Marlins Shopping New Stadium Naming Rights

Team hopes to have deal done in 3-4 weeks

Having just kicked off their final season playing in the unfriendly confines of Sun Life Stadium, the Florida Marlins are hoping to complete a naming rights deal for their new ballpark in Little Havana by the end of the month.

Marlins President David Samson told Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal (subscription-only link, South Florida Business Journal has a summary) that the team is in discussions with three naming rights candidates, and hopes to have a deal done in three to four weeks.

Samson also said the team is looking to sell naming rights for all four entrances to the stadium. The team may try to ink a deal for the entire complex as well.

Samson did not disclose the companies with whom the Marlins are talking. If there is any poetic justice, the naming rights would reflect the Marlins' spendthrift ways. Perhaps the team can sell rights to a discount retailer like Family Dollar or Dollar General. Sure, fans might not like the idea of going to Dollar General Field at Sam's Club Park, but when have sports fans ever liked a corporate naming rights deal?

Additionally, Samson told Street & Smith that the team has sold all of its Diamond Club seats behind home plate and most of its Diamond Club seats next to each dugout. Those sections only represent a combined 675 seats, but when it comes to ticket sales, the Marlins have to savor every success, no matter how small it may be.

David Hill is a Miami native and cofounder of Marlins Diehards, the only Florida Marlins blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.

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