Comments on: Take me out to the…? http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/ Fascinating, Inspiring, Rewarding and Engaging kinded spirits. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:53:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155858 Mike Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:11:48 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155858 In Detroit after Comerica Bank bought the naming rights to the new Tiger Stadium, they spent 2 summers trying to make it fun by calling it "the COPA". Get it? Ain't that just charming? Fans didn't buy it because it was so forced. Most people I know still call it Tiger Stadium, eventhough the original Tiger Stadium sits abandoned only a few short miles away. Then finally last summer, Comerica Bank announced they were moving their headquarters out of Detroit and down to Texas. Naming rights have just gotten ridiculous. In Detroit after Comerica Bank bought the naming rights to the new Tiger Stadium, they spent 2 summers trying to make it fun by calling it “the COPA”. Get it? Ain’t that just charming? Fans didn’t buy it because it was so forced. Most people I know still call it Tiger Stadium, eventhough the original Tiger Stadium sits abandoned only a few short miles away. Then finally last summer, Comerica Bank announced they were moving their headquarters out of Detroit and down to Texas. Naming rights have just gotten ridiculous.

]]> By: Justine http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155772 Justine Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:01:56 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155772 Thank you for that morning laugh Beth. You are so right - probably the reason I liked the Poulan Weedeater bowl is exactly because it was just so random. To the earlier point - NO fit at all between the sponsor and the event. Probably one of the best "fits" out there is Tositos and the Fiesta bowl. Which was carefully chosen to help launch the chips brand - and was a huge marketing success from what I've read. PS I share your fear Kyle re: ads on the uniforms. Or worse yet, ads on the field for TV viewers - a la the blue first down line in football. Yikes. Thank you for that morning laugh Beth. You are so right - probably the reason I liked the Poulan Weedeater bowl is exactly because it was just so random. To the earlier point - NO fit at all between the sponsor and the event.

Probably one of the best “fits” out there is Tositos and the Fiesta bowl. Which was carefully chosen to help launch the chips brand - and was a huge marketing success from what I’ve read.

PS I share your fear Kyle re: ads on the uniforms. Or worse yet, ads on the field for TV viewers - a la the blue first down line in football. Yikes.

]]> By: Beth http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155707 Beth Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:38:06 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155707 Our beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs announcer, Larry Munson, had a famous call at the 1982 Auburn game that clinched the Sugar Bowl for us, when he exclaimed (as the Georgia faithful tossed sugar into the air)… "Look at the sugar FALLING OUT OF THE SKY!!! Oh, look at the sugar falling out of the sky!!!" Several years later, we were playing in the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl, and we were paraphrasing Larry's call with "Look at the Weedeaters falling out of the sky!" Ouch. The Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl just didn't have the right ring to it... Our beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs announcer, Larry Munson, had a famous call at the 1982 Auburn game that clinched the Sugar Bowl for us, when he exclaimed (as the Georgia faithful tossed sugar into the air)… “Look at the sugar FALLING OUT OF THE SKY!!! Oh, look at the sugar falling out of the sky!!!” Several years later, we were playing in the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl, and we were paraphrasing Larry’s call with “Look at the Weedeaters falling out of the sky!” Ouch. The Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl just didn’t have the right ring to it…

]]> By: Kyle http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155696 Kyle Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:18:19 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155696 The Northsiders will still draw the drunken hording masses no matter what Wrigley is called. Whether that translates to dollars to the new corporate sponsor, we'll have to wait and see. What I'm afraid of is advertisements on the uniforms. That will be next. The Northsiders will still draw the drunken hording masses no matter what Wrigley is called. Whether that translates to dollars to the new corporate sponsor, we’ll have to wait and see.

What I’m afraid of is advertisements on the uniforms. That will be next.

]]> By: linkerjpatrick http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155558 linkerjpatrick Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:13:07 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/03/07/take-me-out-to-the%e2%80%a6/#comment-155558 Naming rights can be a two edged sword. For one It's a great way to get funding but sometimes the name just doesn't fit. Take Greenville's own, Bi-Lo Center. Almost everyone I know hates the name because it sound like a mega grocery store instead of an entertainment arena. I'd much rather respect a company that in those cases would do something like "The Upstate Arena - Sponsored by Bi-Lo" or something to that effect. You could always keep the official name and change the sponsor if need be. I don't think most people would care either way. Wrigley while certain named after the gum is also a family name with historical significance. The Peace Center while getting it's names from the major benefactor also recognizes not only a local and historically influential family but the name "Peace" is a word that can have another meaning too. The same is true with the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park. Maybe companies, especially startups, should think long and hard about their names because the day may come when their name may just be associated with a product but it's much better to associate it with an idea and identity that has sticking power and affection in the minds of the public. Naming rights can be a two edged sword. For one It’s a great way to get funding but sometimes the name just doesn’t fit. Take Greenville’s own, Bi-Lo Center. Almost everyone I know hates the name because it sound like a mega grocery store instead of an entertainment arena. I’d much rather respect a company that in those cases would do something like “The Upstate Arena - Sponsored by Bi-Lo” or something to that effect. You could always keep the official name and change the sponsor if need be. I don’t think most people would care either way.

Wrigley while certain named after the gum is also a family name with historical significance. The Peace Center while getting it’s names from the major benefactor also recognizes not only a local and historically influential family but the name “Peace” is a word that can have another meaning too. The same is true with the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park.

Maybe companies, especially startups, should think long and hard about their names because the day may come when their name may just be associated with a product but it’s much better to associate it with an idea and identity that has sticking power and affection in the minds of the public.

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