TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Dunedin Stadium Name Rights Up For Grabs

ADVERTISEMENT

By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: February 11, 2008

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - Dunedin has to find a new name for its baseball stadium.

For the last four years the municipal baseball complex, formerly known as Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field, has been called Knology Park.

The stadium, on Douglas Avenue just south of downtown, is the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, the Dunedin Blue Jays plays its Florida State League home games there.

Knology, the provider of cable TV and other multimedia services, recently notified the city it will not renew the contract giving it naming rights to the stadium next year, according to City Manager Robert DiSpirito.

Tony Palermo, vice president of marketing for Knology, said Tuesday the company enjoyed the benefits of having a partnership with the city. Sometimes, however, it becomes time to shift marketing and branding image and dollars to other vehicles such as outdoor advertising and other venues, he said.

It's time to give some another firm a chance to have its name on the stadium, Palermo said.

Assistant City Manager Harry Gross said the city has about a year to find a business or some other name sponsor for the stadium. That sponsor could be an individual, according to Gross.

The good news, Gross said, is the city does not have to reinvent the wheel in seeking a new name sponsor for the stadium. City staff gained a lot of experience when it began the naming rights search that end with the Knology deal.

Following Knology's decision to give up naming rights to the stadium, the city will resurrect its Naming Rights Committee, Gross said.

For more information on the city's search for its stadium naming rights read Saturday's Pinellas edition of The Suncoast News.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT