I wish the reporter had delved further into why some Orange County commissioners are gnashing their teeth over whether or not to sell the naming rights for the new West Ten soccer complex to Hillsborough-based business Sports Endeavors. The county is spending around $3 million for the complex, a project that is, in my view, clearly a “want” and not a “need” of county residents. But, this is Orange County, where commissioners see government intervention and, thus, taxpayer subsidy, as the go-to solution. I wish we knew more about the basis of the following comments about the naming rights issue by commissioners Mike Nelson and Alice Gordon:
In a 3-2 vote earlier this week, the commissioners told county staff to negotiate and return with a new proposal.
Commissioners Gordon and Mike Nelson, the two dissenters, felt uneasy about making the deal with the Hillsborough company.
“I may be the last person in America who feels this way, [but] I actually have a personal and philosophical dislike for naming a facility after corporations,” Nelson said.
Gordon agreed.
“I feel some of the same discomfort that Commissioner Nelson feels,” she said.
What personal and philosophical views?
Then there is this comment from the head of county Parks and Recreation.
Lori Taft, director of the county’s Recreation and Parks Department, said that Sports Endeavors is a valued member of the community.
“We really value their willingness to partner with us — however it goes — and also we recognize, as the board does, that Sports Endeavors is doing this as a member of the community and not as someone who wants to market themselves,” Taft said. “So we just want to keep working with them to see what we can come up with to see what will be best for both Sports Endeavors and Orange County.”
If Sports Endeavors sees the naming rights strictly as a community contribution, that’s the company’s decision to make. However, there’s nothing wrong with a business wanting to market and position itself in the community as part of a six-figure payment for naming rights. One would think the county would want to show its appreciation in a public way.
