Members of the Easton Area School District sports booster club were offended when they learned naming rights were for sale at concession stands that were already named for club officers.
“We are surprised that this is going on without any input from our organization,” said Varsity E club president Kerry Myers in an email to lehighvalleylive.com on Monday.
The Varsity E club was assured Tuesday the stands will continue to be named for Varsity E officers even though the district will sell sponsorships for each stand.
“The names of former or current Varsity E members will remain, and a sign may be added to each concession stand identifying the name of a sponsor. For example, the Varsity E concession stand as sponsored by XYZ,” said school district Superintendent David Piperao.
The beloved, nearly-100-year-old stadium is getting a much needed rebuild. To offset the $13.3 million cost, the district is selling sponsorships. For instance, a sign over the scoreboard is $150,000 and naming rights for the press box are $100,000.
Naming rights for the two concession stands are $30,000 each.
Myers said he was ‘bombarded’ by calls from members wondering how the school district could rename stands already named for Varsity E officers.
Varsity E sells the food and maintains the stands. The stands last underwent renovations sometime between 2008 and 2012, Myers said. The work was done by the school district maintenance department but the Varsity E club paid for labor and materials, Myers said.
“Some of our folks are saying ‘You can’t name something that doesn’t belong to you,’” Myers said.
Varsity E maintains it owns the concession stands. School district solicitor John E. Freund III had no comment on that claim.
Members were aghast when the stand named for John “Odie” Odenwelder was torn down at the start of the stadium project last year, according to Myers. Concession stands named for Harry Kraus and Thomas Lisinicchia are still standing. All three men are or were managers of the concession stands.
The sales at the stands benefit student-athletes.
“100% of that money goes to student-athletes in the form of scholarships, awards and supplies,” Myers said.
The stands were built in 1948 by Varsity E members, Myers said. He’s disappointed the stands won’t be rebuilt as part of the stadium renovation. Initial stadium project bids came in around $20 million, so the school district solicited new bids. The cheaper $13.3 million stadium project doesn’t include concession stand renovations.
A new Cottingham stadium is scheduled for its debut this fall.
Myers said he’s fine with selling sponsorships for the concession stands.
“I’d be happy with that as long as our guys’ names are still a part of it,” he said.
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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Link LonkMarch 16, 2021 at 11:11PM
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Booster club raises concern over plan to sell food stand naming rights in Cottingham Stadium - lehighvalleylive.com
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