U.S. Cellular Field Will Become Guaranteed Rate Field In November
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's the same team and the same location, but now with a different ballpark name.
"I couldn't even get used to the U.S. Cellular Field," said Chicago White Sox fan Laura Myszak. "I still call it 'Comiskey Park.'"
But change don't come easy. And fans around Chicago aren't liking the name change.
Naming rights for U.S. Cellular Field were handed over to Chicago-based mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate. In November, U.S. Cellular Field will be named Guaranteed Rate Field.
"It just sounds kind of cheesy to me," fan Mike Andrade says.
Added fan Rachel Myszak: "It doesn't really roll off the tongue."
The famous Comiskey Park was dubbed U.S. Cellular Field in 2003, and some began calling it "The Cell."
The Chicago White Sox haven't disclosed how much Guaranteed Rate paid for naming rights. For context, U.S. Cellular paid $68 million for its 20-year naming rights deal.
At Wednesday night's game, as Guaranteed Rate's CEO threw the first pitch out, he was already speculating on the nickname of the newly minted field.
"Rate Field, The Rate, Go Rate, G-Rate, GR…"
The name didn't get much support on social media from White Sox fans. The Cubs and the Bears didn't waste any time trolling the new name on social media, either.