"University of Phoenix Stadium"

[Derm]

Clif, were you kicked out of their school or something?

You can only get kicked out if your check bounces.

 

[Mainstreet]

How about the Arizona Cardinals of Phoenix??!!

Just like the new Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...

I don't mind. I'm just having fun with the possibilities.

What if we call them the Arizona Cardinals of the University of Phoenix.

 

[Bada0Bing]

You can only get kicked out if your check bounces.

So, I guess Clif can't balance a check book?

I'm not trying to defend the school, but if you're trying to challenge the financial health of the company, it sounds really dumb.

 

[bigredjane]

University of Phoenix Stadium "A reseach institute devoted to curing yellowflagus, interceptus, & fumbleitus"

 

[clif]

And, although I understand your point about the success rate, I'm not sure we're comparing apples to oranges. This is a corporate-owned entity, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing when it comes to success in education.

Exactly, it’s a private school. I guess I just don’t understand the statements regarding the bottom line of UOP. Clif, do you follow business in the phoenix area? I’m not sure what you have heard about the UOP lawsuit, but it will not materially affect their profit. This school is making major bucks.

I disagree with you regarding them being out of business in 10 or 20 years, but I guess time will tell. Clif, were you kicked out of their school or something?

Keep the insults coming. I have never attended UofP and have no intention of doing so. If you want to ignore the lawsuit then go right ahead. I am not saying the allegations are true or untrue but in the game of sports it’s all about perceptions. The perception is that UofP is running a fraudulent operation. Is that an indictment of everyone involved? No but when you are the Cards with eons of losing and negative perception you cannot attach yourself to a negative brand plain and simple. I get it. Your buddies work there so they must be legit. Can’t debate the issue without trying to insult me?

 

[TruColor]

One tidbit from the AZ-STA site:

The board of directors of the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, the owner and operator of the facility, will have to approve the deal in a yet-to-be scheduled board meeting next month.

Can't imagine they'd have a problem with it, but COULD they say "no" to the name? Sounds like it would be within their rights...

 

[abomb]

Keep the insults coming. I have never attended UofP and have no intention of doing so. If you want to ignore the lawsuit then go right ahead. I am not saying the allegations are true or untrue but in the game of sports it’s all about perceptions. The perception is that UofP is running a fraudulent operation. Is that an indictment of everyone involved? No but when you are the Cards with eons of losing and negative perception you cannot attach yourself to a negative brand plain and simple. I get it. Your buddies work there so they must be legit. Can’t debate the issue without trying to insult me?

I echo these concerns as well, but the price the Cardinals got changes things imo.

Earlier I mentioned branding, and while I am not a marketing expert, it is hard to fathom associating your product (the Cardinals) which has a terrible reputation and horrible history in the shiniest of leagues with a sponsor that brings little but negative relations to your product (the lawsuits, the "diploma-mill" label, the fact that it makes our stadium and team sound minor league). But once again, the price was right, so who am I to complain. The team and we fans cant complain when "the media disrespects us" or "when will people understand things are changing here with the Cardinals".

 

[asudevil83]

i just love how ironic this is.

you have the lowly cardinals stuck playing in a college stadium for over a decade. they FINALLY get their own stadium, only to have it named after a college only 3 weeks into the season

 

[Ryanwb]

My father was a teacher for UofP and my wife was an accountant. Both echoed the same statements that UofP pushes students through and have no regard whether they get an education but rather their check clears.

My wife especially says they use "questionable" tactics that prey on the likes of teachers like enrolling them in classes before financial aid comes through pretty much guaranteeing that they will be accepted. Those who do not get a nice little collection letter within 2 weeks saying they need to pay $3000.00

Shady, shady place

 

[clif]

I echo these concerns as well, but the price the Cardinals got changes things imo.

Earlier I mentioned branding, and while I am not a marketing expert, it is hard to fathom associating your product (the Cardinals) which has a terrible reputation and horrible history in the shiniest of leagues with a sponsor that brings little but negative relations to your product (the lawsuits, the "diploma-mill" label, the fact that it makes our stadium and team sound minor league). But once again, the price was right, so who am I to complain. The team and we fans cant complain when "the media disrespects us" or "when will people understand things are changing here with the Cardinals".

I agree. The price has exceeded my expectations. So there is some good in all this. I honestly was not thaaattt upset but I just got ticked when someone tried to insult me because their boys work at the U.

 

[abomb]

My father was a teacher for UofP and my wife was an accountant. Both echoed the same statements that UofP pushes students through and have no regard whether they get an education but rather their check clears.

My wife especially says they use "questionable" tactics that prey on the likes of teachers like enrolling them in classes before financial aid comes through pretty much guaranteeing that they will be accepted. Those who do not get a nice little collection letter within 2 weeks saying they need to pay $3000.00

Shady, shady place

Funny you should mention that. I rarely a bad thing to say about UoP, since having attended UA and ASU, I didnt want to come across as a total ass, but I have countless friends that have gone to UoP and they all say the same thing; pay your money, get your paper.

 

[Ryanwb]

Funny you should mention that. I rarely a bad thing to say about UoP, since having attended UA and ASU, I didnt want to come across as a total ass, but I have countless friends that have gone to UoP and they all say the same thing; pay your money, get your paper.

My father said the curriculum was a total joke. They (UofP) know all the rules and bend them completely without breaking them. Students have to meet face to face a certain amount of times for it to be legal college credit. The school set it up so it's "on their honor" and he said nobody ever met. Also the topics are so vanilla and easy that a high school student should breeze right through

 

[Ryanwb]

One last thing and I'll leave this topic.... A co-worker of my wife called ABC 15 to report some of the not so nice tactics they were pushing and apparently within 24 hours, the girl was fired and a non disclosure agreement circulated the office. I convinced her to quit shortly after that so I don't know what has changed

 

[Bada0Bing]

Keep the insults coming. I have never attended UofP and have no intention of doing so. If you want to ignore the lawsuit then go right ahead. I am not saying the allegations are true or untrue but in the game of sports it’s all about perceptions. The perception is that UofP is running a fraudulent operation. Is that an indictment of everyone involved? No but when you are the Cards with eons of losing and negative perception you cannot attach yourself to a negative brand plain and simple. I get it. Your buddies work there so they must be legit. Can’t debate the issue without trying to insult me?

I think UOP is a horrible brand to associate with. I thought that I made that clear.

I didn’t mean to insult you. I apologize. I guess I was trying to make a point and didn’t do it very well. I don’t normally post on controversial topics, so call me a newbie

I’m just really interested in people’s comments regarding the financial health of UOP. It has nothing to do with the people that I know that work there. The “lawsuit” is totally irrelevant. It has no impact on the financial bottom line (IMO). (I don’t work for them, so I’m just going off of the data that I have received)

I think it's a good move by UOP. I think their school sucks, but this is a good move.

 

[Bada0Bing]

My father said the curriculum was a total joke. They (UofP) know all the rules and bend them completely without breaking them. Students have to meet face to face a certain amount of times for it to be legal college credit. The school set it up so it's "on their honor" and he said nobody ever met. Also the topics are so vanilla and easy that a high school student should breeze right through

I pretty much agree with this. Their curriculum is pretty much a joke in my opinion. However, they still make a lot of money. I guess I’m confused. Are we debating if UOP is a good school, or a good company?

 

[clif]

I think UOP is a horrible brand to associate with. I thought that I made that clear.

I didn’t mean to insult you. I apologize. I guess I was trying to make a point and didn’t do it very well. I don’t normally post on controversial topics, so call me a newbie

I’m just really interested in people’s comments regarding the financial health of UOP. It has nothing to do with the people that I know that work there. The “lawsuit” is totally irrelevant. It has no impact on the financial bottom line (IMO). (I don’t work for them, so I’m just going off of the data that I have received)

I think it's a good move by UOP. I think their school sucks, but this is a good move.

And I can agree that it's a good move by UofP, but a bad PR move by the Cards. Great financially, unless UofP loses this lawsuit and suddenly can't pony up. There absolutely had to be SOMEONE else that had a cleaner image. Maybe not as deep of pockets, but would give off a better vibe than this.

 

[abomb]

I pretty much agree with this. Their curriculum is pretty much a joke in my opinion. However, they still make a lot of money. I guess I’m confused. Are we debating if UOP is a good school, or a good company?

My stance is that they are not a good school, are a good business in the profit standpoint and ability to deflect lawsuits and a terrible associate of our laughable Cardinals. But money talks (and it's doing a lot of talking) and who am I to complain.

 

[Derm]

It could've been worse:

Welcome to 'Arthur Andersen field at Enron Stadium' brought to you by the car of the future: 'Yugo'

 

[clif]

I pretty much agree with this. Their curriculum is pretty much a joke in my opinion. However, they still make a lot of money. I guess I’m confused. Are we debating if UOP is a good school, or a good company?

Somewhere in the middle. They obviously know how to make money but is what their doing legal? I honestly don't know about their programs. I have an idea because I have taken classes online with another school and thought the same things mentioned here with the other school. The classes are cake and I felt I was just paying for a degree and not learning anything. I really felt I was not being told anything that I didn't already know.

Morally I think they are wrong and that is enough for me not to want that name of my stadium if I'm the Cardinals.

 

[jenna2891]

And I can agree that it's a good move by UofP, but a bad PR move by the Cards. Great financially, unless UofP loses this lawsuit and suddenly can't pony up. There absolutely had to be SOMEONE else that had a cleaner image. Maybe not as deep of pockets, but would give off a better vibe than this.

upon reflection, i see no reason why bigger, more desirable companies (from the card's standpoint) aren't in a bidding war over this. as was already pointed out here:

The Superbowl alone makes it worth it. UoP will get mentioned several times during the telecast of the superbowl to an enormous audience.

Absolutely. I can't find the 2006 numbers, but in 2005, advertisers were charged 2.4M for only 30 seconds of commercial airtime.

off-setting super bowl advertising costs would alone make this a worthwhile deal.

 

[CardLogic]

I’m just really interested in people’s comments regarding the financial health of UOP. It has nothing to do with the people that I know that work there. The “lawsuit” is totally irrelevant. It has no impact on the financial bottom line (IMO).

Dependant upon the outcome of the legal action, it could be relevant to UoP's bottom line by forcing them to change their business practices, and moreso; as has been mentioned; by stripping them of their accreditation. Without accreditation UoP would lose the majority of their enrollment base, and thus their income. Further, without accreditation UoP would no longer qualify as a school acceptable for recipients of federal college loan programs.

 

[clif]

upon reflection, i see no reason why bigger, more desirable companies (from the card's standpoint) aren't in a bidding war over this. as was already pointed out here:



off-setting super bowl advertising costs would alone make this a worthwhile deal.

And this is another thing that gets me. Why won't the Cards say who else was really in the running? Are they trying to tell us it was between UOP and Pink Taco? No one else?

 

[Bada0Bing]

Dependant upon the outcome of the legal action, it could be relevant to UoP's bottom line by forcing them to change their business practices, and moreso; as has been mentioned; by stripping them of their accreditation. Without accreditation UoP would lose the majority of their enrollment base, and thus their income. Further, without accreditation UoP would no longer qualify as a school acceptable for recipients of federal college loan programs.

But, don’t you think that this naming rights deal would signify that they are not concerned with the lawsuit?

Once again, I hate the school, and the name. However, I'm in finance, and this company is kicking butt financially. I won't waste your time posting stuff, I'll just say "kicking butt".

 

[clif]

But, don’t you think that this naming rights deal would signify that they are not concerned with the lawsuit?

Once again, I hate the school, and the name. However, I'm in finance, and this company is kicking butt financially. I won't waste your time posting stuff, I'll just say "kicking butt".

Same thing could be said about Enron. When you are corrupt and raking in billions your judgement gets clouded. You think you will never get caught but eventually you always do.

Again I don't know if any of the allegations are true, but the Cards should have been no where near this subject in the first place.

 

[Bada0Bing]

And this is another thing that gets me. Why won't the Cards say who else was really in the running? Are they trying to tell us it was between UOP and Pink Taco? No one else?

Okay, you hate me already, so I'll say it. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Note to Clif: don't talk about people that you're negotiating with. I learned that in BUS 101 at ASU, but I'm sure that they also teach it at UOP.