Miller Park name change coming after the 2020 season

[mtrebs]

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

 

Heck, could be a reduction.

 

From what I've heard, the Miller deal was $40 million for 20 years and the AmFam deal was $30 million for 15 years, so it ends ups being the same amount. That doesn't give the Brewers any extra advantage with the new deal, unless the alternative was keep it Miller Park for free.

 

I keep hearing that stadium naming rights has gone down in value since the 1990s. That just seems odd to me as NOTHING else in the world has decreased in price since that time. I also was very surprised to hear that it was only $2 million a year for the original deal.

 

Heck, I say in 15 years (assuming stadium naming rights keeps decreasing), that the fans just do a GoFundMe page and buy naming rights for the next 15 years. We can even get someone with the last name of Miller as part of the group and name it Miller Park after them. Sadly, after that we'll probably be seeing the discussions about building a new stadium to replace "The stadium formerly known as Miller Park presented by American Family Insurance on Hank Aaron Field".

[DuWayne Steurer]

I haven't weighed in on this yet.

 

My 2 cents.

 

1) IMO, Miller Park was a great name for a ballpark.

2) It's a name for an inanimate object. A great name, but still an inanimate object.

 

3) People can (and will) still call it "Miller Park"

 

I usually understand things, even if I don't agree with them, but the amount of hand-wringing over this is something I don't understand. Call it Miller Park for as long as you like. Most people, I suspect, probably will.

[trwi7]

AmFam paying twice as much as Miller was for naming rights.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2019/02/14/american-family-paying-4m-per-year-for-brewers.html

[pacopete4]

Now we all feel like real jerks, don’t we?

 

Why not release this info to begin with? Why take the backlash first and then release this?

[patrickgpe]

I really don’t think 4 million a year is that huge, plus they are getting their name on 2 parks, probably will pay for yearly improvements, but not going to help us sign free agents of significance.

[mtrebs]

Now we all feel like real jerks, don’t we?

 

Why not release this info to begin with? Why take the backlash first and then release this?

 

I don’t feel like a jerk, at least not for this... I still stand by the idea that Miller Park was probably the best possible name for theBrewers stadium if it had to have a corporate name. Insurance and financial institution names just don’t have the same feeling towards them.

 

On a separate note, I wonder who is paying to replace any signage on the stadium. It’d seem that replacing the big Miller Park sign on the exterior of the stadium would could $1 million by itself.

[SeaBass]

Now we all feel like real jerks, don’t we?

 

Why not release this info to begin with? Why take the backlash first and then release this?

 

I don’t feel like a jerk, at least not for this... I still stand by the idea that Miller Park was probably the best possible name for theBrewers stadium if it had to have a corporate name. Insurance and financial institution names just don’t have the same feeling towards them.

 

On a separate note, I wonder who is paying to replace any signage on the stadium. It’d seem that replacing the big Miller Park sign on the exterior of the stadium would could $1 million by itself.

Is American Family really that much worse though? I don't think anybody is arguing against Miller Park being a perfect fit, but if it's going to be something else American Family might be the best alternative. There's nothing wrong with the words "American" and "Family" being associated with a baseball team.

 

Just searching other corporate sponsors of the Brewers; Associated Bank, RE/MAX, U.S. Cellular, We Energies, West Bend Mutual Insurance, Aurora Health Care, Delta Dental, Johnson Controls, Lubar & Co., Northwestern Mutual, Johnsonville, Klements.

 

Are any of those any better? American Family Field sounds a heck of a lot better to me than Fiserv Forum for example.

[iKezims]

Now we all feel like real jerks, don’t we?

 

Why not release this info to begin with? Why take the backlash first and then release this?

 

I don’t feel like a jerk, at least not for this... I still stand by the idea that Miller Park was probably the best possible name for theBrewers stadium if it had to have a corporate name. Insurance and financial institution names just don’t have the same feeling towards them.

 

On a separate note, I wonder who is paying to replace any signage on the stadium. It’d seem that replacing the big Miller Park sign on the exterior of the stadium would could $1 million by itself.

Is American Family really that much worse though? I don't think anybody is arguing against Miller Park being a perfect fit, but if it's going to be something else American Family might be the best alternative. There's nothing wrong with the words "American" and "Family" being associated with a baseball team.

 

Just searching other corporate sponsors of the Brewers; Associated Bank, RE/MAX, U.S. Cellular, We Energies, West Bend Mutual Insurance, Aurora Health Care, Delta Dental, Johnson Controls, Lubar & Co., Northwestern Mutual, Johnsonville, Klements.

 

Are any of those any better? American Family Field sounds a heck of a lot better to me than Fiserv Forum for example.

 

Agree completely here. Some people will chalk this up to losing an identity, but American Family is a great quality of life option for the Brewers. Having the words American and Family can help paint a very positive image for the franchise and stadium. The number may be small, but a team named after Beer and a stadium named after beer, could be a slight turn off for some families with children. I know that point sounds dumb because the percentage is small that would be influenced by that, but I think it is worth noting. The stadium will be branded through a corporate name, but if done correctly can have a very family friendly outreach/marketing possibilities.

[trwi7]

I really don’t think 4 million a year is that huge, plus they are getting their name on 2 parks, probably will pay for yearly improvements, but not going to help us sign free agents of significance.

 

What if the Brewers use that extra $2 million per year to go over their bonus allotment in the draft and international FA allowing them to take players they feel are better prospects? What if they use that money to continually make improvements to the stadium? What if they use that money to further add to their baseball operations department? What if they use some of that extra money to donate to charities?

[Paul77]

I really don’t think 4 million a year is that huge, plus they are getting their name on 2 parks, probably will pay for yearly improvements, but not going to help us sign free agents of significance.

 

What if the Brewers use that extra $2 million per year to go over their bonus allotment in the draft and international FA allowing them to take players they feel are better prospects? What if they use that money to continually make improvements to the stadium? What if they use that money to further add to their baseball operations department? What if they use some of that extra money to donate to charities?

 

I've generally thought that people who oppose corporate sponsorships, especially those with the, "it's not enough money to sign an impact player anyway," point of view were missing the point.

 

Would I like the Brewers to have a high dollar naming rights deal? Enough to sign that big free agent? Yes and yes!

 

Some teams perhaps (big maybe) like the Giants and Mets ($10mm & $18mm annually, respectively) or even the Braves ($8+mm/Annually) might enter sponsorship negotiations with the expectation that money earned from a deal can increase payroll budgets, but I don't believe that's how the Brewers approached the situation. They probably (my assumption only) targeted the $3-5mm a year as reasonable, and of course, they recognized that total is not enough to make a significant payroll impact.

 

Just because money from a corporate sponsor doesn't hit the roster budget doesn't mean it can't go towards improving the visitor experience. If you can't have one (roster budget increase), does that mean we shouldn't have the other (experience upgrades)?

 

The Brewers have been especially good with the upkeep of Miller Park, and I assume the income from deals like this are more likely to help pay for (but probably not fully fund) things like stadium and experience upgrades rather than affect what's happening on the field. I am ok with that.

 

For example, the Brewers have been exploring options to upgrade the (IMO, terrible) lighting system at Miller Park since at least last year. Will the money from (a/any new) corporate sponsorship help greenlight that project? If so - I'm on board.

 

You can even make the argument that you "don't care about/or use (insert stadium upgrade here); therefore, I am against corporate sponsors." And that is a fine opinion to have, though it makes assumptions about what the greater good is.

 

Even if you never visit the stadium or "used" one of the upgrades, you may still reap the benefit. Using the example from above, if the Brewers upgrade the lighting system at Miller Park/AmFam the benefit would be in the form of an improved TV broadcast. (Side note and slight exaggeration but the lighting situation at Miller Park has nearly ruined televised night games for me. but that is a rant for another day.)

 

Anyway - I was disappointed in the name change about a day, and I'm already calling it AmFam Park in my circle of Brewers fan friends. No disrespect to Miller Park.

[mtrebs]

Now we all feel like real jerks, don’t we?

 

Why not release this info to begin with? Why take the backlash first and then release this?

 

I don’t feel like a jerk, at least not for this... I still stand by the idea that Miller Park was probably the best possible name for theBrewers stadium if it had to have a corporate name. Insurance and financial institution names just don’t have the same feeling towards them.

 

On a separate note, I wonder who is paying to replace any signage on the stadium. It’d seem that replacing the big Miller Park sign on the exterior of the stadium would could $1 million by itself.

Is American Family really that much worse though? I don't think anybody is arguing against Miller Park being a perfect fit, but if it's going to be something else American Family might be the best alternative. There's nothing wrong with the words "American" and "Family" being associated with a baseball team.

 

Just searching other corporate sponsors of the Brewers; Associated Bank, RE/MAX, U.S. Cellular, We Energies, West Bend Mutual Insurance, Aurora Health Care, Delta Dental, Johnson Controls, Lubar & Co., Northwestern Mutual, Johnsonville, Klements.

 

Are any of those any better? American Family Field sounds a heck of a lot better to me than Fiserv Forum for example.

 

I consider all of those worse than Miller, with the exception of Johnsonville and Klements, although Miller is better in my opinion. Financial/insurance/medical companies just screams corporate more to me, likely due to them not having a close tie-in to baseball.

[Warning Track Power]

Look for a full change on their primary logo. Without the Miller connection, no need to keep the Miller M & Barley.

 

 

Pure speculation by the Twitter poster but re-tweeted by Phil Hecken (Uni-Watch). The content of the tweet was something I had been thinking as well. The fact that a completed new stadium uses a tarp with the M with barley on the main entrance seems peculiar. Additionally, the font of the names and numbers leading to the field don't match anything the Brewers currently use.

 

Definitely worth keeping an eye on...

[homer]

Look for a full change on their primary logo. Without the Miller connection, no need to keep the Miller M & Barley.

 

 

Pure speculation by the Twitter poster but re-tweeted by Phil Hecken (Uni-Watch). The content of the tweet was something I had been thinking as well. The fact that a completed new stadium uses a tarp with the M with barley on the main entrance seems peculiar. Additionally, the font of the names and numbers leading to the field don't match anything the Brewers currently use.

 

Definitely worth keeping an eye on...

 

They are still the Milwaukee "Brewers" so barley and an M make perfect sense to me.

[Warning Track Power]

Look for a full change on their primary logo. Without the Miller connection, no need to keep the Miller M & Barley.

 

 

Pure speculation by the Twitter poster but re-tweeted by Phil Hecken (Uni-Watch). The content of the tweet was something I had been thinking as well. The fact that a completed new stadium uses a tarp with the M with barley on the main entrance seems peculiar. Additionally, the font of the names and numbers leading to the field don't match anything the Brewers currently use.

 

Definitely worth keeping an eye on...

 

They are still the Milwaukee "Brewers" so barley and an M make perfect sense to me.

Oh I hear you...Definitely still makes "sense".

 

However, a $65 million stadium upgrade that is "complete" but a cheap tarp sign for the main entrance? Seems like a placeholder to me. Perhaps I am reading too far into it but there are some definite clues that lead one to believe change is coming.

[homer]

I misread that post. Sorry about that.

[MrTPlush]

The logo is definitely changing to the BIG, 100%. It doesn't really take Einstein brain power to see that. I am a bit surprised they are essentially making it the official logo unofficially though. It would have been brilliant marketing to have a big reveal/announcement for it. I am sure that still happens and people still go crazy, but it is already the official logo in all honesty. They use it on just about everything now and I am pretty sure they wear it the most. Kids Crew is always the new BIG version and the darn frost on the field signs have that logo.

 

With that being said it almost makes me believe they will do some notable alterations to the uniform outside of the logo to still have an exciting reveal since the logo has become a mainstay already. Maybe the ugly scripting will change on the front etc. and I wonder if the pants might change. Everyone talks about the "M" trying to match the Miller "M", but really the entire front scripting is very Miler logo like. They have yet to do a pinstripe version with the new logo colors...which I think is quite possible.

 

I wonder if there was something in the contract requiring them to have that logo to go with the "Miller Park" name. Somewhat surprising they wouldn't just change the thing. Then again maybe they want to distract away from the hideous ballpark name they are soon to adopt when that goes into effect. Certainly would take backlash away with new uniforms etc.

 

Regardless there is going to be quite a overhaul when the stadium name changes. Way more than a logo change.

[jerichoholicninja]

There's an awful lot of red at the new Maryvale. Is that going to be incorporated into any new team branding?

[Warning Track Power]

There's an awful lot of red at the new Maryvale. Is that going to be incorporated into any new team branding?

I would assume that is to fit in with the desert motif of Arizona. I can't imagine the Brewers FO being that tone deaf to return to the ball and glove and then change the colors of the team to incorporate a red tone. Put more succinctly, it was a disaster from 1994-1999 and it would be again in 2020.

[jerichoholicninja]

There's an awful lot of red at the new Maryvale. Is that going to be incorporated into any new team branding?

I would assume that is to fit in with the desert motif of Arizona. I can't imagine the Brewers FO being that tone deaf to return to the ball and glove and then change the colors of the team to incorporate a red tone. Put more succinctly, it was a disaster from 1994-1999 and it would be again in 2020.

 

I don't think it would be a main color, more of an accent color. I do like the way the giant red numbers look. And it's a better typeface than what's on the current jerseys.

[Ennder]

To be fair if you think of Milwaukee a lot of people attribute the name Miller to the city. Nobody thinks of American Family. The latter definitely feels more corporate and less organic. Same with Bush for St. Louis.