rights deals, called cornerstone partnerships, three years ago for $7 million a year.

That deal was scheduled to run until 2014 -- but will end upon the anticipated announcement of the insurance company’s upgrade to a full stadium naming rights deal. ...

Sources said that MetLife and both teams have been trying to hash out a deal since last year but a volatile market has held up talks.

An announcement won't be made until next week (likely before the Jets-Giants pre-season game), but at least it's being announced well in advance of the 2014 Super Bowl, which is probably the real prize for MetLife.

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