Companies have to get creative to make a buck in this struggling economy, and the Vikings are no different. With the Gophers football team gone from the Metrodome and the Twins departing after this season, Judd Zulgad reports that the Vikings are are looking to sell the naming rights to the stadium and several of its gates.
The stadium will retain the "Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome" name -- it'd be a bad idea to replace the name with that of the highest bidder. But the team is seeking a company to sponsor the field. If Best Buy, for example, were to buy the naming rights, the stadium would be referred to as "Best Buy Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome."
I have no idea if Best Buy's actually in the mix for the naming rights, but I'd imagine the Vikings will at least see if they're interested. The same is likely true for General Mills and 3M. Probably not Target, as having more than one "Target Field" in Minneapolis could be a tad confusing. Besides, two stadiums is enough for them.
Still, it would be a bit too predictable for 3M/Best Buy/General Mills to buy the naming rights. The commenters over at the Strib came up with a great idea -- if Chili's Grill & Bar bought the naming rights, we could call the stadium "Chili's Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome." But what would YOU like the new name of the Dome to be?