Brewers adopt Potawatomi name

Brewers, Potawatomi announce new dealYou used to know them as the Milwaukee Brewers. Now they're Milwaukee Brewers Baseball presented by Potawatomi Bingo Casino.

In a first for the Brewers' franchise and for professional sports in Wisconsin, the franchise and the casino announced Thursday a multi-year presenting sponsor partnership that will cover virtually every aspect of Brewers baseball at Miller Park.

Details of the agreement were not released, but it is believed the revenue coming to the Brewers is second only to the Brewers' naming rights agreement with MillerCoors. MillerCoors pays the Brewers $2.06 million a year for that right.

The Potawatomi name and logo will be evident everywhere: on game tickets, on the 117 Miller Park plaza light poles, on an outfield wall, on the tops of the home and visiting dugouts, and on the rotational signs and LED boards inside the stadium. The casino name will also be repeated endlessly on radio and television.Comment:  I hate sellout names such as "Milwaukee Brewers Baseball presented by Potawatomi Bingo Casino." If I were a media outlet, I'd refuse to use these names. We're not obligated to give free publicity to corporate entities even if they want us to.

But from the Potawatomi perspective, I'd say it's a smart move. Getting your name into the popular culture--whether it's via movies, sports teams, concerts, or comic books--is the way to go. Millions of people will learn about the Potawatomi through this deal.

For more on the subject, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.

Below:  "The Brewers’ deal with the casino doesn’t include the tribe’s name on the team caps, but it is very extensive."