Stadium names

[DrDom]

Just to illustrate how upset those Newcastle fans got, here's a few of links to pictures of club employees taking the St James' Park name down off stadium, and then a fan's 'criminal damage' attempting to put it back up, and then more club employees trying to erase that 'damage' (not very effectively). All seemingly a bit of a waste of time when Wonga.com reinstated the original name, choosing not to call it the 'PayDay Loan Palace' or whatever. Guess it takes their mind off what's going on on the pitch!


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http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/ ... 34x415.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/arch ... 56684a.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jimbo]

I still called our place 'The Reebok' or 'The Bok' and will probably continue so to do.

I challenge anyone, without Googling them, to give me the current names of the grounds of the following clubs;

Bradford City
Leicester City
Bournemouth
Bury
Colchester
York (Truly horrific)
Brighton
Derby
Huddersfield
Peterborough
Walsall
Chesterfield
Mansfield
Orient
Crawley

And a bonus point if you can name St Helens RFL ground.

And I never know which is The Emirates and which is The Etihad?!

To be fair Langtree Park could be a lot worse. It's not as obviously corporate as some. My favourite is the 'mend-a-hose jungle'

[DrDom]

I think Bolton Wanderers tick all the boxes in both scenarios. Burnden Park to The Reebok was the important change as far as most Bolton supporters are concerned, I suspect. Subsequent name changes will probably have little impact - unless we call it the Kit Kat Stadium or The Durex Bowl, for example.

I still find myself inadvertently referring to the ground as 'The Reebok' or 'The Bok'. Mind you, I'm an old fart who doesn't handle change well.

Clearly the move to The Reebok was a great step forward for the club in terms of facilities so I can see how fans would see this in quite a positive light. Wanderers fans still sing about "Walking down the Manny Road to see the Burnden Aces" though, right? Interesting that the songs still talk about Burnden. Any songs about The Reebok (or The Macron)?

[Worthy4England]

I think Bolton Wanderers tick all the boxes in both scenarios. Burnden Park to The Reebok was the important change as far as most Bolton supporters are concerned, I suspect. Subsequent name changes will probably have little impact - unless we call it the Kit Kat Stadium or The Durex Bowl, for example.

I still find myself inadvertently referring to the ground as 'The Reebok' or 'The Bok'. Mind you, I'm an old fart who doesn't handle change well.

Clearly the move to The Reebok was a great step forward for the club in terms of facilities so I can see how fans would see this in quite a positive light. Wanderers fans still sing about "Walking down the Manny Road to see the Burnden Aces" though, right? Interesting that the songs still talk about Burnden. Any songs about The Reebok (or The Macron)?

We have two songs with proper words in them. Walking down the Manny Road is one of them. Not really that interesting that the song refers to Burnden. History started a long time before the "Premier League" and a very long time before the Reebok. The affiliation of the song isn't to a footwear/clothing company, so you're not going to change "Burnden" to Reebok/Macron/Quikquid or whoever - that'd be plain stupid.

[Prufrock]

You'd also have certain logistical problems if you tried to walk down the Manny Road to see the Reebok aces.

[Worthy4England]

You'd also have certain logistical problems if you tried to walk down the Manny Road to see the Reebok aces.

It'd just be a longer walk...

[Gary the Enfield]

You'd also have certain logistical problems if you tried to walk down the Manny Road to see the Reebok aces.

It'd just be a longer walk...

Yea. Walking down the Manny Road, and Bradshawgate, into Deansgate, up Bridgeman Street, along Topp Way, up Chorley New Road, down Burnden Waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!

.....to see the Reeboks Aces!

[Bruce Rioja]

Well, at least we no longer have to listen to the away end singing "What the fecking hell is that?" whilst pointing at Normid!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Well, at least we no longer have to listen to the away end singing "What the fecking hell is that?" whilst pointing at Normid!

Nope... now they point at our shooting instead

[Bruce Rioja]

Cheltenham Town are to rename Whaddon Road 'The World of Smile Stadium'. The fecking what?

[bobo the clown]

Well, at least we no longer have to listen to the away end singing "What the fecking hell is that?" whilst pointing at Normid!

I used to join in.

[clapton is god]

Well remember the baggies singing that at us and I wanted to respond "it's a shop, it's a shop, it's a shop"

[DrDom]

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this thread.

The next stage of this work is to carry out a focus group with a few Bolton fans, so we wondered whether anyone would be willing to take part in this? We have not set a date for the focus group as yet, but we would imagine it would be towards the back end of August at a time which is mutually convenient for all participants. It would take no longer than 1 hour and the venue would probably be a pub in the Bolton area. We would be happy to provide you with a £20 Amazon Voucher as a 'thank you' for taking part, as we realise your time is precious. You anonymity in the research would be guaranteed. If you're interested in taking part please send me a direct message and we'll be in touch.

[bobo the clown]

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this thread.

The next stage of this work is to carry out a focus group with a few Bolton fans, so we wondered whether anyone would be willing to take part in this? We have not set a date for the focus group as yet, but we would imagine it would be towards the back end of August at a time which is mutually convenient for all participants. It would take no longer than 1 hour and the venue would probably be a pub in the Bolton area. We would be happy to provide you with a £20 Amazon Voucher as a 'thank you' for taking part, as we realise your time is precious. You anonymity in the research would be guaranteed. If you're interested in taking part please send me a direct message and we'll be in touch.

Focus Group ! Aaaa-haaa-haaa-haaaa.

[malcd1]

I propose Bobo or perhaps Bruce. They are our Focus Group representatives on this forum.

[Bruce Rioja]

I propose Bobo or perhaps Bruce. They are our Focus Group representatives on this forum.

I'm already signed up for it, Malc. The naming and re-naming/sponsorship of buildings in general has fascinated me for a long time, from both a personal and professional viewpoint. If you look earlier in the thread I posted a list of football grounds that I reckon many football supporters would struggle to name accurately. Not just football grounds, but did you ever hear anyone refer to the Arena in Manny as the Phones 4 U Arena? I know I didn't. It was still called that for a while after their sponsor had gone bust.

I'm looking forward to it. If anyone's any questions / points that they'd like me to raise then let me know.

[DrDom]

We are looking at holding the focus group at 6pm on Wednesday 28th October at the Beehive pub. Participants will get a £20 Amazon voucher for taking part. Drinks and nibbles will also be provided. It will last about an hour. Please send a DM if you're interested in taking part.

[Aanvalluh]

What WOULD the Reecon be called without a sponsor?
Middlebrook Stadium?
Rivington View Park?
John Byrom Arena?

[boltonboris]

What WOULD the Reecon be called without a sponsor?
Middlebrook Stadium?
Rivington View Park?
John Byrom Arena?

I have it on extremely good Authority, it would be called

The <naming rights here> Stadium

[Lord Kangana]

I think Bruce is right, I suspect it's really almost a pointless exercise for most small clubs. Sign of the times I spose.