Tennessee Vols fans OK with renaming Thompson-Boling Arena, but leave Neyland Stadium alone

Many Tennessee fans have accepted that their basketball facility will now be called Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center because UT got $20 million for the naming rights.

Food City is a supermarket chain popular in East Tennessee and associated with UT athletics for decades. And money from the deal will fund renovations and upgrade fan experiences at the basketball arena.

"It keeps the traditional name, ... and the university gets $20M to invest in facilities," a UT fan said. "And recruits like shiny new things. Win-win!"

But fans wouldn’t be so understanding if UT tried to attach a corporate sponsor to Neyland Stadium, the Vols’ football facility named for their iconic former coach.

That’s where they draw the line.

“No problem with it. (Food City) is a local company with a longtime tradition of supporting Tennessee,” one fan said. “But never sell naming rights to Neyland, no matter what the offer is.”

Another fan said “it’s the cost of doing business and reaching championships. I think we gotta trust the AD (Danny White). However, if (the football stadium) is anything other than Neyland Stadium, I think I’ll get physically sick.”

Mustard bottles sold at arena?

More than 100 UT fans reacted to the naming rights deal in Knox News’ Vols text group. Some were frustrated by the news.

"It sucks out loud!" one fan said.

Other fans reacted with jokes.

“If they pay me 20 (million), I’ll name my next kid Food Club Brand,” a fan said, referring to Food City’s store brand.

"Will Food City have a booth that sells mustard bottles at TBA?,” said another fan, referring to the French’s mustard bottle that, presumably, a UT fan tossed on the field during the Vols’ football game against Ole Miss in 2021.

And, yes, Food City sells that exact French’s mustard bottle.

But the overwhelming reaction was that fans were OK with the naming right deals, as long as the same isn’t done to Neyland Stadium.

'Neyland Pilot Truck stop'

Neyland Stadium, UT’s iconic 101,915-seat football facility, obviously would draw the biggest payday in a potential naming rights deal. But there’s been no open discussion about that possibility.

Fans cringed as they offered potential future sponsorships.

“What’s next? Welcome to Garza Law’s Neyland Stadium,” a fan said.

Two other fans, with gritted teeth, suggested “Neyland Pilot Truck stop” and “Neyland Stadium at Pilot Oil Shields-Watkins Field.”

Thompson-Boling Arena may not be the last UT facility to take on a corporate name.

In June, the UT Board of Trustees approved a $95.8 million renovation budget to Lindsey Nelson Stadium, where the Vols play baseball. Among the projected revenues was nearly $8 million in naming rights.

That does not mean UT will rename Lindsey Nelson Stadium, named for the late legendary broadcaster Lindsey Nelson. But it does open the possibility as part of UT's plan to fund the stadium renovations, which began in August.

One fan offered his theory about the timing of the Thompson-Boling Arena naming rights deal.

“(White) didn't start this name selling business with Neyland, their crown jewel, despite desperately needing money to spruce up that stadium,” the fan said. “I believe they were not wanting to make a mistake if this type of naming agreement doesn't go over well.

"It's the toe in the water to test the temperature. If there is limited stink with this, the administration will get more aggressive in bargaining away rights to other facilities in the future.”

For what it's worth, fans like Food City

If UT was going to put a brand name on its basketball arena, fans think Food City is a good one.

“Why not? (It is) a wholesome company image,” one fan said.

Another fan said he preferred that Food City be on the arena than other brands because it “has been a longtime supporter of UT.”

Food City, a family-owned supermarket chain popular in East Tennessee and headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, has been a sponsor of UT athletics since 1997. It traces its roots to a store in Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1918.

“Bring on the groceries!” a fan said in celebration.

But no more jokes about Kentucky’s Kroger Field

Commonwealth Stadium, where Kentucky plays football, was renamed Kroger Field in 2017. It was a 12-year naming rights deal worth $22.2 million.

UT fans ridiculed UK with grocery store jokes because of that stadium name. But fans lamented that those days are over.

“Not a fan of this,” a fan said. “Vol faithful have unmercifully made fun of UK’s Kroger Field, and now, we have the same for Thompson-Boling.”

At least UT got a more lucrative deal. It will rake in $2 million per year.

UK got $1.85 million per year from Kroger. And UK renamed its iconic basketball facility Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center for $1.5 million annually.

“The reality is selling naming rights is a fact of modern college sports,” another fan said. “We either get on board or get left behind.”

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee fans OK with renaming basketball arena, not football stadium