The White Sox's Field Will Be Renamed 'Guaranteed Rate Field' Next Season
By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 24, 2016 8:56PM
And you thought it couldn't get more corporate than U.S. Cellular Field. Think again, Sox fans. Instead of The Cell, visitors to the South Side baseball stadium will enter Guaranteed Rate Field after this season, the team announced Wednesday.
"We are pleased to find, in Guaranteed Rate, a new naming rights partner founded in Chicago by Chicagoans, which shares our commitment to the city and to our fans," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "We view this partnership as an opportunity to connect a successful Chicago business with a historic baseball franchise, and we look forward to growing this important relationship over the coming years as millions of fans enjoy White Sox baseball at Guaranteed Rate Field."
The naming deal, which was approved by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Wednesday afternoon, goes into effect Nov. 1 and will last for at least 13 years, though it could extend until 2030, the team said. Financial details were not released.
#WhiteSox have naming rights deal in place. Going from US Cellular Field to Guaranteed Rate Field starting next season.
— Dan Hayes (@CSNHayes) August 24, 2016
What was once Comiskey Park became The Cell in 2003. In 2012, U.S. Cellular announced it was selling its Chicago assets, thereby raising questions on whether the field's name would also leave town. Now we've got our answer. Though social media, understandably, is already offering some other name options. The hashtag #BetterSoxStadiumNames started blowing up at Wednesday's news:
Taco Burrito King Park #BetterSoxStadiumNames
— Ben Meyerson (@bmeyerson) August 24, 2016
Anything But What The Hell They Just Named It.... Field. #BetterSoxStadiumNames
— Faruq Abdul-Basir (@FaruqBasir) August 24, 2016
Tronc(TM) Dome #BetterSoxStadiumNames
— Michael Nagrant (@MichaelNagrant) August 24, 2016
Still Gonna Call it Comiskey Park Field #BetterSoxStadiumNames
— alpalzal (@aezalesny) August 24, 2016