Naming Rights

In the past, our nation has named public structures after its heroes. That is especially true for schools.

In recent years, a new trend has begun to undermine the link between school names and civic virtue. One after another, schools across America are dedicating themselves not to role models, but instead to corporations. Instead of promoting character and honor, they are pushing products and the self-indulgence of the commercial culture.

More Information

News Releases

Commercial Alert Criticizes Philadelphia School District for Selling Naming Rights to School
Gary Ruskin | November 11th, 2004

Related Articles and Links

Related Articles

Naming Official Brands could bring Metro Airport Big Bucks
Katherine Yung | Detroit Free Press | July 27th, 2009

Your Name Here: Springfield School Auctions Naming Rights for Football Field
Erin Eileen O'Neill | The Star-Ledger | July 15th, 2009

Can Corporate Funding Save Endangered College Classes?
Steven Gray | Time | July 14th, 2009

What's in a name? Not much for Chicago
Paul Merrion | Crain's Chicago Business | July 13th, 2009

Lambert Airport Seeks Takeoff in Revenue
Ken Leiser | St. Louis Post-Dispatch | July 1st, 2009

Jets Joining the Crowd, Adding Corporate Patch on Practice Uniforms
Rich Cimini | New York Daily News | June 18th, 2009

Zionsville Close to Selling Naming Rights for New Stadium
Mark Ambrogi | Zionsville Star | June 18th, 2009

New York Giants Announce Deal with Timex for Practice Facility Naming Rights
Mike Garafolo | The Star-Ledger | June 17th, 2009

Looking for Money in a Name
Milton J. Valencia | The Boston Globe | June 9th, 2009

Naming Rights Considered for Light Rail
Sean Holstege | The Arizona Republic | June 4th, 2009

Latest Muni Revenue-Generator: Naming Rights
Mike Aldax | The San Francisco Examiner | June 2nd, 2009

Naming Rights a Big Business
Shaun Sutner | Worcester Telegram & Gazette | May 31st, 2009

Technology Giants Have an Eye on Sponsorship Deal
Jonathan Sibun | Telegraph (UK) | May 30th, 2009

Dolphin Stadium Set to Become Land Shark Stadium
Barry Jackson | Miami Herald | May 2nd, 2009

Tobin’s Moniker is Up for Sale
Donna Goodison | Boston Herald | April 17th, 2009

Comcast Buys Naming Rights For Hartford Theater
Todd Spangler | Multichannel News | April 15th, 2009

Name That Dog Park: Suffolk Courts Deals for Cash
Annie Correal | The New York Times | March 18th, 2009

Sears Tower to be Renamed for New Tenant
Staff | Crain's Chicago Business | March 12th, 2009

Sun Prairie School District Sells Naming Rights to Baseball Field
Gena Kittner | Wisconsin State Journal | March 10th, 2009

Suffolk Plan to Sell Naming Rights at County Parks
Rick Brand | Newsday | March 8th, 2009

City Ponders Name Game
Frank Landry | Edmonton Sun (Canada) | February 27th, 2009

DNR Park-Naming Group Weighs Dollars vs. Ethics
Howard Meyerson | The Grand Rapids Press | February 22nd, 2009

UCF To Sell Naming Rights For Arena
Central Florida News 13 | February 21st, 2009

Tacoma Schools Naming Rights Policy on Hold
Kris Sherman | The News Tribune | February 20th, 2009

Tacoma Schools Consider Sale of Naming Rights
Kris Sherman | The News Tribune | February 15th, 2009

Zionsville Schools May Sell Stadium Naming Rights
Katie Merlie | Indianapolis Star | February 11th, 2009

Lexus Buys Naming Rights to KDKA Studios
Pittsburgh Business Times | February 3rd, 2009

St. Louis School Districts Grapple with the Ethics of Naming Rights
Valerie Schremp Hahn | St. Louis Post-Dispatch | January 25th, 2009

Brewers, Potawatomi Announce New Deal
Don Walker | Milwaukee Journal Sentinal | January 8th, 2009

Miami-Dade Transit Selling Metromover Station Naming Rights
Risa Polansky | Miami Today | January 8th, 2009

CONSOL Energy Buys Naming Rights to New Penguins Arena
Pittsburgh Business Times | December 15th, 2008

Corporate Sponsorship Creates Slippery Slope for Colleges
Gary Thorne | USA Today | December 12th, 2008

Stadium Sponsorship Grows to New Levels
Stephanie Clifford | The New York Times | December 10th, 2008

Economic Woes May Force Colleges to Go Corporate
Michael McCarthy and Jodi Upton | USA Today | December 10th, 2008

CTA May Sell Naming Rights For 'L' Stops
CBS2 Chicago | December 1st, 2008

Rutgers Wants $2 Million a Year for Naming Rights of Stadium
Curtis Eichelberger | Bloomberg News | October 20th, 2008

Naming Rights Could Turn Dodger Diamond Into Gold
Roger Vincent | Los Angeles Times | October 14th, 2008

Sun Prairie To Consider Selling Naming Rights To School Facilities
Angela Bettis | Channel 3000 (WI) | October 1st, 2008

Rio Tinto Gets Naming Rights to New Real Soccer Stadium
Michael C. Lewis | The Salt Lake Tribune | September 29th, 2008

Target Wins Naming Rights To New Twins Stadium
Associated Press | The Wall Street Journal | September 15th, 2008

AmeriHealth NJ Secures Naming Rights to New Jersey Devils’ Practice Facility
Business Wire | September 2nd, 2008

As Jets Sell Seat Licenses, a Fan Looks for a Sponsor
Richard Sandomir | The New York Times | August 28th, 2008

Naming Bridge at LR Said to be Worth $750,000
Evin Demirel | Arkansas Democrat Gazette | August 23rd, 2008

Seeking Post-Game Sponsors
Geoffrey A. Fowler | The Wall Street Journal | August 15th, 2008

Schools Seek Ads for Sports
Russell Contreras | The Boston Globe | July 31st, 2008

Midway Naming Rights Deal Puts Saints in ‘Skinny Water Stadium,’ for a Week
John Vomhof Jr. | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal | July 30th, 2008

Citigroup Puts Its Money Where Its Name Will Be
Richard Sandomir | The New York Times | July 20th, 2008

New Deal Keeps Budweiser Name Before Eyes of Wrigley Visitors
Jim Kirk | The Chicago Tribune | July 4th, 2008

Landmark's Name Is up for Sale
Matthew Futterman | The Wall Street Journal | June 24th, 2008

Naming Rights to Facilities at ASU's Downtown Journalism School Available
The Arizona Republic | June 13th, 2008

Schools Consider Deal With Coke
Darren Bernhardt | The StarPhoenix (Canada) | June 10th, 2008

Beyond The Bake Sale: School Fundraisers Raising Their Sights
Daniela Altimari | Hartford Courant | June 9th, 2008

Comcast in, Tweeter out in Mansfield
Carolyn Y. Johnson | The Boston Globe | June 5th, 2008

Hamburg Offering Naming Rights
Michelle Park | Reading Eagle | May 21st, 2008

Mediacom Makes Bid for Ice Park Naming Rights
Wes Johnson | News-Leader (Missouri) | May 14th, 2008

FGCU Plays Name Game: Campus Structures Titled After Donors
Dave Breitenstein | The News-Press | May 12th, 2008

Coming Soon, the Samsung Washington Monument!
Daniel Gross | Slate | May 10th, 2008

What's Ballpark Figure for Name on Police Building?
Rick Orlov | Los Angeles Daily News | May 4th, 2008

Gift to School Forces Debate Over Naming Rights Sales
Doug Belden | TwinCities.com | April 28th, 2008

A Zoo by Any Other Name?
Joel Russell | Los Angeles Business Journal | April 28th, 2008

What's in a Name? Possibly A Lot of Money
Jeff Gray | Globe and Mail (Canada) | April 24th, 2008

Bradley Center Drops Naming Rights Effort
The Business Journal of Milwaukee | April 23rd, 2008

AT&T Stadium Deal with Cowboys Would be More Than a Name
Andrea Ahles | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | April 21st, 2008

QuikTrip Buys Naming Rights to Grand Prairie Minor League Stadium
Andrea Ahles | Fort Worth Star Telegram | April 16th, 2008

Airport Naming Rights: Industry-First Partnership
PRNewswire | April 14th, 2008

Bobcats Ink Naming-Rights Deal with Time Warner
Charlotte Business Journal | April 8th, 2008

Waterfront Toronto Considers Selling Naming Rights to Public Parks, Spaces
The Canadian Press | April 6th, 2008

Coors Signs New 10-Year Deal With The Colorado Rockies
Katherine Wegert | Dow Jones Newswires | March 31st, 2008

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Naming Rights May Top Record Deal
Suzanne Marta | The Dallas Morning News | March 30th, 2008

For Nats, What's In A Name?
Barry Svrluga | The Washington Post | March 29th, 2008

Real Salt Lake Negotiating Deal for Stadium Name Rights
James Edward | Deseret Morning News (Utah) | March 27th, 2008

LG Electronics to Sign Deal to Rename the NEC Arena
Robert Lester | Marketing Week (UK) | March 26th, 2008

NY Public Library 'Trades Naming Rights' to Greedy Hedge Fund Billionaire for Big Bucks
David Morris | AlterNet | March 24th, 2008

Name of Metro Airport’s North Terminal For Sale
Bill Shea | Crain's Detroit Business | March 24th, 2008

TPC San Antonio Sells Naming Rights
Steve Habel | Texas Golf News | March 24th, 2008

City of Miami Putting 'For Sale' Sign on Names of City Parks
Risa Polansky | Miami Today | March 22nd, 2008

Twins See Naming-Rights Deal Done by End of '08
John Vomhof Jr. | Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal | March 21st, 2008

Juventus Sells Stadium Name Rights to Sportfive
Jo Winterbottom | Reuters | March 20th, 2008

Mick's Marquee? Roundabout to Sell Naming Rights for Studio 54
Philip Boroff | Bloomberg | March 19th, 2008

Corporate Sponsorship for a Wind Farm
Claudia H. Deutsch | The New York Times | March 18th, 2008

Multiple Firms May Be Part of Rights Deal
Kathy Bergen and Jim Kirk | The Chicago Tribune | March 13th, 2008

When a Corporate Donation Raises Protests
Stuart Elliott | The New York Times | March 12th, 2008

Fever Sell Field Naming Rights
Keith Leventhal | KEPRTV (Washington) | March 12th, 2008

Local High School Football Stadiums Sell Naming Rights
WTHR Eyewitness Sports | March 12th, 2008

US Retailer Faces Row Over Donation Deal
Andrew Clark | The Guardian (UK) | March 12th, 2008

A $100 Million Donation to the N.Y. Public Library
Robin Pogrebin | The New York Times | March 11th, 2008

Name Game's Prattish
David Pratt | The Province (Canada) | March 11th, 2008

Courage, Vision Needed for Bradley Center Situation
Dave Begel | OnMilwaukee.com | March 11th, 2008

Several Firms in Naming-Rights Talks
Andrea Ahles | Star-Telegram (Texas) | March 11th, 2008

Big Selling Point for G.M. Tower: Naming Rights
Charles V. Bagli | The New York Times | February 14th, 2008

Prices of Stadium Name Sponsorships Soar
Janet Frankston Lorin | Associated Press | February 10th, 2008

Braves Stadium Deal Taxes Fiscal Realities
J.C. Bradbury | Atlanta Journal-Constitution | February 8th, 2008

You Can’t Buy the Naming Rights, but Call It the Billion-Dollar Ballpark
Richard Sandomir | The New York Times | February 8th, 2008

Your Name Here?
Keith Edwards | Kennebec Journal, Morning Senitinel (ME) | February 5th, 2008

Naming Names in Milton
Paul E. Kandarian | Boston Globe | January 31st, 2008

Park Naming Rights Talks Go On
Robert Daski | Journal Messenger (Manassas, VA) | January 30th, 2008

Vending Contract Could Add to City Revenues
Cindy Barks | Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ) | January 30th, 2008

Stadium Name Game
Michael Gluskin | News-Dispatch (Michigan City, IN) | January 29th, 2008

Naming Rights May Provide Districts With Funding
Lana F. Flowers | Morning News (Northwest AR) | January 26th, 2008

Cleveland Indians Formally Announce Naming Rights Sold to Progressive Insurance
Cleveland Plain-Dealer | January 11th, 2008

Set Strict Rules on Naming Rights
Detroit Free Press | January 10th, 2008

When Tradition and Naming Opportunities Collide
Erin Stout | Chronicle of Higher Education | January 10th, 2008

New Deal Reached with Cougars to Get Stadium Renovation Project Moving
William Presecky | Chicago Tribune | January 9th, 2008

Wichita arena naming rights are sold for $15 million
Rick Alm | Kansas City Star | January 9th, 2008

Legislator Wants to Sell Naming Rights to Bridge
Ted Hayes | Warren Times Gazette | January 8th, 2008

Sell Wrigley name? Go to Zell
Jay Mariotti | Chicago Sun-Times | December 21st, 2007

This holiday tradition is brought to you by ...
Jeff Martin | USA Today | December 20th, 2007

Ave Maria Law Wants To Sell Its Naming Rights
Peter Lattman | Wall Street Journal | December 18th, 2007

PCCC looking to sell naming rights
Bernard Schoenburg | State Journal Register (MO) | December 18th, 2007

USC gives some ground on Coliseum
Sam Farmer and Gary Klein | Los Angeles Times | December 17th, 2007

A Shot at Naming Rights
James Mayer | The Oregonian | December 15th, 2007

Why the Name Game is Simply a Shame
Greg Baum | The Age (Melbourne, AU) | December 14th, 2007

State looks to buy Wrigley
Jim Kirk | Chicago Tribune | December 13th, 2007

Call to Arms to Retain Name at a Garden State Rest Stop
George Vecsey | The New York Times | December 12th, 2007

Rest stops could lose historic titles
Associated Press | December 9th, 2007

PNC Bank buys naming rights for Nationals seats
Don Muret | Washington Business Journal | November 23rd, 2007

City of Chicago may turn to naming rights to raise funds
Associated Press | November 23rd, 2007

You need a scorecard
John Rolfe | Sports Illustrated | November 13th, 2007

Donors Bid Millions NOT to Rename School
Ryan J. Foley | Associated Press | November 4th, 2007

St. Lucie County selling reef naming rights for $20,000
Associated Press | November 2nd, 2007

Nonprofit may sell naming rights of high school arts center
Ben Goessling | Minneapolis Star-Tribune | October 8th, 2007

What's in a School Name? Maybe Money, Maybe Public Service; Policy's in the Works
Jo Collins Mathis | The Ann Arbor News | June 13th, 2007

Corporate U
Adam Emerson | Tampa Tribune | April 30th, 2007

Wisconsin Schools Find Corporate Sponsors
Judy Keen | USA Today | July 28th, 2006

Your Kid's Education, Brought to You by...
Greg Toppo | USA Today | July 11th, 2005

School District to Vote on Giving Naming Rights to Highest Bidder
Christine MacDonald | Lansing State Journal | June 30th, 2005

West Phila. high school's name is up for sale
Susan Snyder | Philadelphia Inquirer | November 11th, 2004

Reading, Writing and Corporate Sponsorships
Bill Pennington | The New York Times | October 18th, 2004

Is This Any Way to Pay for Public Education?
Kristen A. Graham | Philadelphia Inquirer | February 22nd, 2004

Naming Rights Sold -- This Time, at High School Field
Nancy Ryan | Chicago Tribune | August 14th, 2002

Stadium Woes Startle School Leaders
Kris Hundley | St. Petersburg Times | December 17th, 1997