The White Sox have changed the name of a lounge at Guaranteed Rate Field to recognize manager Tony La Russa after the name previously honored a beloved longtime concessions employee.
“LaRussa’s Lounge” has replaced “Loretta’s Lounge,” which honored Loretta Micele, who worked for the White Sox for more than 60 years. Nearly two decades ago, the White Sox named a seating area after Micele that was next to her concession stand at then-U.S. Cellular Field, according to a Times of Northwest Indiana article back then. She started working for the White Sox in 1945, the newspaper reported.
There’s now a plaque to commemorate Micele, a team spokesperson told 670 The Score while confirming the change.
The change gained a great deal of attention on social media when Twitter user @TheTyronePalmer posted about it Wednesday afternoon, calling it “shameful.”