Navy Solves Budget Woes By Selling Ship Naming Rights, Launches USS Ford F-150
WASHINGTON, DC — Faced with looming budget cuts that could cost three aircraft carriers as well as a host of other ships, the U.S. Navy has been courting corporate sponsorships to pay for its fleet, sources confirmed.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus first hit on the money-making idea in a staff meeting.
“I was supposed to be getting a brief on nuclear weapons safety or something but I was mostly fooling around on my Blackberry," Mabus told reporters. "That’s when I saw Xcel Energy paid $3 million to name the arena where the Minnesota Wild plays. I never heard of the Minnesota Wild but I have heard of $3 million.”
Soon after, the secretary directed the Navy to start selling naming rights for its ships and submarines like athletic venues, with Rear Admiral Albert Updike named as the program lead.
“The first contract we signed was for FFG-54, the USS Ford, which is an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate," Updike said. "It is now known as the USS Ford F-150." That deal was for three years and netted t…
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