I was so hoping for a partnership with Dodge
FLUSHING, N.Y., March 18, 2013 – The New York Mets today announced a multi-year partnership with Hyundai for naming rights to the Hyundai Club, the only all-inclusive premium seating area at Citi Field.
The Hyundai Club, formerly known as the Champions Club, is located on the field level behind home plate with its 660 seats spanning to the dugouts. The all-inclusive gourmet buffet includes a daily chef selection of carved meats and pasta and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. A selection of peanuts, popcorn, fresh baked cookies and ice cream are also available.
Hyundai will have the exclusive right to showcase one of its vehicles on the Field Level concourse in front of the club for all 81 games.
The multi-year agreement is an expansion of a partnership that began last year with an outfield sign.
“We are proud to grow our relationship with Hyundai to including branding rights for one of the premiere seating locations at Citi Field,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President Business Operations. “Hyundai is the latest partner to join us for what will be an exciting All-Star season for Mets fans.”
“Citi Field provides a great venue to showcase an award-winning Hyundai line-up that continues to get even stronger,” said Ken Bloech, General Manager for Hyundai Motor America’s Eastern Region. “Over the course of the season, we look forward to having Mets’ fans enjoy games from the comfort of the Hyundai Club. We’ll also be displaying a range of vehicles from an all-new, three-row Santa Fe that’s perfect for families to a redesigned Equus sedan that delivers a higher level of refinement for the luxury segment.”
Other Corporate Partners of the Mets with naming rights for premium hospitality spaces at Citi Field include Delta Air Lines with the Delta Sky360 Club, Caesars Atlantic City with the Caesars Club, Amtrak with the Acela Club, Modell’s with the Modell’s Clubhouse and Party City with the Party City Deck.
30 comments
SaltyGary
3/18/2013-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
Soon each urinal will have a sponsor.
TX
3/18/2013-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
Sponsored by Flowmax
TX
3/19/2013-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
Maybe Target would have been more appropriate? Or Aim?
Stick
3/18/2013-8:22pm at 8:22 pm (UTC -4)
they have ads. isn’t that the same as a sponsor?
just be glad there isn’t a quarter slot on the door to get in.
SaltyGary
3/19/2013-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
That is true those things that hold the mint.
Mike Bee
3/18/2013-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
Not even close to the outrage that will ensue next week when the team unveils “Mr. Maalox.”
kingman 26
3/18/2013-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
HAHAHA! That would be horrifically appropriate.
kingman 26
3/18/2013-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, each seat in the stadium can have a sponsor! Mezzanine section 8, row C, seat 6 brought to you by TRDMB!!
In all seriousness, while I am pretty against everything on the planet being named for a corporation, the clubs at Citi are really, really great.
The Acela Club is the best stadium club I have ever been to, and I am lucky to have been to a bunch. Sitting by a wall of windows beyond left field having a surprisingly good buffet lunch before a day game while watching batting and infield practice is awesome.
The food at the Delta Club is not as good, but it is also a really nice place.
But it would be great if the Wilpons were not broke and the clubs were filled every night and making tons of dough and could be called The Seaver Club and Mex’s Landing and The Kid’s Grill and Kingman’s Klub. OK, OK, maybe that last one wouldn’t fly.
And remember, at Shea the clubs were called The Diamond Club and The Grill Room and the hallway/waiting area between them had the two WS trophies and huge pics of Met greats–it wasn’t a shrine to corporate dough.
Stick
3/18/2013-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
that would be like Shea. Remember when you would get a box seat, and it would have the little nameplate on the railing for whoever owned the season ticket on it?
always so exciting to sit in the “Joe’s body shop” Loge box!
Sylow59
3/19/2013-2:05am at 2:05 am (UTC -4)
Lol, I was at an Arkansas Travellers game many years ago and they did the same. It was a DH and it was about 105F. The stadium was empty, especially the uncovered seats. There was a guy that looked like a cross between Ernest T Bass (Andy Griffith show) and Cooter (overalls, no shirt, 5 day growth, a well stained gimmie cap, …) sitting in one of the boxes. I walked by him and the nameplate read “Dr. E. Smith, OBGYN”.
CC
3/19/2013-1:15am at 1:15 am (UTC -4)
Was in the Delta club for the July 4 game vs. The Philthies. Not a bad place at all..better than being out in the blazing sun. The carvel stand actually gave you a lot of ice cream for the money.
Sylow59
3/19/2013-1:58am at 1:58 am (UTC -4)
They all do it I think. Busch has Bud Bleachers, some BOA club and Big Mac Land (with the golden arches). Speaking on the latter – just how much better could it get for McDonalds. The whole McGwire thing (tge stretch of I-70 in downtown us McGwire Highway) and the stadium is by the Gateway Arch. If they didn’t have Big Mac land they’d be idiots
Barry
3/18/2013-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
It’s ironic that the top-of-the-line, premium seating area is named after a company synonymous with producing cheap–or shall we say, inexpensive–autos.
Hyundai is probably trying to elevate their “name” by associating it with something considered “premium”. I don’t know if it will work for them, but they probably bid the highest for the naming rights.
Long ago, I remember my shock when I saw Ed Schulz, the “Peanuts” creator sell his characters to MetLife. I thought it was an unforgivable sellout to have “Snoopy” (a part of Americana, in my opinion) shilling for MetLife.
But since then, I ceased being surprised by any of this stuff.
Stick
3/18/2013-9:33pm at 9:33 pm (UTC -4)
I think Charles was dead at that point, but don’t quote me!
Barry
3/19/2013-1:34am at 1:34 am (UTC -4)
He died in 2000. The MetLife ads started much earlier. I was still young when I first saw them, LOL.
It’s possible, he no longer had control of the characters, but I don’t think so. I kind of remember him being profiled on TV about it. But don’t quote me. LOL
And you’re right: it’s Charles, not Ed.
Sylow59
3/19/2013-2:10am at 2:10 am (UTC -4)
I was at MetLife in the late 80s and it was all over the place. I guess it started in 1985 or so. From what I remember Schultz was contracted to draw specific cartoons for MetLife. Don’t quote me, it was a long time ago.
Barry
3/19/2013-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yep, that sounds right. Around 1985. I was relatively young and impressionable. Snoopy and Charlie Brown were icons of American culture, and here he was sullying his own creation–just for a buck.
I remember thinking “Isn’t he already wealthy? Why would he do this?”
I suppose he was ahead of his time–now everyone does it. But back then it seemed so wrong.
gategem
3/19/2013-7:23am at 7:23 am (UTC -4)
According to some of the reviews I’ve seen Hyndai has significantly improved the quality of their automobiles. Wish I could say the same thing about the product the Mets are putting on the field.
I guess North Korea now has an additional target to nuke in the USA. They don’t have the technology to reach the east coast just yet but they’re getting there.
Mike Bee
3/19/2013-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
North Korean General: “Curses! The Americans have opened a Hyundai Club in New York City.”
Kim Jong-un: “Do they taunt us on purpose? Retarget the missiles!”
Prismo
3/19/2013-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
I own an ’04 Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai cars pretty consistently get good reviews and have for many years (otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it!).
TRS86
3/19/2013-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know Barry. Have you been in the car market lately? They already think very highly of themselves. Their “normal” car line (not the 18 pound disposable one) is more expensive than Nissan.
Barry
3/19/2013-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sure they have decent cars; they even part-own the luxury line: Kia. But I was referring to the “perception”.
I think most people still think of Hyundai as for the masses–not for those looking for “luxury”. Remember “Hyundai”–it rhymes with “Sundae”. Or did they mean “Sunday”?
darknova306
3/18/2013-9:28pm at 9:28 pm (UTC -4)
Just wait for the Wilpons to look to get some GM sponsorship in the hope of nabbing some Federal bailout money…
CC
3/19/2013-1:10am at 1:10 am (UTC -4)
If you live in upstate Ny or sw Fla, the name Billy Fucillo is hard to avoid
Billy has sold the most Hyundai’s and Kia’s in the country. Don’t be surprised if you see Billy’s puss somewhere at Shea 2.0 in the near future.
kingman 26
3/19/2013-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
I live in Saratoga and I feel like I know Billy Fucillo as well as I know my family.
I know a guy who knows a top salesman of his, and supposedly Billy is a great guy who comes in early and works his tail off, gives great bonuses and benefits, etc.
But really, he must spend more on advertising than McDonald’s.
Prismo
3/19/2013-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
ITS GONNA BE HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE
SaltyGary
3/19/2013-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Is this the guy with the stupid commercials that I hear on WFAN?
gategem
3/19/2013-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
You may be thinking of Brad Benson Hyundai in NJ. Benson at one time was an OL for the NY Giants.
kingman 26
3/19/2013-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
HUUUUUUUU—-JUH!
Even though he is so loud and somewhat obnoxious, there’s something endearing about him…he seems like a real person.
darknova306
3/19/2013-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Fucillo. Living in upstate NY for my whole life, I basically grew up with those commercials. While I always found them really annoying, you gotta admit that the advertising works, and it’s always a nice thing to see someone build a business from the ground up and be successful.
And he’s always out there, traveling around all the dealerships, doing his own advertising. He’s not just sitting in an office counting money.