Why isn't the Rogers Centre called Rogers SkyDome?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

SkyDome on Opening Day — June 5th, 1989



Would the extra letter on the sign have cost Rogers too much money?

I think it's a real shame we lost one of the best named ballparks in baseball, just to make the Rogers branding a little bit more prominent.

There's now a lot of major sporting and events venues in Canada with Rogers naming rights, like Rogers Centre Ottawa, Rogers Arena in Vancouver, and Rogers Place in Edmonton.

I think Rogers could actually stand to benefit as a brand at this point, by changing the name of Toronto's ballpark "back" to Rogers SkyDome as I think it would be popular with a lot of people, it would create a lot of buzz, and make Canada's lone MLB ballpark standout more with a more unique name.

Even SABR still refers to the ballpark as Skydome (Toronto) in their database of ballparks.


I figured I'd get some more interesting responses to this renaming question here on the Toronto sub forum, than from all the sportsfans on the main Canada forum.

From what I understand, many Torontonians still call it SkyDome. I'm not from Toronto myself, but I'll never stop calling it Skydome.

[isaidso]

For what it's worth, practically everyone I know calls it Skydome. The people of Toronto chose that name so that's what it's still called as far as we're concerned. We never call it Rogers Centre.

[MolsonExport]

They should call it the Rogers Rogers. And rename Toronto to "Rogers". And every person should henceforth be named "Rogers".

Just wait until they get a hold of the CN Tower.

Roger Roger! Clearance Clarence. Over, Oveur. What's your Vector, Victor?

[MolsonExport]

Imagine singing: "Welcome...To Rogers Centre!!"

It is already possibly the most cringeworthy moment in television history.
• Video Link

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

SkyDome on Opening Day — June 5th, 1989



Would the extra letter on the sign have cost Rogers too much money?

I think it's a real shame we lost one of the best named ballparks in baseball, just to make the Rogers branding a little bit more prominent.

There's now a lot of major sporting and events venues in Canada with Rogers naming rights, like Rogers Centre Ottawa, Rogers Arena in Vancouver, and Rogers Place in Edmonton.

I think Rogers could actually stand to benefit as a brand at this point, by changing the name of Toronto's ballpark "back" to Rogers SkyDome as I think it would be popular with a lot of people, it would create a lot of buzz, and make Canada's lone MLB ballpark standout more with a more unique name.

Even SABR still refers to the ballpark as Skydome (Toronto) in their database of ballparks.


I figured I'd get some more interesting responses to this renaming question here on the Toronto sub forum, than from all the sportsfans on the main Canada forum.

From what I understand, many Torontonians still call it SkyDome. I'm not from Toronto myself, but I'll never stop calling it Skydome.

Thank you for putting this Toronto centric thread in the Toronto section where it belongs. Unlike all the countless other Toronto based threads only found in the national section.
Very much appreciated and it's about time someone did.

[Djeffery]

Simply because the Rogers half of that would never be used. The whole point of naming rights is to not have your corporate name be overlooked. Rogers SkyDome also just sounds stupid and doesn't roll off the tongue as easy as Rogers Centre. I personally hear more people say "The Dome" than either SkyDome or Rogers Centre but I do hear Rogers Centre a lot.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Simply because the Rogers half of that would never be used. The whole point of naming rights is to not have your corporate name be overlooked. Rogers SkyDome also just sounds stupid and doesn't roll off the tongue as easy as Rogers Centre. I personally hear more people say "The Dome" than either SkyDome or Rogers Centre but I do hear Rogers Centre a lot.

I dunno, I think Rogers SkyDome sounds way better, personally, but it's clearly subjective.

I guess Rogers wanted people to use their name when referring to the stadium, but I still think it's a shame they took what I think was one of the best stadium names in sports (SkyDome) and replaced it with one of the most generic names, just to make their Corporate branding a little more prominent.

Scotiabank could have insisted on renaming the Saddledome in Calgary "the Scotiabank Arena" or something bland like that to make sure people say Scotia Bank, they didn't... it's called Scotiabank Saddledome, and I'm sure most people never save the Scotia Bank. (But the broadcasters sure say the full name)

I still think it's not too late to change it back to Rogers SkyDome, and if they did, I think a lot of fans and would consider a rare instance of Rogers "doing the right thing".

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Imagine singing: "Welcome...To Rogers Centre!!"

It is already possibly the most cringeworthy moment in television history.
• Video Link

that was some unbelievable cringe

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I dunno, I think Rogers SkyDome sounds way better, personally, but it's clearly subjective.

I guess Rogers wanted people to use their name when referring to the stadium, but I still think it's a shame they took what I think was one of the best stadium names in sports (SkyDome) and replaced it with one of the most generic names, just to make their Corporate branding a little more prominent.

Scotiabank could have insisted on renaming the Saddledome in Calgary "the Scotiabank Arena" or something bland like that to make sure people say Scotia Bank, they didn't... it's called Scotiabank Saddledome, and I'm sure most people never save the Scotia Bank. (But the broadcasters sure say the full name)

I still think it's not too late to change it back to Rogers SkyDome, and if they did, I think a lot of fans and would consider a rare instance of Rogers "doing the right thing".

I think the difference with Calgary and Toronto is the SkyDome is privately owned. I doubt the city of Calgary was going to let the Saddledome name disappear and I would even speculate they probably left money on the table to ensure that name wasn't removed within a corporate sponsorship.

[bilbao58]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

that was some unbelievable cringe

You wanna see (and hear) cringe? I actually remember when this song was first played on what was then Channel 79. This video came along a few years later than the song.

• Video Link

[MolsonExport]

I am rather surprised it isn't called the Rogers Rogers. Rogers thinks that slapping its name on everything will make up for shoddy customer service. When your brand name is disliked, putting it everywhere will not build up brand equity.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by bilbao58

You wanna see (and hear) cringe? I actually remember when this song was first played on what was then Channel 79. This video came along a few years later than the song.

• Video Link

lol nice. Is it terrible I kind of like it?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I am rather surprised it isn't called the Rogers Rogers. Rogers thinks that slapping its name on everything will make up for shoddy customer service. When your brand name is disliked, putting it everywhere will not build up brand equity.

I'm not sure if I know anyone that has a positive impression of the company.

The wedgie in game 6 of the world series is enough to make me believe the stadium is cursed and the only way to break it is to revert back to the SkyDome name, even if it's preceded by Rogers.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I am rather surprised it isn't called the Rogers Rogers. Rogers thinks that slapping its name on everything will make up for shoddy customer service. When your brand name is disliked, putting it everywhere will not build up brand equity.

I feel for Rogers sugar and Rogers flour brands in Western Canada having that name. They are not associated in anyway with The Rogers.

[jonny24]

Interestingly , in Hamilton they did revert (almost) back to the name everyone uses anyway.

Our arena went from Copps Coliseum > First Ontario Centre > TD Coliseum.