"Duran Duran appearing at Earthlink Live!" That was the announcement on the radio, and thanks to that I didn't go see Duran Duran. What was Earthlink Live? Did that mean they were appearing on a webcam and I had to have Earthlink Internet service to see it?
No, it meant they were playing at the Center Stage Theater here in Atlanta, a venue I had been aware of for nearly 20 years, but I didn't realize that. The Earthlink company, back when they were huge, had bought the naming rights for the Center Stage and branded their name on it. It was a klutzy-sounding name and nowhere near as good as Center Stage. Ultimately Earthlink's powers as a Internet company shrank and the Center Stage was given its proper name back.
Due to that I became aware of a creeping trend: old ball parks, arenas and stadiums, including places with a hell of a lot more history than the Center Stage, were being stripped of their names to be renamed Nacho Chip Stadium and Zit Cream Ball Park. Take the family out for a hot dog and ball game in the middle of a giant billboard:
Candlestick Park = 3Com Park
San Diego Stadium = QualComm Stadium
Carolinas Stadium = Bank of America Stadium
Others:
Minute Maid Park
Verizon Center
National Car Rental Center
Also here in Atlanta in 1989 they built Lakewood Amphitheater. Then Coca-Cola got the naming rights, and it became Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheater. Hmm...okay. At least Coca-Cola is a local brand and point of pride. Just when I got used to that it became HiFi Buys Amphitheater! Where did that come from? Coca-Cola got kicked out, I guess, and moved over to the Roxy, which became the Coca-Cola Roxy.
We've also got Philips Arena. I thought a guy named Philips must've been a founder of the city, but no, it's named for the makers of half-assed electronics, previously known as Magnavox.
If the venue wasn't renamed, the event was. Who do you think will win the Super Bowl? Excuse me, I mean the
Frito-Lay Super Bowl? How about the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the FedEx Orange Bowl or the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl?
If Chicago Cubs fans ever find themselves waiting to catch balls outside Dunkin' Donuts Field, I'm going to run into traffic. It already kills me to hear about rock 'n' roll bands appearing in places like Office Depot Center. Sorry, some things are sacred. Aren't they?
I don't mind new venues being named after companies, but you don't change the names of legendary places. Which begs the question, "Why isn't Gwinett Arena named after anybody?" I guess no company wants to be associated with Gwinett. No offense to any "Success"ful people who "Live" there.
All time best venue name: The Omni
I'm against even new venues being named after companies, because the venue will probably be there after the company is gone, and it should have a name that lasts with the times. Like if the Omni had become Cobra Phone Arena, that would've been outdated by 1988.
Although as I think about it, the Cubs play at Wrigley Field...is that named for the chewing gum company?
Two venues in Los Angeles that have kept their names are the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Coliseum, largely due to the fact that they get their revenue from poor tax payers like me.
It could be worse, we could have the Massengale Douche Bowl, the Kohler Toilet Bowl, or the K-Y Arena.
All time best venue name (Los Amgeles): The Forum, nicknamed the "Fabulous" Forum