Comcast And University Of Maryland Renaming Comcast Center
And just like that, it was gone.
A tweet by the athletic department announced that Comcast has decided to rename Comcast Center the XFINITY Center, a change that will be enacted immediately.
The arena formally known as Comcast Center...#TerpNation welcome to the @XFINITY Center! #GoTerps pic.twitter.com/Q8ph1wRyKN
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) July 28, 2014
The renaming process is expected to be completed well before the regular season begins. The school press release pegs mid-August as the time frame when the entire rebranding will be done (at no cost to the university). Maryland’s athletic department is self-funded, and as such remains at the whims of their benefactors, namely Comcast.
Needless to say, there aren’t a lot of fans too pleased with the rebranding:
.@terpstationmd - I look forward to the first bball commit to shout out "To Xfinity and Beyond!!"
— Jordan Baker (@jordanbakerIP) July 28, 2014
@terpstationmd Not like Comcast was sentimental, but this is far worse... We need to start referring to it as Gary's Court or something.
— Bryan Farrell (@bryanfarrell21) July 28, 2014
Knock it down and move back to Cole! RT "@terpstationmd: So what’s everyone’s thoughts on the renaming of Comcast Center to XFINITY?”
— Domenic A. Vadala 🇺🇸 (@DomenicVadala) July 28, 2014
@terpstationmd Buzz Lightyear loves playing there.
— sam c (@slambarrel) July 28, 2014
@terpstationmd It sucks
— CAB (@xristafer) July 28, 2014
@terpstationmd As some have already suggested, simply call it "The X" and the student section the "X-Factor" or "X-Men"...
— Ty Hayes (@TMagTerp) July 28, 2014
And that’s just a small sampling of the prevailing sentiment. Still, Maryland’s no stranger to terribly named buildings. Byrd Stadium was, at one point, Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium, which is audibly similar to gargling with gravel. And Comcast Center was known, but it wasn’t good at any point in time. Maryland’s still branded either way, this is just a new, slightly more awful, branding.
Personally, Maryland just needs to start referring to Comcast XFINITY as Garyland or Gary’s House. It’s hard to get behind Comcast, one of the lowest rated companies in the United States of America who really doesn’t like the consumer and is actively trying to shaft you. The fan base can easily just ignore the name on a grassroots level and go with something else, while the corporate sponsors get their rocks off on seeing their name announced during games. That’s business, and most big businesses aren’t too popular but they do allow your athletic department to run (even if it runs in the red).
Comcast Center, we hardly knew ye. But on the bright side, at least it’s not the KFC Yum! Center that Louisville has to hang its hat on. Have fun with that one, ACC!
(Edited to clarify that Comcast decided to change the name and Maryland agreed to said change. The university itself did not change name to XFINITY, they just did not object to the changing of the name.)