Mercedes-Benz Acquires Naming Rights to New Stadium

According to sources, Mercedes-Benz plans to acquire the naming rights to New Atlanta Stadium, the future home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and the MLS’ Atlanta United FC. The stadium will open in Spring of 2017 for the United’s first matches as an expansion franchise.

Mercedes-Benz plans to acquire the naming rights to their second major stadium in the United States. I would not have a problem with this at all since MB is relocating their US Headquarters to Sandy Springs, but the other stadium that Mercedes-Benz has naming rights to is the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of the Atlanta Falcons’ arch rival: the New Orleans Saints. In the words of Arrested Development’s GOB Bluth, “Oh, come on!”

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Sharing naming rights with the New Orleans Saints is more awkward than a middle schooler. No knock on MB as a motor company or their terrific decision to relocate to Metro Atlanta, but there were literally dozens of Atlanta-based corporations to choose from.

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Atlanta is home to Coca-Cola, The Home Depot (Arthur Blank’s brainchild), UPS, Delta, Georgia-Pacific, Georgia Power, Chick-Fil-A, Waffle House, Philips, SunTrust, come on! From the Braves moving to Cobb County to the Hawks’ new threads and now this. What’s going on in the ATL???

We can’t share naming rights with the New Orleans Saints. More proof that money speaks louder than anything. If the naming rights allow the Atlanta Falcons/Atlanta United FC organization financial flexibility to deliver our city a championship, I’ll learn to live with the inherent awkwardness.

Securing a corporate sponsor was crucial for Arthur Blank as it should help with paying off the new stadium. Top NFL sponsors like AT&T and MetLife pay over $17 Million annually for naming rights to the homes of the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants/Jets, respectively. Outside of Philips Arena, Atlanta has not had much experience with corporate sponsors with their sport stadiums.

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Starting in Spring of 2017, all four major Atlanta professional teams will play in a stadium sponsored by a corporation. The Hawks at Philips Arena, the Braves at SunTrust Park, and the Falcons/United at Mercedes-Benz…Field??? It’s not technically a Dome because it has a retractable roof, right? Coliseum, Stadium, Park, I don’t know.

At least Mercedes-Benz is a trusted brand that consumers can easily identify with. Being named after a Dot Com wouldn’t sit well, would it? Furthermore, with the Falcons/United FC organization probably announcing the official sponsorship this afternoon in a press conference, it’s becoming more real by the minute that Atlanta will have a state of the art football/soccer facility to call its own. I have no doubt that Arthur Blank’s new stadium will stand as a first-class destination for our entire city to enjoy. Big things are happening, Atlanta.

Next: Atlanta Falcons: Jackson, Soliai In Great Shape

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