The name game

Harrisburg’s RiverSide Stadium on Opening Day 1987

Harrisburg mayor Stephen Reed announces 39 years ago today the Senators’ new ballpark on City Island will be called RiverSide Stadium when the team begins play in 1987.

Reed also names the playing surface “All-American Field,” but that name never sticks and is quickly forgotten.

Over the years, Reed says he gladly would sell the naming rights to the ballpark for the right price.

Does not happen for 17 years, though.

Finally, Commerce Bank ponies up $3.5 million to pay for stadium improvements with the proviso that it also gets the ballpark’s naming rights.

“We always had an interest in selling the naming rights,” Reed says before the ballpark’s rechristening in 2004. “Why not?

“Ask most taxpayers which they would have, ‘Keep the name RiverSide Stadium and you pay the $3.5 million [for the upgrades] or let Commerce Bank Park exist and they pay it? It’s almost a no-brainer.”

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