The name of Colorado State’s on-campus football stadium was unveiled Tuesday, and judging by the mixed reaction on social media, there are a handful of fans who aren’t thrilled about walking through the turnstiles of “Canvas Stadium.”
Even former CSU All-American wide receiver Michael Gallup, now with the Dallas Cowboys, took to Twitter to say, “Y’all really couldn’t come up with a better name then (sic) canvas … that’s embarrassing.”
Resistance is expected. Change is hard. I’m still trying to accept the idea of navigating a Facebook app that isn’t selling my information.
If you’re on the side annoyed by the sound of “Canvas Stadium,” you better work on swallowing this medicine. Would calling it Public Service Credit Union Stadium or Canvas Credit Union (CCU) Stadium made the pill any less jagged? This ain’t changing, friends. Not for at least another 15 years. And I struggle to believe anyone’s qualm is actually with “Canvas,” versus getting defensive about the first building at CSU getting a corporate brand.
If you can’t get over it, then watching sports in 2018 probably isn’t for you. We’re in an era — and, quite frankly, have been for a while — where all that matters in athletics beyond the high school level is the bottom line. Without big-name sponsors like Canvas Credit Union willing to shell over $37.7 million to put its name on the Rams’ stadium, the $220 million facility wouldn’t have been built in the first place and CSU would still be playing at a crumbling Hughes Stadium (now a pile of rubble surrounding a dirt pit).
The commercialization of college athletics started long ago — every bowl game has a major sponsor — and in the Mountain West, six of 12 football stadiums and four basketball arenas (including Cox Pavilion for UNLV women’s hoops) have corporate names. In Colorado, the Rams follow in the footsteps of the Coors Events Center at CU, which got its name in 1990 and is seeking a new sponsor, and UNC’s Bank of Colorado Arena (naming rights deal in 2014). Next will likely be Moby Arena (CSU), Nottingham Field (UNC) or a facility at one of the state’s public Division II universities.
This is the new reality. Pour a Fat Tire and make yourself comfortable.
P.S.
If any companies with deep pockets out there would like to sponsor this newsletter, slide into my DMs.
— , The Denver Post
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What’s on tap?
- MLB: Rockies at Reds, 5:10 p.m., ATTRM | Pitching matchup |
- U.S. Open Cup: Rapids at Nashville, 6:30 p.m.
- NBA: Warriors at Cavaliers, 7 p.m., ABC
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scoreboard
MLB: Rockies 9, Reds 6
Full story |
Must-Read
7 years after conception, Colorado State’s football stadium finally has a name
After four years of conception, two more of construction and another season of officially being open, the Colorado State football stadium finally has a name. Read more…
Broncos have many options for open right guard position
The Broncos know Garett Bolles, Ron Leary (if healthy), Matt Paradis and Jared Veldheer (if healthy) will start at left tackle, left guard, center and right tackle, respectively, against Seattle in September’s season opener. Unknown is the right guard spot. Read more…
Tracking the Rockies’ selections in Rounds 3 through 10 on second day of MLB draft
Here are the Rockies’ picks for Tuesday’s second day of the draft, which is Rounds 3 through 10. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ From Grant Witherspoon to Devlin Granberg, here’s the list of Colorado players selected on Day 2 of the 2018 MLB draft.
+ Broncos linebacker Shane Ray getting second opinion on left wrist injury.
+Do Rockies’ Jeff Bridich and Bud Black always know best? No, but there are reasons for their moves
+ Colorado Buffaloes football loses two offensive linemen.
+ Rockies recall Mike Tauchman from Triple-A, option Daniel Castro to Albuquerque.
+ Big Sky Conference bans athletes with violent convictions.
+The Nuggets need a backup point guard. Drafting national player of the year Jalen Brunson could be an option
+Saunders vs. Kiz: Fact or myth? Should Rockies fear swooning in June?
+Former Nuggets great Billups, Colorado Gov. Ritter among trio named Regis University trustees
+Rockies Mailbag: Ian Desmond struggles continue at the plate, Jon Gray update, trade talk and more
By The Numbers
9
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray is a top 10 MLB draft pick but will stick with football. For now.
On Monday, the Oakland Athletics selected Murray with the No. 9 pick in the MLB draft even though he’s the heir apparent to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma. That No. 9 draft slot has an assigned value of $4,761,500, and under NCAA rules Murray could take that signing bonus yet still return in the fall to play quarterback for the Sooners, which seems like the plan. Read more…
Parting Shot
Calling all Icelanders: Per agreement with the consulate of your tiny country — the smallest ever to qualify for soccer’s FIFA World Cup — the Celtic Tavern in LoDo has been named the official Denver bar for Iceland supporters during the quadrennial spectacle, which begins next week in Russia.
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
