The Pondarena? : For Now, New Anaheim Facility Has Different Names for Different Sports

A compromise reached Monday means Anaheim’s new $121-million indoor sports facility will be called The Pond during hockey season and the Anaheim Arena for all other events, at least until a corporate sponsor is found.

For months, Disney, the city and Ogden Corp., the arena managers, have been unable to agree upon a single name for the new arena. Disney has been calling it The Pond at Anaheim, while the city and Ogden, fearing that name would scare off sponsors, insist on the name Anaheim Arena.

Anaheim City Manager James D. Ruth said Monday’s compromise will allow Ogden to officially name the arena if Disney doesn’t find a corporate sponsor by Dec. 31.

Also, the NHL is bending its rules for the Ducks. While the 25 other teams are allowed to license other products for their team to be sold within a 75-mile radius, Disney will be allowed to produce Duck products and sell them in the 200-plus Disney Stores without paying licensing fees. In exchange, the marketing-poor NHL will get favors from Disney, possibly including producing NHL videos.