For San Francisco Giants, PacBell Park Has Ring to It

The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday that its proposed waterfront ballpark will be known as Pacific Bell Park under a $50-million, 24-year agreement with the telecommunications company.

The Giants called the deal with PacBell “one of the largest and most comprehensive strategic alliances of its kind in the history of professional sports.”

It puts the Giants halfway toward a goal of $100 million in corporate sponsorship, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which reported the agreement Wednesday.

The agreement includes a baseball museum and a children’s learning center at the proposed stadium. Pacific Bell also will supply the ballpark with audio jacks in seats, in-seat food ordering capabilities, pay phones, a long-distance calling center and cellular phone rental.

The announcement followed by two days the news that Pacific Telesis Group, PacBell’s parent company, would merge with SBC Communications Inc. The parent company will be based in San Antonio. But PacBell will remain based in San Francisco.

Last week, San Francisco voters gave initial approval for zoning changes needed for the ballpark. The Giants hope to have it ready at the proposed China Basin site in time for opening day in 2000.