With the economy in the tank, several sports venues could be impacted. In Philadelphia, the Wachovia Center, home to the NBA's 76ers and the NHL's Flyers could undergo a name change about Wachovia was recently sold to Citigroup. Comcast-Spectacor officials were meeting with their lawyers reviewing the likely impact of the purchase on naming rights to the Wachovia Center. Comcast-Spectacor President & COO Peter Luukko: "In our agreement, if the bank is sold, then the naming rights go to the new owner." But DiStefano noted Wachovia "hasn't been sold, just split up." Citigroup would "replace Wachovia as Philadelphia's top bank, raising the possibility Citi may want the naming rights if Wachovia wants out and Comcast-Spectator is agreeable".

In Brooklyn, according to the NY Post, Nets Owner and Forest City Ratner CEO Bruce Ratner yesterday said that his plan to break ground on the $4B Atlantic Yards Project, including the Nets' $950M Barclays Center, this December "has been pushed back at least another six months.” As a result the team won't be able to move to Brooklyn until at least 2011. With the delay, the Nets' $400M naming-rights deal with Barclays is "up in the air now," because the deal "was contingent on Ratner's having his entire project financing set by the end of November." You may recall that the Nets, who are co-owned by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z are hoping to make a serious run at signing LeBron James when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2010. They were also hoping to open the Barclays Center in the fall of 2010 and unveil their new superstar at the same time.

Now that plan seems to be in serious jeopordy. You can bet that if the $400M naming rights deal from Barclays goes away, the Nets will have to rethink this entire project - and their ability to sign someone like James to a max contract.