Guesses on New Arena Name

I know there are other threads about the arena, including discussion of this topic. But I wanted to run a thread dedicated to this topic, especially since we will have an answer in 60 days.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ent...days/81556614/

I am looking for guesses as to what it will be or suggestions for what it should be. Let me get the angry "Tax Breaks for Billionaires" and "The Ilitches Suck and Raped Detroit" guesses out of the way. Now, as for my own guess:

I think the Ilitches will keep it in house and call it "Little Caesar's Olympia Arena." I think this is a real possibility, and a good choice, for several reasons. First, with LC in a growth mode in recent years, they might want the substantial additional exposure the arena name might give the pizza chain. Second, because of said growth, they are in a better position to turn away the instant cash of selling off the name in favor of a name that is a long-term brand builder. Third, it fends off the risk of a naming opportunity turning a little or lot problematic [[example of a little: Comerica moving HQ out of state; example of a lot: Enron Field). Fourth, the name is a twofer for them: LC is their pizza chain, Olympia is the sports entertainment umbrella. Fifth, It keeps it all local, and Detroiters and Michiganders will be reminded of the hometown loyalty and pride. Sixth, it honors Red Wings history, although of course the original brick barn was Olympia Stadium and not Arena, I think most people think of a Stadium now as being a larger, outdoor place for baseball or football.

What do you think, and why?

The Pizza Pizza Palace? Crazy Bread Coliseum? Deep! Deep! Dish Square Garden?

Kwame Kirkpatrick Arena

Taking a cue from DG and Greektown's new name:

Hot N Ready Arena presented by Meijer, Little Caesars, Quicken Loans, MotorCity Casino at Midtown Detroit

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Originally Posted by Hermod

Kwame Kirkpatrick Arena

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Nah, too similar to Kwame Kilpatrick Arena. No one would ever name anything after him.

Coliseum-Coliseum

Pizza Pizza Arena Presented by Olympia Surface Parking District

Jack Arena at Ilitchville Town Square Stadium

PUCK presented by The Surface Detroit @ Midtown/Cass Park/Brush Park/Downtown

Mike and Marian's Pleasure Dome

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Originally Posted by hybridy

Mike and Marian's Pleasure Dome

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Ewww. But they did have a lot of kids!

Gordie Howzabout a slice o'that there Ceasar's pizza International Crossing, Arena and salad bar.

Sorry for turning this into a far fetched, nightmarish Homeland Security conundrum.

What with the lack of proximity to the arena, the new bridge approach with its spaghetti-like interchange would be shortened to; Gordian Knot by your Detroit-Windsor pundits.

Arena names are totally meaningless since they went corporate. You just don't want a really tacky name or name that has a negative image i.e. Amway. Ideally, fans want something that lends itself to a good nickname that doesn't bring to mind the company name. It's our small bit of revenge.

Delta Airlines Arena. C'mon Wings, let's fly!

Better yet, name it after the greatest hockey coach ever, Jules Winnfield Arena!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHo0rJC5t-o

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Originally Posted by Downriviera

Delta Airlines Arena. C'mon Wings, let's fly!

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Oh no... you just gave me another idea...

"Red Bull Arena. Red Bull gives you Wings."

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Originally Posted by Downriviera

Delta Airlines Arena. C'mon Wings, let's fly!

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Salt Lake City's arena, home of the Utah Jazz, was the Delta Center until the bankruptcy in 2006. Then it became Energy Solutions arena and now its Vivint Smart Home Arena. See how great these corporate names are?

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Originally Posted by 48307

Oh no... you just gave me another idea...

"Red Bull Arena. Red Bull gives you Wings."

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Red Bull Arena is the New Jersey Redbulls soccer stadium. I only point these out because it verifies nobody knows these corporate arena names. I guess they must have value to the sponsors though, because they count how many times they are mentioned in print and digital media when charging fees.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...Uv40H7KlVkdBFQ

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Originally Posted by 401don

You just don't want a really tacky name or name that has a negative image i.e. Amway.

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Unless, I guess, it you're Orlando.

http://ninersportsandentertainment.c...IGHT-NIGHT.jpg

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Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Unless, I guess, it you're Orlando.

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Well, the Magic play there, so....

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Originally Posted by 401don

Red Bull Arena is the New Jersey Redbulls soccer stadium. I only point these out because it verifies nobody knows these corporate arena names. I guess they must have value to the sponsors though, because they count how many times they are mentioned in print and digital media when charging fees.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...Uv40H7KlVkdBFQ

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It's the NY Red Bulls, not NJ. Red Bull isn't sponsoring the arena, rather they own the franchise and stadium [[they own soccer clubs in Austria and the U.S.).

My first thought was Little Caesars coliseum and I shamefully didn't hate it. But I get the feeling Olympia would rather profit from the naming rights rather than use it to cross-advertise their brands. I think we will get something from outside the Illich umbrella but relevant to the locale. Maybe Ally Arena? Chrysler Center would be decent if it didn't already exist phonetically.

My guess: PizzaPizzArena at Olympia Stadium

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Originally Posted by JRich2425

My first thought was Little Caesars coliseum and I shamefully didn't hate it. But I get the feeling Olympia would rather profit from the naming rights rather than use it to cross-advertise their brands. I think we will get something from outside the Illich umbrella but relevant to the locale. Maybe Ally Arena? Chrysler Center would be decent if it didn't already exist phonetically.

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Chrysler has made the Ram name into their truck brand but Ram Arena doesn't sound good. Neither does Dodge. Maybe Jeep could sponsor the upper bowl so people could say "this place is so damn expensive I can only sit in the Jeep seats."

It would never happen but Red Wings arena or Olympia

Mlive guessing naming rights, a similarity or two...

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi..._of_the_f.html

Hey all, long-time lurker, first-time poster.

If the "Olympia" name could somehow be incorporated into the title, that obviously would be a nice nod to history. Aside from that, a comment in the previous "New Arena" thread suggested the name Meijer Center. I think that has a nice ring to it, and given the way Meijer has stepped up its visibility through major sports events and venues in the past few years, it seems like a strong possibility.

Thanks for the add, Lowell, and thanks to all of your for the great discussions.

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Originally Posted by Old Red Barn

Hey all, long-time lurker, first-time poster.

If the "Olympia" name could somehow be incorporated into the title, that obviously would be a nice nod to history. Aside from that, a comment in the previous "New Arena" thread suggested the name Meijer Center. I think that has a nice ring to it, and given the way Meijer has stepped up its visibility through major sports events and venues in the past few years, it seems like a strong possibility.

Thanks for the add, Lowell, and thanks to all of your for the great discussions.

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Welcome Old Red Barn!

I would be surprised if it's Meijer since Meijer and St. Joseph Health were announced back in Dec. as the 1st two major sponsors with 5 year agreements. I don't think they would have disclosed that if they were negotiating naming rights with them.

Thank you, 401don, and you make a good point. I was unaware of that news.

If they don't call it Olympia Arena, then it's just wasted effort. Bring things full circle back to where they started.

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Originally Posted by mkhopper

If they don't call it Olympia Arena, then it's just wasted effort. Bring things full circle back to where they started.

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To quote Seinfeld, "People don't turn down money. It's what separates us from the animals." I believe most billionaires live by this belief.

Another guess: Flagstar Bank Arena. They've seemed to up their Facebook content the last few months with lots of Red Wings related posts.

I would venture to say FCA Chrysler Fiat won't be in naming, because Chevrolet Silverado is now the truck of the Red Wings.

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Originally Posted by mkhopper

If they don't call it Olympia Arena, then it's just wasted effort. Bring things full circle back to where they started.

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JACK Olympia Pizza Pizza Arena at Mike Illitch Business School Detroit Michigan

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Originally Posted by Zads07

I would venture to say FCA Chrysler Fiat won't be in naming, because Chevrolet Silverado is now the truck of the Red Wings.

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The Silvera-dome

The Buffalo Wild WINGS Center

The FORD Arena

“If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.”


http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...fort/19261643/

It will be called Little Caesar Bowl.

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Originally Posted by mkhopper

If they don't call it Olympia Arena, then it's just wasted effort. Bring things full circle back to where they started.

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There's about as much chance in naming it Olympia Arena as there is in naming it Joe Louis Arena II.

When you're talking a $40-$60 million naming rights.... that's not considered wasted.

As far as naming rights.... no point in even guessing.... Staples Center in LA was named after a Framingham Massachusetts based business office supply store chain. So any name is possible...

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Originally Posted by Gistok

There's about as much chance in naming it Olympia Arena as there is in naming it Joe Louis Arena II.

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I think there is a decent chance Olympia will be in the name, if not the name itself. Calling it the the [[insert corporate name here) Olympia Arena is a possibility. In addition to linking with history, that path provides a little name stability for when corporate winds change. Boston should have gone that route because their arena has been the Shawmut Center, Fleet Center, TD Banknorth Garden and now TD Garden.

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Originally Posted by gthomas

It will be called Little Caesar Bowl.

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Little Caesar Salad Bowl with Wings?

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Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I think there is a decent chance Olympia will be in the name, if not the name itself. Calling it the the [[insert corporate name here) Olympia Arena is a possibility. In addition to linking with history, that path provides a little name stability for when corporate winds change. Boston should have gone that route because their arena has been the Shawmut Center, Fleet Center, TD Banknorth Garden and now TD Garden.

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can they work Olympia into something?

Will they have a lot of naming opportunities for the arena itself, the offices, residences, stores, plaza, etc.

The plaza can be "The [[name) at Little Caesars Arena.

I won't be called Joe Louis Area.

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Originally Posted by Danny

I won't be called Joe Louis Area.

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Sticks and stones will break your bones but....

I respect you, Danny. I promise not to call you that.

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Originally Posted by mkhopper

If they don't call it Olympia Arena, then it's just wasted effort. Bring things full circle back to where they started.

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The Red Wings did not start at Olympia. The team was purchased by investors from Detroit in 1926, and named the Detroit Cougars. They played at Border Cities Arena in Windsor until Olympia opened in 1927.

the name will be revealed "eventually." I hope.

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Originally Posted by emu steve

can they work Olympia into something?

Will they have a lot of naming opportunities for the arena itself, the offices, residences, stores, plaza, etc.

The plaza can be "The [[name) at Little Caesars Arena.

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There really are no rules, except ones they impose on themselves. I would imagine significant sponsorships are category killers, though. For instance, since Meijer is a major Wings sponsor, I doubt the name would include Target or Walmart or another retailer.

There is almost a certainty as well that different areas [[Pepsi Plaza, Chrysler Concourse, etc) and events [[Fifth Third Bank Concert Series, Pure Michigan Halftime Show, etc) will be sponsored. It is widely done nowadays. As for the attached buildings that are not the arena proper [[apartments, shops, offices). I suppose they could be named without sponsorship or they could be named directly for a sponsor other than the arena. I bet, however, they carry names like "The Shops at **** Arena" and "The Residences at **** Arena."

Also, Hypestyles, Chris Ilitch said 2 weeks ago the name would be announced within 60 days. It has also been reported elsewhere that whoever the sponsor is, it is a done deal [[agreeing to sponsorship and agreeing to the actual name are not the same thing, however. A company might want to use a specific product or slogan or just the company name). So I'm hoping by the end of April we will know.

I should further note that it benefits all parties to announce the name sooner rather than later, once it is determined. The sponsor begins to get mentioned/shown in coverage of the arena. The Ilitches also will have more success booking events into an unfinished arena if it appears closer to reality. Naming, and developing logos designs, have the effect of suggesting completion is near. I think they might be waiting for a "significant moment" to announce the name. Possibilities for such a moment include: announcing the first major event at the arena [[reportedly going to be a concert), or completion of a certain portion of construction [[last structural steel put in place or last cement poured, etc).

I thought Gores was talking about naming right for the Palace again a few months ago? Haven't heard any more about that. Enjoy the next 18 months when Detroit is the only city to have not one, but two arenas with no corporate sponsorship.

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Originally Posted by 401don

I thought Gores was talking about naming right for the Palace again a few months ago? Haven't heard any more about that. Enjoy the next 18 months when Detroit is the only city to have not one, but two arenas with no corporate sponsorship.

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I doubt naming rights for an older arena, which has only been called one name, would be very lucrative. No matter what name was slapped on The Palace, I think it would still be universally referred to as just The Palace.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-71105357.html

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Originally Posted by Gistok

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-71105357.html

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I haven't been to Pine Knob in AGES!