The on-line dating website SugarDaddie.com has offered to buy naming rights to the city of Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County for $3.75 million, but the city isn’t selling.
The press release says the “offer” was sent to Sugar Hill Mayor Gary Pirkle and other unnamed government officials “in writing.” But Pirkle said the only thing he got on Sunday was the press release — the same one sent to local media.
“I think this has probably been good publicity for them, and it’s wasted a half day or more for me,” Pirkle said. “I don’t think it’s anything we’d be interested in.”
But negotiations appeared to be heating up Monday afternoon.
Pirkle sent an e-mail to Pop Culture Public Relations, the company that e-mailed the press release Sunday night, saying the city appreciated the offer but was “unable to accept.”
“We will be celebrating our city’s 75th anniversary next year, so we are already committed to keeping the name Sugar Hill,” Pirkle wrote. “As a counter offer, we would be willing to name Sugar Daddy as our official city candy bar for the next 10 years — for only $2 million.”
Darrern Shuster, of Pop Culture Public Relations, took the counter-offer in stride.
“I’m coming to town Thursday to counter their counter offer,” Shuster said.
And what will that offer be?
“I have no idea, but it will be something creative,” he said.
According to the press release, the 10-year agreement would cause Sugar Hill to change its name to SugarDaddie.com, USA. In addition, the city would have to change it name on letterhead and all official correspondence, and would change its logo. Signs around the city would also need to be changed.
The Sugar Hill Golf Course would be called SugarDaddie Greens; E.E. Robinson Park would become SugarDaddie.com Park.
Sugar Hill City Manager Bob Hail said the city has an $8 million general fund and is financially “stable.” He said it’s hard to know if the offer was real or a publicity stunt.
“The mayor got an e-mail,” Hail said. “How real is that?”
The press release says SugarDaddie.com has unsuccessfully offered to buy naming rights of other cities, including Sugar Land, Tex., and Woodside, Calif.
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