# Corporate sponsorship has gone too far! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 18, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047 "2004-06-18T15:13:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/1 "2004-06-18T15:13:32Z")
I know it’s nothing new, and I suppose I’ll get used to it after awhile, but still, it just irks me when some big company comes along to emblazon its name on a special events venue. I know there are places like the Staples Center and Safeco Field. These names aren’t really so bad, but the one that’s come to my town has got to be one of the worst I have ever heard! The Boise State University college campus here has a venue for basketball games, concerts, etc. that, up to this point, has simply been called the Boise State Univerity Pavilion, a nice respectable name. Now that it, too, has fallen victim to corporate sponsorship, it shall hereafter be known as (get ready for this)… THE TACO BELL ARENA!!! ARRRGHHH!!! Couldn’t we have at least gotten something with a little more class than this?! I mean, this is just sooooo damn _tacky!_ Even something like “The Sonic Center” or “Applebee’s Arena” would sound better than “Taco Bell Arena.” I can barely tolerate their food as it is, and the last thing I want to think about while attending a game or a concert there is that 12,000 people sitting around me have all eaten tacos and are simultanously making flatulent contributions to the air (not that this would really be the case, but I can’t help but to think this). I’d provide a link to the article, but the site requires registration, so I’ll just quote the relevant parts: > [@](#): > > BOISE – The BSU Pavilion is getting a new name. > > Boise State officials announced today that the State Board of Education has approved a sponsorship agreement with the local Taco Bell Franchisee, which renames the facility “Taco Bell Arena.” > > The sponsorship with the Department of Athletics at Boise State, is a 15-year agreement which will pay the university a total of $4 million in cash and in-kind contributions. > > Among the scheduled changes at the Pavilion, Taco Bell will have its logo on the exterior of all four entrances of the arena and on the sidelines of the basketball playing floor. There is a web poll along with this article asking people if they like the name change. I just cast my vote on it, and so far, 90% say they don’t like it . Good for them! I suppose the 10% who do like the name change are the ones who are responsible for this move in the first place. What’s next? The Wal-Mart Ampitheater? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/2 "2004-06-18T15:22:14Z")
Given a choice between having your university or a multi-billion dollar corporation support the venue, go for the one that’s rich enough to pay to keep it going. So you get a few more billboards, and the food vendors tend to lean towards Taco Bell food. Beats having the doors boarded shut. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/3 "2004-06-18T16:20:14Z")
I fail to see the problem. You have a football field that’s BLUE! It’s called karma. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/4 "2004-06-18T16:36:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I fail to see the problem. You have a football field that’s BLUE! It’s called karma. Not quite. Karma will not have been achieved until Boise State’s football stadium with the blue field is renamed the “Ty-D-Bowl.” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/5 "2004-06-18T17:16:19Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Given a choice between having your university or a multi-billion dollar corporation support the venue, go for the one that’s rich enough to pay to keep it going. I know it’s not even close to being the same thing, and I’m not trying to draw an analogy, but I just remember when I worked at Mattel, they were “rich enough” to donate $25,000,000.00 to the UCLA Children’s Hospital in exchange for renaming it the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, while at the same time bleeding money from bad investments so badly that they had to lay off between 3,000 and 6,000 employees. It’s definitely not a bad thing that sick children got a shiny new hospital building sponsored by Barbie, but I wonder how many children lost their medical coverage when their parents lost their jobs to fund it? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/6 "2004-06-18T17:33:25Z")
I’m guessing there’ll be some confusion as to whether the signs marked “Taco Bell Exit” are referencing a door outside or the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/7 "2004-06-18T18:03:06Z")
I thought college sport supposedly paid for themselves and then some. If that is so, why would they need such sponsership of the arena? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/8 "2004-06-18T18:19:19Z")
> [@lee](#): > > I thought college sport supposedly paid for themselves and then some. If that is so, why would they need such sponsership of the arena? Where did you hear that? Some schools do, especially in the larger conferences. But smaller schools have been having to cut less popular sports because they can’t afford them. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/9 "2004-06-18T18:31:07Z")
> [@lee](#): > > I thought college sport supposedly paid for themselves and then some. If that is so, why would they need such sponsership of the arena? Um, because, if somebody offered YOU $4 million , you paint Taco Bell on your ass. Making a profit is one thing; making a profit PLUS another $4 million is another. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/10 "2004-06-18T21:52:51Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Um, because, if somebody offered YOU $4 million , you paint Taco Bell on your ass. Making a profit is one thing; making a profit PLUS another $4 million is another. No, I don’t think I would. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/11 "2004-06-18T23:12:07Z")
We’ve got a Vice President sponsored by Halliburton, and you’re worried about the football field? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/12 "2004-06-19T00:08:30Z")
The day I log on and see a logo at the top of the page declaring: “Fighting Ignorance – **With The Great Taste Of Dr Pepper[sup]TM[/sup]** – Since 1973” is the day I go to get myself barcoded. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/13 "2004-06-19T02:14:41Z")
> [@lee](#): > > No, I don’t think I would. For 4 mil, they could paint whatever the hell they wanted on my ass. But these places need to be choosier when picking who they want to take money from. Petco Park? Minute Maid Field? Sheesh, I’m waiting for the Stay Free Maxi Pad Pavillion! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/14 "2004-06-19T03:30:13Z")
This thread brought to you by Flintstones Vitamins. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/15 "2004-06-19T03:41:39Z")
Buffalo, New York is home of the first modern neotraditional baseball stadium in the United States. It was the model that was emulated by legendary baseball stadiums such as Coors Field and Camden Yard. Buffalo’s baseball stadium was built in anticipation of a major league team that never came, but it serves the Triple-A Bisons just fine. Oh yeah … its called **Dunn Tire Field** , after a local chain of tire stores. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/16 "2004-06-19T04:29:08Z")
> [@lee](#): > > I thought college sport supposedly paid for themselves and then some. If that is so, why would they need such sponsership of the arena? One of the ways they pay for themselves is by selling then names to their arenas. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/17 "2004-06-19T06:22:05Z")
I hear ya **dwc1970**. I was not thrilled when I heard about it either. I think it would have been better if Wendy’s had sponsored them. Wouldn’t Wendy’s Arena sound so much better? Why yes, my name is Wendy…why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/18 "2004-06-19T18:47:46Z")
> [@](#): > > The sponsorship with the Department of Athletics at Boise State, is a 15-year agreement which will pay the university a total of $4 million in cash and in-kind contributions. _in-kind contributions_??? “Loose tile in the bathrooms? Here, have some of our beans for indestructible grout!” ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/19 "2004-06-19T20:56:02Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Petco Park? Minute Maid Field? Sheesh, I’m waiting for the Stay Free Maxi Pad Pavillion! So it isn’t so much corporate sponsorship that is bothersome, just so long as they aren’t too feminine sounding? Where does Busch Stadium fall in that spectrum? ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047/20 "2004-06-19T21:17:29Z")
You think you have it bad? Here in Rhode Island we have the “Dunkin Donuts Center.” All well and good until you realize that donuts don’t _have_ a center. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-sponsorship-has-gone-too-far/251047.md?page=2)