David Puddy Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Bank of America fields pitch on Newark arena Wednesday, October 13, 2004 Bank of America Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis came to Newark yesterday to give away money and left with something to think about. The third-largest bank in the United States became the biggest player in New Jersey this year through its acquisition of Fleet bank and is busy putting up signs on the 433 branches. Lewis was in town to donate $2 million to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. During the check-passing ceremony, Newark Mayor Sharpe James thanked Lewis for the money. Then he made another pitch -- he also told Lewis the bank has the opportunity to further enhance its profile by purchasing the naming sponsorship for the planned $310 million Newark arena, the future home of the New Jersey Devils. Bank officials said they have high hopes for the New Jersey market, with its well-above-average salaries and wide range of prosperous businesses. Would the effort be helped by putting "Bank of America" in big letters on the side of the arena? While naming rights would certainly cost multiple millions of dollars, Lewis said such decisions are made at the local and regional level. Ann Limberg, who last month took up the post of New Jersey president, said she is putting together her team and action plan, but didn't rule it out. "We'll look at it," Limberg said. -- Paul Cox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 An All-American name for a new arena in an All-American city hosting an All-American team. Me likey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Diablo Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Let me see.... "Hey I'll meet you at the B*O*A around 6:45" .... not bad.... sort sounds like CAA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 There are many arenas named after banks, Mellon, Fleet, HSBC, Wachovia, RBC...are any of them nicknamed The Vault? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 The Vault is cool. But I think if they did get naming rights it would probably be the BAA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 The Vault is cool. But I think if they did get naming rights it would probably be the BAA. That settles it, I'm officially against this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdevils_info Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 I like it. It's better then the old FU Center! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hells Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Wouldn't it be BAC? Bank of America Center? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 If they call it Bank of America Arena, it'll be BAA. Highly embarrassing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 What's embarrassing about BAA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 (edited) Wouldn't it be BAC? Bank of America Center? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's probably what the Fleet Center in Boston will change it's name to. Plus I doubt the company would spend all that money to sponsor two arenas in the same league within 5 hours of each other. You never know but I'd bet on a different company buying the rights. Edited October 14, 2004 by Zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 What's embarrassing about BAA? You've never heard sheep before? (Sheep, not mrsheeps. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 They might be five hours away but the market is much different. Plus they want to increase their presence in NJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdevils_info Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Nah, I gotta agree with Zero. He's right, they wouldn't have two BAC's in the league. That could/would get confusing... unless they decide to pull out of their deal with the Fleet Center in Boston Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteyNice Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 It has precedent. The American Airlines Arena is in Dallas and the Mavs play there and the American Airlines Center is in Miami and the Heat play there. I do not want Bank of America to sponsor the arena. It's too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Why doesn't Kool-Aid chime in? How fitting would it be: Kool-Aid Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Diablo Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Why doesn't Kool-Aid chime in? How fitting would it be: Kool-Aid Centre. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Brilliant ! NJay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 It has precedent. The American Airlines Arena is in Dallas and the Mavs play there and the American Airlines Center is in Miami and the Heat play there. I do not want Bank of America to sponsor the arena. It's too long. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, but they are further than 5 hours away from each other...per Zero's theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Puddy Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 Wouldn't it be BAC? Bank of America Center? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's probably what the Fleet Center in Boston will change it's name to. Plus I doubt the company would spend all that money to sponsor two arenas in the same league within 5 hours of each other. You never know but I'd bet on a different company buying the rights. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's true, didn't even think of that. I just speculated "Center" because the CAA is already called "Arena", and a lot of the time they like to change the name when two arenas are in such close proximity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 As long as it's not the Bank of New York Arena, I'm fine with any other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 (edited) What's the matter, you don't like the sound of BONY Arena? EDIT: Edited October 15, 2004 by sammyk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 What's the matter, you don't like the sound of BONY Arena? EDIT: <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good one Sammy! I didn't even think of that, it's more I don't want our NJ Devils playing in an arena called NY anything. The bank used to have a billboard on I-80 by Hackensack it read: If your football teams can be called NY, why can't your bank? - or something like that. Yep I'm one of those that doesn't like the Giants and Jets being called NY when they play in NJ, so to have our team in an arena with a NY name would just be one more injustice, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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