Cal's Memorial Stadium Field to Be Named for Video Game Company

The University of California reached a naming rights deal for its football field with Kabam, a purveyor of mobile video games, reports the New York Times.

The University of California reached a naming rights deal for its football field with Kabam, a purveyor of mobile video games, reports the New York Times. Kabam Field. It really rolls off the tongue.

For as much ridicule as the Memorial Stadium field will receive for its new moniker, though, the 15-year, $18 million deal pays for a lot of bells and whistles:

Kabam, which makes “Kingdoms of Camelot” and “The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age,” but no football games, will also be establishing a scholarship program, library donations, internships, as well as executive exchanges, an “innovation lab” for developing projects, and an interactive gaming zone at the stadium.

According to Reuters, Kabam expects 2013 revenue of $325 million and plans to go public next year or later.

With Berkeley's proximity to Silicon Valley, the deal does make a lot of financial sense, but the name's just so ridiculous that all I can do is laugh.

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