Northville accepting naming-rights bids for stadium; should P-CCS do likewise?
Northville Public Schools is accepting naming-rights bids for its recently-renovated athletic stadium on Eight Mile Road.
Northville Public Schools has announced an opportunity for local businesses to secure the naming rights to its recently-renovated athletic stadium located at 504 W. Eight Mile Road, across the street from Hillside Middle School.
Known as Tom Holzer Field since 2012, the first-class venue was referred to Eight Mile Field for its first 38 years of existence.
Requirements of the naming-rights deal include a a 10-year period with a minimum proposal value of $300,000. The naming-rights deal Tom Holzer, a Farmington Hills auto dealership, signed with NPS in 2012 was $250,000 for 10 years.
Deadline for bids
Bids must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2024. Proposals can be sent electronically to Mr. Michael Zopf, assistant superintendent of finance & operations at: zopfmi@northvilleschools.org.
“This initiative aims to foster community partnerships and support the robust athletic programming at NPS,” the district explained on a social-media post.
Benefits for naming-rights candidates include:
- Prominent placement of the sponsor’s logo on signs at the stadium’s north and south entrances and on the scoreboard.
- A full-page, full-color advertisement in the football program annually.
- Opportunities for LED advertising messages during all events at the stadium.
- The option to set up displays during stadium events, ensuring safety and visibility; and
- Four athletic passes to all home varsity sporting events each year.
Should Plymouth-Canton Schools follow suit?
NPS’s ambitious fund-raising project comes at a time when Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is building a third athletic stadium on its Plymouth-Canton Educational Park campus, which leads to the question: Should P-CCS initiate a naming rights proposal for each of its three stadiums? Meijer Stadium and IKEA Field kind of have a nice ring to them compared to the current West Turf Field and East Turf Field.
An influx of funding for the P-CEP’s athletic programs would be a much-needed shot in the arm for several “Park” athletic programs that are still waiting for facility improvements from the successful 2020 bond approval.
The most notable improvements needed include restroom facilities (other than porta-johns) near the Canton High School baseball field and P-CEP grass soccer field. The Canton High School softball facility is also in dire need of upgrades, according to people who follow the Chiefs/Cobras softball program.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
