Infocision Stadium Nicknamed ‘The Pouch’
Coming soon to Infocision Stadium on Summa Field
Northeast Ohio has had stadiums in the past named the Rubber Bowl, Municipal Stadium, the Coliseum, Gund Arena, and Jacob’s Field. However many of today’s Northeast Ohio stadiums include corporate naming conventions; these include Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field, and the yet to be completed Infocision Stadium at the University of Akron.
(It’s notable that both Akron’s Canal Park and Cleveland’s Cleveland Browns Stadium have yet to succumb to such corporate or marketing pressures.)
A National Trend
This decade has seen facilities open with names such as Conseco Fieldhouse, Pac-Bell Park, Pepsi Arena, Enron Field, Miller Park, Target Center, Citizens Bank Park, Invesco Field, Amway Arena, Staples Center, Gillette Stadium, and the United Center. What happened to stadiums like Candlestick Park, Mile-High Stadium, the Boston Garden, Joe Robby Stadium, 3 Rivers Stadium, and the Astrodome?
Clearly the Rubber Bowl communicated the defining characteristic of Akron, Ohio in the 1920’s. Does a telemarketing firm like Infocision symbolize Akron today? Do corporate names really mean anything to out of town visitors or the community at large?
Akron Corporate $
Both Infocision and Summa are bright spots in Summit county. Infocision is completing plans on a brand new campus north of Montrose within the Akron JEDD and Summa continues to succeed as the county’s largest employer. But do these two health care and telemarketing names resonate with the city, students, and region? They haven’t quite achieved Rubber status yet.
Infocision Stadium and Summa Field are boring names for a place to play a college football game, a high school football game, or any game for that matter. The name sounds disturbingly cold, corporate, and not like a fun place to spend a day. Say it aloud – Infocision Stadium and Summa Field. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. The name is rather easy to forget and that is precisely why there needs to be a nickname.
Call the new stadium “The Pouch.”
The current stadium may as well be called Initech Stadium (see Office Space). Should the Zips change their mascot from a kangaroo to a telemarketer? How about the Akron Middle Managers? Or the Akron Anesthetists?
Officially the checks have been cashed and the steel has been raised. The official stadium signs are probably designed and fabricated. But unofficially the people will decide the true name. Clearly “The Pouch” is the ideal nickname.
“InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field” didn’t roll off the tongue of the announcer, the Athletic Director or the school President in the closing ceremony at the Rubber Bowl, either. The name was butchered more than once over the failing, crackling loudspeakers while a last tribute was payed to the RB.
By kurchev on November 18, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I could care less what the place is called. The only thing that matters to me is if the stadium attracts top talent which results in a competitive team. I am also hopeful that the attendance improves because right now it is pathetic for a D1 program. Too many Buckeye fans, not enough Zips fans. Hopefully that will change in the coming years.
By Craig on January 22, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I too couldn’t care less about the official name of the stadium. Although I appreciate InfoCision’s and Summa’s contribution, two things that matter to me most are its success (like Craig) and that it is referred to as The University of Akron Stadium. Let’s ensure that UA’s name is always associated with the stadium and not fall into the trap that many in Akron have done with The University of Akron E.J. Thomas Hall or The University of Akron Bliss Institute. I like the way this site consistently mentions The University of Akron when mentioning these and other UA facilities.
By bilbo on January 31, 2009 at 5:35 pm