Miller Park name change coming after the 2020 season

[brewmann04]

ok time to move onto the next issue

[PeaveyFury]

Sorry, not buying that article at face value. First, Tom clearly states that ‘he believes’ MillerCoors didn’t make an offer, and has only the fact that they didn’t expressly state that they did as his proof with the quotes from Schlesinger on the Brewers side.

 

Seems like a PR ‘save face’ story released now that they had time to put a plan together after an unexpectedly negative reaction and terrible week of PR. Why should anything being stated by Schlesinger or the Brewers be taken as gospel in that context? Could it be true? Sure. Do I think it’s not as clear cut as the Brewers and AmFam would have us believe? You bet.

[sveumrules]

If MillerCoors wanted to retain the naming rights, I'd imagine they had ample opportunity to do so.

 

Based on how things have played out, it appears they didn't want to.

[MrTPlush]

I am going to lean that Miller flat out did not want the naming rights because they likely had the chance to extend the current deal at the current amount or possibly even less without the Brewers talking to anyone else.

[MillerParkSouth]

This makes me less confident that the Brewers got a substantial bump in revenue from the naming rights.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This makes me less confident that the Brewers got a substantial bump in revenue from the naming rights.

 

Yeah, I agree. The article makes it sound like this was not the Brewers' choice. Hard to blame MillerCoors, though. They are no longer a Wisconsin company. Why would they continue to throw money at a community they are no longer invested in?

[MrTPlush]

This makes me less confident that the Brewers got a substantial bump in revenue from the naming rights.

 

Heck, could be a reduction.

[FVBrewerFan]

Sorry, not buying that article at face value. First, Tom clearly states that ‘he believes’ MillerCoors didn’t make an offer, and has only the fact that they didn’t expressly state that they did as his proof with the quotes from Schlesinger on the Brewers side.

 

Seems like a PR ‘save face’ story released now that they had time to put a plan together after an unexpectedly negative reaction and terrible week of PR. Why should anything being stated by Schlesinger or the Brewers be taken as gospel in that context? Could it be true? Sure. Do I think it’s not as clear cut as the Brewers and AmFam would have us believe? You bet.

 

Have you noticed the crickets from MillerCoors? If this story wasn't true, and MillerCoors really wanted to retain naming rights, don't you think we would have heard from them? They've been hiding under the desk before, during, and after this announcement.

 

The Brewers didn't say anything until now, because it didn't serve anyone for them to throw MillerCoors under the bus. Once the bad PR came out, they felt the need to respond. Don't look for something that's not there. MillerCoors wanted out.

[reillymcshane]

I wish Cologaurd had gotten the naming rights. That would have been awesome.

[PeaveyFury]

Sorry, not buying that article at face value. First, Tom clearly states that ‘he believes’ MillerCoors didn’t make an offer, and has only the fact that they didn’t expressly state that they did as his proof with the quotes from Schlesinger on the Brewers side.

 

Seems like a PR ‘save face’ story released now that they had time to put a plan together after an unexpectedly negative reaction and terrible week of PR. Why should anything being stated by Schlesinger or the Brewers be taken as gospel in that context? Could it be true? Sure. Do I think it’s not as clear cut as the Brewers and AmFam would have us believe? You bet.

 

Have you noticed the crickets from MillerCoors? If this story wasn't true, and MillerCoors really wanted to retain naming rights, don't you think we would have heard from them? They've been hiding under the desk before, during, and after this announcement.

 

The Brewers didn't say anything until now, because it didn't serve anyone for them to throw MillerCoors under the bus. Once the bad PR came out, they felt the need to respond. Don't look for something that's not there. MillerCoors wanted out.

 

Not saying you’re wrong, but you only seem to think that only one side can take the high road? Doesn’t their employee memo at least suggest that Tom’s speculation may not be correct?

 

Following the pushback and negative reactions to this, the Brewers have a massive reason to push this narrative...

[xisxisxis]

The “incredibly rich offer” phrasing also was curious because the Brewers and American Family kept the financial terms between them, with no known leaks to this point.

Oh Really? So MillerCoors just "guessed" that a deal was done and it was lucrative and they were right on both counts... how odd...

 

 

“There seems to be some misunderstanding about who approached whom. I want to make it clear that we approached American Family. "

Oh Really? No correction was made after the press conference when it was reported that American Family approached the brewers until the PR backlash occurred, then there's a fluff piece from Haudricourt to *correct* the confustion... how odd...

 

 

MillerCoors did not reciprocate the interest in naming rights with us.

What an odd way to put it. Almost as if the words were parsed specifically after a lot of thought to fit with the actual facts, yet present a different emphasis... Maybe MillerCoors didn't want to discuss the situation 2+ years in advance of the end of their current naming contract... does that "not reciprocate the interest" if the Brewers wanted it done now?

 

 

As Peavey stated, the timing is really odd, given, that there was a followup opportunity to correct any factual issues when the Brewers promoted Stearns and Schlessinger. Nothing was said during those interviews and since then the public response was clearly underwhelming... Then the need to *correct* the misunderstanding... Yep, clearly murky....

[Bob Skube Snacks]

Figured all along it was just MillerCoors backing out. The naming rights “thing” isn’t anywhere near as hot or attractive to companies as it was when the phenomenon started in the 90s.

 

Naming rights is no longer easy money for franchises in any sport. Oakland went an entire season without a corporate name on their stadium.

 

All of which makes me pleased I spent, like, an hour, lamenting the “death” of Miller Park before getting over it. I’ll likely call it Miller Park regardless, so who cares?

[jerichoholicninja]

If they called it "American Family Insurance presents Damian Miller Park" would you all be happy?

[tmwiese55]

This makes me less confident that the Brewers got a substantial bump in revenue from the naming rights.

 

Yeah, I agree. The article makes it sound like this was not the Brewers' choice. Hard to blame MillerCoors, though. They are no longer a Wisconsin company. Why would they continue to throw money at a community they are no longer invested in?

 

I know headquarters isn't here, but do they still not have a huge portion of production in MKE? Just saying I've seen this talk a few times and I don't think it's quite right (assuming I'm not wrong and somehow they have moved manufacturing from here). They simply realize that naming rights generates no extra revenue. I'm surprised the megabrands haven't figured this out for the Super Bowl yet either. Basically, literally everyone knows of Pepsi, Coke, Bud Light, Miller lite and they're gonna buy what they like. The only logic I can see is they don't want to ignore it and let a competitor in because big moves like this can make a new brand. Think Under Armour during that NFL draft like 10 years ago.

[SeaBass]

Figured all along it was just MillerCoors backing out. The naming rights “thing” isn’t anywhere near as hot or attractive to companies as it was when the phenomenon started in the 90s.

 

Naming rights is no longer easy money for franchises in any sport. Oakland went an entire season without a corporate name on their stadium.

 

All of which makes me pleased I spent, like, an hour, lamenting the “death” of Miller Park before getting over it. I’ll likely call it Miller Park regardless, so who cares?

Losing the name Miller Park is like when the Dude's rug got peed on. It really tied the room together.

 

That said I also got over it pretty quickly. It's just a name of a building. I just want the team to win a World Series before I die.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This makes me less confident that the Brewers got a substantial bump in revenue from the naming rights.

 

Yeah, I agree. The article makes it sound like this was not the Brewers' choice. Hard to blame MillerCoors, though. They are no longer a Wisconsin company. Why would they continue to throw money at a community they are no longer invested in?

 

I know headquarters isn't here, but do they still not have a huge portion of production in MKE? Just saying I've seen this talk a few times and I don't think it's quite right (assuming I'm not wrong and somehow they have moved manufacturing from here). They simply realize that naming rights generates no extra revenue. I'm surprised the megabrands haven't figured this out for the Super Bowl yet either. Basically, literally everyone knows of Pepsi, Coke, Bud Light, Miller lite and they're gonna buy what they like. The only logic I can see is they don't want to ignore it and let a competitor in because big moves like this can make a new brand. Think Under Armour during that NFL draft like 10 years ago.

 

Yes production is still in Milwaukee. But there are no decision-makers that are tied to the community, hence no investment.

[tmwiese55]

Yeah, I agree. The article makes it sound like this was not the Brewers' choice. Hard to blame MillerCoors, though. They are no longer a Wisconsin company. Why would they continue to throw money at a community they are no longer invested in?

 

I know headquarters isn't here, but do they still not have a huge portion of production in MKE? Just saying I've seen this talk a few times and I don't think it's quite right (assuming I'm not wrong and somehow they have moved manufacturing from here). They simply realize that naming rights generates no extra revenue. I'm surprised the megabrands haven't figured this out for the Super Bowl yet either. Basically, literally everyone knows of Pepsi, Coke, Bud Light, Miller lite and they're gonna buy what they like. The only logic I can see is they don't want to ignore it and let a competitor in because big moves like this can make a new brand. Think Under Armour during that NFL draft like 10 years ago.

 

Yes production is still in Milwaukee. But there are no decision-makers that are tied to the community, hence no investment.

 

 

 

You don't consider maintaining a huge production facility and employing thousands of people an investment in a community? If you want to phrase it as the complete heads of the company no longer have personal ties that's different. That said, I'd be confident if you looked there is a lot of higher up folks originally tied to MKE before the buy out.

 

And I guess if you want to get technical like this then the Brewers aren't invested in the community since their ownership is in LA. Bucks ownership is in NY, etc. Or think of any huge corporation with a headquarters somewhere but also huge facilities or branches in other cities. IDK, Delta, US Bank, Google, etc. I'd consider them heavily invested into each of those cities, literally. I think BMO (old Bradley Center name rights) stands for Bank of Montreal and is headquartered in Chicago.

[CheezWizHed]

My only lament is that I hate the name change in general as it makes it harder to remember what its called when it changes. If it changes once in every 20 years, I suppose that isn't a big deal. Just so its not changing hands yearly.

[CheezWizHed]

My only lament is that I hate the name change in general as it makes it harder to remember what its called when it changes. If it changes once in every 20 years, I suppose that isn't a big deal. Just so its not changing hands yearly.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

You don't consider maintaining a huge production facility and employing thousands of people an investment in a community? If you want to phrase it as the complete heads of the company no longer have personal ties that's different. That said, I'd be confident if you looked there is a lot of higher up folks originally tied to MKE before the buy out.

 

And I guess if you want to get technical like this then the Brewers aren't invested in the community since their ownership is in LA. Bucks ownership is in NY, etc. Or think of any huge corporation with a headquarters somewhere but also huge facilities or branches in other cities. IDK, Delta, US Bank, Google, etc. I'd consider them heavily invested into each of those cities, literally. I think BMO (old Bradley Center name rights) stands for Bank of Montreal and is headquartered in Chicago.

 

I do not. Molson didn't buy MillerCoors for the Milwaukee manufacturing facility. They bought it for the brand. As soon as they determine that the Milwaukee plant is not meeting profit expectations, they'll shut it down. That's corporate America.

 

Comparing Molson to the Brewers themselves is apples and oranges. The Brewers are a franchise of MLB, which makes Attanasio a franchisee. While he does own the team, he is locked in to MLB rules that dictate that he cannot move the team, change the team name, etc etc.

 

Perhaps I am wrong, and Molson does plan to continue their partnership with Milwaukee since taking sole ownership of the brand in 2016. This isn't really a good look if that is the plan, though.

[owbc]

Yep, the JS article makes it clear that one corporation is investing in Milwaukee and the other corporation is divesting. One just wonders when the layoffs are coming--before or after they take down the Miller Park signs?

 

I should have realized this sooner--I'm no longer angry at the Brewers. They are stuck in an awkward position due to their ties with MillerCoors...once it was clear that MillerCoors is moving on it makes sense for the Brewers to do the same ASAP--and it actually helps out MillerCoors since they are trying to prepare Milwaukee for the inevitable--the loss of the last of the 3 major Milwaukee breweries.

[areacodes]

So this might be relevant

 

https://amp.jsonline.com/amp/2705516002?__twitter_impression=true

 

Good story. Pretty much answers every question out there. MillerCoors wasn't interested in maintaining the naming rights, so the Brewers went to Plan B. That was AmFam.

 

With this, though, I certainly expect that company to cease their naming rights deal on Coors Field. I mean, it's a Chicago company now. Not Milwaukee or Denver.

 

Coors has the naming rights for Coors Field for life and only had to pay $15 mil.

 

https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/mlb/rockies/2017/03/18/coors-may-have-best-stadium-naming-rights-deal-sports-rockies-field/99366746/

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

So this might be relevant

 

https://amp.jsonline.com/amp/2705516002?__twitter_impression=true

 

Good story. Pretty much answers every question out there. MillerCoors wasn't interested in maintaining the naming rights, so the Brewers went to Plan B. That was AmFam.

 

With this, though, I certainly expect that company to cease their naming rights deal on Coors Field. I mean, it's a Chicago company now. Not Milwaukee or Denver.

 

Coors has the naming rights for Coors Field for life and only had to pay $15 mil.

 

https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/mlb/rockies/2017/03/18/coors-may-have-best-stadium-naming-rights-deal-sports-rockies-field/99366746/

 

Wow, good find. I did not know that.

[Jimbo]

Wisconsin Public Radio had an interesting interview with a Marketing professor Tuesday morning regarding the naming rights.

https://www.wpr.org/why-companies-shell-out-big-bucks-naming-rights

[tmwiese55]

 

You don't consider maintaining a huge production facility and employing thousands of people an investment in a community? If you want to phrase it as the complete heads of the company no longer have personal ties that's different. That said, I'd be confident if you looked there is a lot of higher up folks originally tied to MKE before the buy out.

 

And I guess if you want to get technical like this then the Brewers aren't invested in the community since their ownership is in LA. Bucks ownership is in NY, etc. Or think of any huge corporation with a headquarters somewhere but also huge facilities or branches in other cities. IDK, Delta, US Bank, Google, etc. I'd consider them heavily invested into each of those cities, literally. I think BMO (old Bradley Center name rights) stands for Bank of Montreal and is headquartered in Chicago.

 

I do not. Molson didn't buy MillerCoors for the Milwaukee manufacturing facility. They bought it for the brand. As soon as they determine that the Milwaukee plant is not meeting profit expectations, they'll shut it down. That's corporate America.

 

Comparing Molson to the Brewers themselves is apples and oranges. The Brewers are a franchise of MLB, which makes Attanasio a franchisee. While he does own the team, he is locked in to MLB rules that dictate that he cannot move the team, change the team name, etc etc.

 

Perhaps I am wrong, and Molson does plan to continue their partnership with Milwaukee since taking sole ownership of the brand in 2016. This isn't really a good look if that is the plan, though.

 

Well Milwaukee better get their act together in general to keep them then or it'll be a big hit for the city/state in general.

 

IDK, semantics I guess but I take having that many millions invested in cities to be an investment. Maybe I'm taking it to literally. Every location a major corp has set up a major shop is an investment to me. Basically I'm just saying they're currently pumping millions and millions into our local economy each year and folks are saying they're not invested in the community because they're not willing to flush 2 mil down the drain for no reason seems a bit off