kaorder1999
05-06-2004, 10:54 PM
Ballpark to become Ameriquest Field in Arlington
Thursday, May 6, 2004
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News
The Ballpark in Arlington is going to become a field.
Texas Rangers' officials will announce Friday that their home stadium will be known as Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
The team reached an agreement with Ameriquest Capital, the parent of Ameriquest Mortgage Co., after months of negotiations. It's expected to be a 30-year deal worth about $75 million.
The deal is "like the worst-kept secret in the sports world," David Carter, a principal in Los Angeles' Sports Business Group.
Getting a corporate name and corporate dollars has been a long time coming for the Rangers. The team has had the rights on the market since Tom Hicks bought the team in 1998.
Rangers fan Sue Heath of Oak Lawn said the name change was underwhelming.
"It could be worse. He's [Mr. Hicks] got to make money somewhere," Ms. Heath said. "I'm surprised he didn't get somebody bigger, more Texan."
Ameriquest Mortgage, a subprime lending company based in California, has 17 banking sites in Texas, including seven in the Dallas area. The privately owned company's public relations representative did not return calls requesting comment.
Ameriquest also signed on to sponsor Major League Baseball's All-Star Game balloting last month.
Thursday, May 6, 2004
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News
The Ballpark in Arlington is going to become a field.
Texas Rangers' officials will announce Friday that their home stadium will be known as Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
The team reached an agreement with Ameriquest Capital, the parent of Ameriquest Mortgage Co., after months of negotiations. It's expected to be a 30-year deal worth about $75 million.
The deal is "like the worst-kept secret in the sports world," David Carter, a principal in Los Angeles' Sports Business Group.
Getting a corporate name and corporate dollars has been a long time coming for the Rangers. The team has had the rights on the market since Tom Hicks bought the team in 1998.
Rangers fan Sue Heath of Oak Lawn said the name change was underwhelming.
"It could be worse. He's [Mr. Hicks] got to make money somewhere," Ms. Heath said. "I'm surprised he didn't get somebody bigger, more Texan."
Ameriquest Mortgage, a subprime lending company based in California, has 17 banking sites in Texas, including seven in the Dallas area. The privately owned company's public relations representative did not return calls requesting comment.
Ameriquest also signed on to sponsor Major League Baseball's All-Star Game balloting last month.