February 25, 2005
FleetCenter will become the 'JimmyFundCenter' for a day
On Tuesday, March 1, the FleetCenter will become the 'JimmyFundCenter'... settling (for now) a more than 25-year rivalry between two Harvard alums. Delaware North Companies negotiated an amicable settlement on the single-day FleetCenter naming rights.
Kerry Konrad, a New York City lawyer, paid $2,325 for the single-day naming rights, and requested name (the Derek Jeter Center) to needle his Massachusetts buddies. The name was rejected by FleetCenter executives.
Jerry Rappaport, Jr., of Needham, Mass., offered to trump his buddy's intial bid by donating an additional $6,275 to the charitable effort. The grand total of $8,600, in recognition of the 86-year-old broken curse, will go directly to the Jimmy Fund. It is expected that both friends will be together at the JimmyFundCenter on March 1st to present their donation to the charity.
"The Jimmy Fund is a charity that transcends the biggest rivalry in sports,which is fitting as cancer affects everyone," said Mike Andrews, chairman of the Jimmy Fund and former Red Sox second baseman (1967). "Although it's the official Red Sox charity, George Steinbrenner has been a vocal supporter and through our annual WEEI Radiothon presented by NESN has joined Joe Torre to contribute."
Others in the Boston and New York communities can also contribute to the Jimmy Fund's great work by logging on to www.JimmyFund.org.
For more information about the FleetCenter's naming rights opportunity, please log onto www.FleetCenter.com.
