United offers to withdraw from naming rights deal for LA Memorial Coliseum
United Airlines has offered to walk away from a $69 million deal it inked last year to rename the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It was to be renamed to the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum but the deal has come under intense criticism from veterans and city officials, saying a corporate renaming is disrespectful.
The Coliseum is a memorial which honors World War I veterans.
The renaming is part of a $270 million renovation and if is not acceptable it will withdraw and the agreement should be terminated.
In a letter to the University of Southern California, which co-owns the facility with the city and manages it, United said it is making ‘a significant commitment to financing this project’ and is mindful of the need to keep the words ‘Memorial Coliseum’ to honor veterans.
"If USC is not in a position to honor the terms of the agreement, including in particular the name change, United would be amenable to abiding by the wishes of the community, stepping away from this partnership with USC, and mutually terminating the agreement," it said.
USC said renaming it to ‘United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’ would be an acceptable compromise.
In a newspaper op-ed, LA County supervisor Janice Hahn criticized the deal last week.
"Removing ‘Los Angeles’ and replacing it with a corporate sponsor insults the memories of those the Coliseum was intended to honor," wrote Hahn.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive