Naming rights for government facilities and processes

[VicHockeyFan]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...101?hub=Canada

The Canadian Press

Date: Friday Jan. 1, 2010 10:05 AM ET

WINNIPEG — Ever dreamed of having your name immortalized on a parking meter? How about on a city bus ticket or a heart defibrillator in the back of an ambulance?

Winnipeg is banking on a few takers.

I have absolutely no issues with this, provided they follow the same rules that private business must follow. Would anyone care if the Crystal Pool was called the Ford Aquatic Centre?

[manuel]

In this case, not an issue - both Fords and the Crystal Pool fall apart.

[Holden West]

^^Only in that it would "cheapen the brand", the brand being the City. The arena I don't have a problem with because it's already a commercial entertainment complex. Would anyone really like to see the Thrifty Foods Greater Victoria Public Library? Are we really that desperate?

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Holden West

^^Only in that it would "cheapen the brand", the brand being the City. The arena I don't have a problem with because it's already a commercial entertainment complex. Would anyone really like to see the Thrifty Foods Greater Victoria Public Library? Are we really that desperate?

How about the Bolen Books Victoria Public Library? You like the book you borrowed? Now you can BUY it on the spot!

[Holden West]

I suppose there is precedent here. Until the 80s the downtown library was in a building built and prominently labeled as a gift from Andrew Carnegie.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Holden West

I suppose there is precedent here. Until the 80s the downtown library was in a building built and prominently labeled as a gift from Andrew Carnegie.

We should send Nellie McClung's realtives a bill.

[victorian fan]

Vancouver Island Brewery Urinal.

[Caramia]

^

[Holden West]

Originally Posted by victorian fan

Vancouver Island Brewery Urinal.

I suppose an example of a Closed-Loop Supply Chain would be to bottle the accumulations and sell it as Miller Lite.

[VicHockeyFan]

Corporate sponsorship, naming rights of city services suggested as revenue source

Municipalities look for ways to raise cash without taxation

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Co...869/story.html

By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
January 6, 2010 6:25 AM

[...]

[VicHockeyFan]

http://www.sponsorwinnipeg.ca/

The City of Winnipeg operates over 1600 vehicles that can help promote your company brand name. Also, transit services offers a number of unique marketing opportunities to promote your business to thousands of citizens, each and every day.

Sponsorship/Naming Rights Opportunities:

New Wireless Heart Defibrillators for ambulances for Advanced Care Paramedics
Specialty Vehicles – New multi stretcher ambulance
New portable command centre police vehicle
Police helicopter
1300 Encrypted Memory Sticks for use in police cruisers.

Everybody seen this, BTW?

[aastra]

Naming Rights... Dignity but not much cash...

A really mixed up article. Methinks the key question here is the one that nobody mentions: What sort of signage would the sponsor be allowed to put up? That's where the value would be, right?

If we're talking about a large corporate name/logo over the Douglas Street entrance to the conference centre then we're effectively talking about a billboard on Douglas Street in the heart of downtown. How much would that be worth?

The staff report echoes the findings of a UVic geography professor, Reuben Rose-Redwood, whose research leads him to believe council has been "perhaps a bit over-optimistic" - a nice way of saying that there's little money in, say, Crown Royal Athletic Park.

Indeed, Rose-Redwood thinks so little of the idea that he has launched an online petition against it.

"By viewing public place names strictly in terms of their cash value, this sends a message to residents and visitors alike that the symbolic identity of the city is up for sale," it states.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Jack+Kn...#ixzz1tdlR6HaS

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by aastra

If we're talking about a large corporate name/logo over the Douglas Street entrance to the conference centre then we're effectively talking about a billboard on Douglas Street in the heart of downtown.

That certainly would put a damper on our claim of being more British than Britain. Imagine, a billboard in Picadilly Circus!? Heavens!!!

[aastra]

We should do a poll. I have to admit, I would have no problem with something like "CIBC Stadium at Royal Athletic Park".

[Bingo]

If you could sell naming rights for City Hall...

[Holden West]

Sponsorship/Naming Rights Opportunities:

New Wireless Heart Defibrillators for ambulances for Advanced Care Paramedics

I can see the TC story now:

"Despite being underwater for nearly twelve minutes, paramedics managed to revive Mr. West using the Bin 4 Burger Lounge defibrillators. Mr. West is expected to make a full recovery and the fountain at The Falls condo will re-open later this week."

[Dylan Leblanc]

Don't ever die on us Holden!

My opinion is that the money raised from selling naming rights is usually not enough to justify doing it. It also cheapens our society and culture. When something is named it should keep that name for it's lifetime. GM Place now being called Rogers Arena is stupid IMO.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

Don't ever die on us Holden!

My opinion is that the money raised from selling naming rights is usually not enough to justify doing it. It also cheapens our society and culture. When something is named it should keep that name for it's lifetime. GM Place now being called Rogers Arena is stupid IMO.

Right, like the Victoria Conference Center identifies that yep, it's in Victoria. If it was called the Jimmy Pat Get-together Complex, it could be anywhere.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

Don't ever die on us Holden!

My opinion is that the money raised from selling naming rights is usually not enough to justify doing it. It also cheapens our society and culture. When something is named it should keep that name for it's lifetime. GM Place now being called Rogers Arena is stupid IMO.

Stupid, in your opinion, but how does it affect you, spiritually, emotionally, physically, or economically?

I'm guessing zero. And that's a private building on private property, receiving no tax breaks or subsidies. They can do what they want. They choose to maximize revenues. Too bad governments never think they should do the same.

[G-Man]

I agree with Dylan to a certain respect. While naming is okay in my opinion the fact that it could change is ridiculous. Things should be names once. I mean if it was no longer the Lions Gate Bridge but the Home Depot Bridge or no longer the EMpire State Building but the Bank of America building.

I don't know landmarks should keep the same name. It should be written into the building permits in the future.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by G-Man

I agree with Dylan to a certain respect. While naming is okay in my opinion the fact that it could change is ridiculous. Things should be names once. I mean if it was no longer the Lions Gate Bridge but the Home Depot Bridge or no longer the EMpire State Building but the Bank of America building.

I don't know landmarks should keep the same name. It should be written into the building permits in the future.

So it would still be Enron Field? (and not Minute Maid Park?)

I kind of wish we would have proper competition for phone, internet and cable services, so the companies would not have the extra cash for every building in this country to be named Shaw, Bell, Rogers and Telus. Instead we'd have lower monthly bills. Or if we had more than two airlines (Air Canada Centre).

[aastra]

If we're worried about permanence and continuity, that's why I don't mind names like "Telus Stadium at Royal Athletic Park". The "Royal Athletic Park" part is permanent. The sponsorship aspect isn't. They sort of did that with the new arena's name. It's the "Memorial Centre", sponsored by...

I think they made a mistake when they ditched "Skydome". The building is Skydome. The current sponsor is...

The notion of sponsoring the bridge is dead right out of the gate, methinks. Formal names for bridges often don't stick, so I'd be very surprised if a sponsor's name ever managed to stick enough to justify whatever fee the sponsor paid. Most people would still call it the Johnson Street Bridge.

But then again, I suppose it all comes down to the signage that the sponsor is allowed to put up.

[G-Man]

I personally think that Enron Field would be a pretty good reminder of some of the things to look out for. Actually seems like a bit of revisionism.

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by G-Man

I personally think that Enron Field would be a pretty good reminder of some of the things to look out for...

And gawd knows it sounds a helluva lot better than Minute Maid Park, but then again we're talking Texas...not the brightest (lone) star in the sky.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by aastra

The notion of sponsoring the bridge is dead right out of the gate, methinks. Formal names for bridges often don't stick,

How about "Ryder Romp"?