Dome Commission Rejects Mignon Faget’s
Bid For Stadium Naming Rights

CBD — Despite months of anticipation, there will be no FagetDome playing host to Saints games or Sugar Bowls.

Today, the Superdome Commission announced that it has rejected a multi-million dollar bid from local jewelry maker Mignon Faget for naming rights to the 30-year old sports stadium.

The proposed bid, rumored to be “well above market value,” according to a party with knowledge of the offer, was rejected by commission officials due to concerns about “fit and image.”

In a written statement, newly appointed commission chairman Gaston Laborde said:

“While the offer certainly represented a more than generous offer on the part of the company, is is our view that the two organizations’ are not a good match at this time.”

The practice of corporate naming rights for stadiums has become common, especially when the company has local ties. Examples include Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

Both companies have corporate headquarters in relative proximity to the teams and stadiums they sponsor.

Laborde, while acknowledging that Faget’s company has strong local ties, expressed concerns about matching a trendy jewelry company with an arena whose primary tenant is an NFL franchise.

“I mean, really, can you image in the NFL Countdown guys saying ‘Big game this afternoon at the Fag’? We can’t have that.”

A spokeman for Faget company could not be reached for comment.