What's In A Name? Quite A Bit Say Sports Fans

Newcastle United fans are up in arms after their famous stadium was re-named Sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park.

But while it may be the first instance of a ground being named after a website, the locals fans are not the only supporters who've had to endure a corporate raid on their identity.

The increasing financial demands of professional sport have led to many clubs, particularly in America, hanging a corporate sponsor's name above their stadium door.

Leicester City's ground is now known the Walkers Stadium and fans watch York City play at the Kit-Kat Crescent.

Even hugely popular clubs like Arsenal have gone down the same route, playing their matches at the Emirates Stadium.

Some sports in the US go even further - with FC Dallas never going hungry when they play at Pizza Hut Park.

And the Colorado Rapids certainly not to be laughed at when they turn out at Dick's Sporting Goods Park - or Dick's for short.

The relationship is not always a smooth one.

The Houston Astros baseball team played at Enron Park until the company was implicated in a major financial scandal and went bankrupt.

Now the Astros play at Minute Maid Park.

Newcastle's name change is at this stage only until the end of the season but it has still gone down like a lead balloon with the club's fans.

They say the rebrand has cheapened the club's reputation and heritage, particularly as St James' Park is one of Britain's oldest stadiums, dating back to 1892.

More than 16,000 supporters have now signed a petition against the plan and the issue has even been brought up in the House of Commons.

Supporters are planning to further express their anger by holding a demonstration at the Magpie's game against Peterborough United on Saturday.

It's more than likely they won't be chanting "there's only one Sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park"...