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Jed Boal ReportingThe Utah Jazz tipped off a new era tonight in a newly re- christened arena.
The Delta Center is now the EnergySolutions Arena. But some fans are not cheering.
Many fans did not know about the name change until they got to the arena tonight. Others knew about the change to EnergySolutions Arena and weren't happy.
According to an exclusive Survey USA poll for Eyewitness News, 40 percent of Utahns have heard of EnergySolutions.
"I don't know what they do or anything."
"I don't like it, to tell you the truth. I like Delta Center, but I understand why they changed it."
Of those who've heard of EnergySolutions, 9 percent say they now have a better opinion of the company. 27-percent have a worse opinion.
"I'm not in favor of radioactive waste in Utah, which is what EnergySolutions is about. They can pitch it and spin it however they want, but it's still radioactive waste in Utah."
Nearly 60-percent say the Jazz- EnergySolutions partnership is bad for Utah's image. 13-percent think it's good.
"I think they perform a great service. What are you going to do with all that stuff unless somebody with knowledge processes it."
"The fact that they went with a waste disposal company that specializes in radioactive waste surprised me. You have the Toyota Center, the Target Center, now the Waste Center."
But EnergySolutions teamed up to tone down the controversy.
Steve Creamer/EnergySolutions: "We're not the polluters. We're the guys who clean up. I've spent my career cleaning up America, and we plan to continue doing that."
Bottom line when asked about the name, 82 percent say they prefer the old name. Change is hard.
For Larry Miller it's about revenue.
In that same Survey USA poll, 41 percent of those polled said it was a "bad" trend for pro sports to name its venues for corporate sponsors. 45 percent said it made no difference.
