Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Thor on March 09, 2007, 01:38:42 am

Title: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Thor on March 09, 2007, 01:38:42 am
It seems to me that more and more places are losing names of any real emotional and sentimental value and are being replaced by the name of the highest bidder.

examples: 
Toronto Skydome becomes Roger's Centre
Toronto's Paramount Theatre become's Scotiabank Theatre
other canadian landmarks named after companies right out of the gate: The Canon Theatre, Air Canada Centre, GM Centre, CN Tower, Barrie's Molson Park and Barrie Molson Centre
The same thing is happening at countless stadiums, theatres, School's and other Large public venues across North America.

Sure, i can understand that they're making some good money off of it, but at what cost to the emotional attachment people have to a place.  the years the Blue Jays one the World Series are tied to Skydome at its prime.  The History of the Leafs is tied to Maple Leaf Gardens, people have many years of sitting at the rink, learning to skate their, watching their heroes take the ice.  how many people remember their first fight night at Madsen Square Gardens?  Would you feel the same if it was at the Trump Centre or Microsoft plaza? 

So is it just me or do you actually care less about venues then you used to?  does the name matter anymore?  or are modern venues soul-less?
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: aldo_14 on March 09, 2007, 02:56:43 am
Emirates Stadium?

Albeit you kind of damaged your point when you misspelled 'Madison Square Garden'....
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Ghostavo on March 09, 2007, 03:08:42 am
Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of shallow to think the name of a public structure emotional/sentimental value?

Renaming something doesn't make it anymore soulless as the samething with a diferent name. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but for diferent reasons.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: aldo_14 on March 09, 2007, 03:38:27 am
Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of shallow to think the name of a public structure emotional/sentimental value?

Renaming something doesn't make it anymore soulless as the samething with a diferent name. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but for diferent reasons.

Well, would you be happy if your parents changed your families second name to 'Durex Super-lubed' for a bit of cash?  Emotional/sentimental value isn't supposed to be rational.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Wobble73 on March 09, 2007, 05:43:47 am
"A rose by any other name........"  :o


 :P
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Nuclear1 on March 09, 2007, 06:57:12 am
Hoosier Dome--> RCA Dome.

It doesn't really matter anyway, as we're building an entirely different one anyway...

...which still has a corporate name going on it. :p
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Rictor on March 09, 2007, 07:31:40 am
*snip*

Hear hear! It's a stupid, ****ty trend but sadly I don't see it stopping any time soon. To me it will always be the SkyDome. Personally I don't see how being so arrogant as to rename beloved cultural landmarks is winning the corporate overlords any friends, but it's their money.

There have even been entire sports teams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_New_York) that have been bought out and renamed. Disgusting.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: aldo_14 on March 09, 2007, 08:01:46 am
Bloody hell, so that's where Waterreus ended up.......
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Unknown Target on March 09, 2007, 08:14:47 am
We'll eventually reach a point where advertising and living life is one and the same. You can see it happening now - videos that you *think* are just guys doing silly things, when in reality, it's an advertisement, sponsorship deals on practically everything, this thing with the sports teams and the buildings, the media, everything. Eventually we might not be able to tell the difference between someone having a normal conversation and an advertising pitch.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Wild Fragaria on March 09, 2007, 08:44:46 am
Emirates Stadium?

Albeit you kind of damaged your point when you misspelled 'Madison Square Garden'....

I thought he was talking about a building in Canada...
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Rictor on March 09, 2007, 09:09:08 am
The trend is hardly restricted to Canada. Not only is it corporate invasion, but also in certain cases cultural invasion. For example, the biggest, newest football (soccer) stadium in London (Emirates Stadium) is named after an Arab airline with a poor self image and too much money. Think of it as a nosejob on a national level. There's also the Allianz Arena, but at least Allianz is a Germany company.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Ghostavo on March 09, 2007, 10:13:36 am
Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of shallow to think the name of a public structure emotional/sentimental value?

Renaming something doesn't make it anymore soulless as the samething with a diferent name. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but for diferent reasons.

Well, would you be happy if your parents changed your families second name to 'Durex Super-lubed' for a bit of cash?  Emotional/sentimental value isn't supposed to be rational.

My parents can change their names to whatever they want, it's not like they can change a "whole family" name as it's not entirely theirs to begin with. I agree with Thor because I believe that a public place should not be subject to that level of corporate advertising. It's a step towards double speak (not related, but using something similar).
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Kie99 on March 09, 2007, 11:15:49 am
Seeing a football club called simply "Total Network Solutions" does have some amusement value.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Thor on March 09, 2007, 01:22:29 pm
my apologies to New York for not knowing how to spell at 3am

and yes, I was being Canada centric cause I'm more familiar with my immediate surroundings, but this is a global phenomenon.  and its makes me sad.  and for those of you who are really doubting the emotional impact of the name:

Hard Light Productions becomes Corporate B!#ch Place....

that would suck.

ooo, another example Computer Gaming World became the Games for Windows Official Magazine.  Fortunatly Microsoft hasn't tainted the writing staff thus far, but the entire first issue was spent defending the name change...

where does it end?  will the return of Space sims be called Kellogg's Space Sim?  will The US become the United States of Chevy?  will our sons and daughters be named Tosihba and Panasonic?  http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/whats-in-a-name-ask-baby-slk/ (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/whats-in-a-name-ask-baby-slk/)
and that dude din't even get paid!

Its getting rediculous, I demand a return of original thought in naming.  heck, even the Roger's Skydome wouldn't have been as bad....
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Unknown Target on March 09, 2007, 01:27:24 pm
I was wondering where CGW went and this new magazine came in...
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: DeepSpace9er on March 09, 2007, 05:26:30 pm
We have the Chevrolet Theatre and the Dodge Theater.. everyone always gets confused as to which one has the concerts and which one has the on-stage theatre performances.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Mars on March 10, 2007, 08:28:42 am
The biggest building in Denver is known as the "Type-writer building" amongst the locals, and is officially called the Quest building >_<
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: neo_hermes on March 11, 2007, 02:23:15 pm

Well, would you be happy if your parents changed your families second name to 'Durex Super-lubed' for a bit of cash?  Emotional/sentimental value isn't supposed to be rational.

how much cash? royalties for every box they make and a percentage of all boxes sold? as well as a slice of the advertisement budget? and full medical insurance for the mental anguish for future children i may or may not have?
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: wtf_cl0vvn on March 11, 2007, 04:26:11 pm
The names can lead to a few laughs.

For example, Enron Field in Houston.

They had a WONDERFUL time when the sh*t hit the fan over Enron.

Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: Nuke on March 11, 2007, 09:24:48 pm
theres a reason i dont like sports.
Title: Re: Corporate names for Public structures
Post by: aldo_14 on March 12, 2007, 11:41:00 am
theres a reason i dont like sports.

Are you crap at them?