Details have emerged of a £20 million deal between the SRU and BT for the naming rights to Murrayfield. This would clear the SRU’s debts with change to invest elsewhere.
Selling naming rights for a new stadium is common enough however changing the name of long standing historic grounds is a contentious issue. Scotland will be playing two matches at the Sports Direct Arena in Newcastle during the World Cup and yet everyone, including the IRB and BBC still refers to the ground as St James Park. However the SRU and BT appear to have paid attention to events in Newcastle and plan to retain “Murrayfield” somewhere within the title.
However we though we’d have a bit of fun and come up with our telephone inspired names to celebrate the welcome injection of cash into the Scottish game.
1. Bob Hoskins Arena– The recently deceased cockney actor starred in a number of adverts for BT with the catchphrase “it’s good to talk”. The adverts were supposed to encourage people to get in touch with their loved ones and long lost pals but somehow with an underlying threat of a kneecapping throughout. The internet does not record whether Hoskins was a fan of Scottish rugby or whether he liked rugby at all but surely this would be a lasting, if confusing, tribute to a great actor.
2. The Dromedery Dome – BT once advertised their services with a man camel singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” down the phone to a lady camel. Inexplicable.
3. The Illuminati Pyramid – The internet is a strange place. Apparently the newer BT adverts prove that the company are run by a race of space lizzards. Who knew?
4. Dr Who Stadium – He lives in a phone box. He’s a Time Lord. He once advertised directory enquiry services in New Zealand.
5. JR Hartley Thunderdome – I think we can all get behind this. Younger readers should be aware that Yellow Pages was the paper version of Google and was issued to every household in the days before the internet.
Can anyone come up with any better suggestions? Let us know in the comments below…
Editor’s update: 28/5/14: It was announced today that the winning choice is BT Murrayfield Stadium, which we think is a pretty good compromise.