UPDATE: Verizon spokeswoman Sandra Arnette reached out to us with the following statement.
"Our review of this partnership as part of our normal portfolio management process has not even begun - given we're several years from the 2018 term end date."
The original post is below.
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The Verizon Center, home to the Wizards, Capitals, Mystics and Georgetown Hoyas, will have a new name in 2018, according to the Sports Business Journal and the Washington Post. According to both reports, Verizon -- who acquired the naming rights to arena when they bought MCI in 2006 -- will not renew the naming rights deal MCI signed when the building opened in 1997.
The good news for Monumental Sports & Entertainment is they have over two years to conduct a thorough search for a new naming rights deal. Presumably, companies with preexisting sponsorship ties to the team (such as Geico, Capital One, Etihad Airways) will be the first companies Monumental considers, but it's still anyone's guess who will end up buying the rights.
Here at Bullets Forever, we want to make sure we're doing all we can to help with the search. So we've put together a list of naming rights ideas for everyone's consideration:
- SB Nation Sports Building. Before you laugh, here's a mock-up of the design
Seems like a smart investment to us. Here are some more ideas. - Ben's Chili Bowl
- The House of Tapas and Sangria: A Jose Andres Experience
- Wanda Pratt Arena
- Uber Center
- Kevin Durant Center
- Tidal Center - You have to pay $9.99 per month just to say it out loud
- The Google Plus Circle
- Ted Leonsis' Ice and Hardwood Emporium
- The Meme Factory
- Apple Watch Arena
- The "Did you know Michael Jordan played here?" Arena
- ThorolGraffix Center
- Globex Corporation Arena
- Listicle Fieldhouse
- The DUNGEON, you know, because it's the Wizards