Cal Poly’s field at Spanos Stadium has a new name — and it’s 11 words long

Somebody alert the folks at Guinness World Records; Cal Poly may have just set the title for world’s longest football field name.

The new name, announced on Friday, is Mustang Memorial Field Presented by Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center.

At 11 words, it’s a real mouthful. In fact, it’s hard to get the whole thing out without stopping in the middle to take a breath.

The new name is for the field only. Alex G. Spanos Stadium remains the name for the facility.

Dignity Health purchased the naming rights for the next 10 years for $70,000 per year, according to Eric Burdick, associate director of athletics for communications.

As you’d expect, Dignity Health’s investment meant it got to decide how much or how little of their brand they wanted to include. Turns out, they decided all of it.

We get that they wanted their money’s worth, but have the folks over at Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center never heard of doing a little blue-pencil editing?

For instance, doesn’t “Dignity Field” have a nice ring?

Or were they afraid something simple would be too confusing, since there’s already the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson — home to the L.A. Galaxy Major League Soccer team?

We get that they wanted something unique to San Luis Obispo, but 11 words?

Dignity will be lucky if anybody can even remember them all. Not that many people will actually say all 11 words.

Maybe game-day announcers will be obligated to occasionally use the full name.

French Hospital dignitaries may use it to impress.

And it might be required at graduation ceremonies — but maybe not at rodeos, which are also held at the stadium, when the actual field is covered with dirt..

In casual conversation, though, it’s likely to be shortened. Mustang Field is the simplest abbreviation, which ironically leaves Dignity Health and French Hospital completely out of the picture.

Written communications are another story; Cal Poly would like the full name used on first reference.

That would make for some awfully clunky leads for sports writers.

“Cal Poly posted a big win Saturday at Mustang Memorial Field Presented by Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center.”

That doesn’t exactly sing.

Fortunately, after the first reference, Mustang Memorial Field is fine with Cal Poly, while Spanos Stadium remains a good option.

That’s fitting, since the word “memorial” honors the victims of a 1960 plane crash that occurred when the Mustang football team was returning from a game in Ohio. Of the 48 passengers aboard, 22 died in the crash, including 16 players and the team’s student manager.

By all means, keep “memorial” in the name.

But 11 words? That’s at least seven too many.

So what do you say, Dignity Health?

How about you do the dignified thing and take out your blue pencil?

This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 5:30 AM.