The CTA announced a couple of days ago that they’ll be selling naming rights to bus lines, el lines, and el stations. So soon we’ll be riding the Panasonic line to the Froot Loop and getting off at Pampers station. Your thoughts on this?
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/cta-putting-naming-rights-out-for-bid.html
It’s all good if it can help keep fares in line and avoid service cuts.
I think they’ve said that they won’t actually re-name the lines and stations, just add the sponsor name to it. So more accurately, we’ll take the Panasonic Red Line to the Pampers Belmont stop. No biggie.
I do like “Froot Loop” though. They need to see if General Mills will go for it.
Next thing you know, they’ll be naming Wrigley Field after some cheesy corporation!
Seriously, I’m all for this, if it saves me money. It would be fun trying to come up with other creative pairings. The IBM Big Blue Line? Welch’s Grape Juice Purple Line? The Sam Adams Street Station?
Thanks, but no thanks. I’m a father, and have a pretty precise understanding of what gets off at Pampers station. I refuse to be #2 to anyone.
Wrigley Field was named for William Wrigley Jr., not the Wrigley corporation.
That said, I really don’t care what the el lines are called. I’m not one of those Chicagoans who was up in arms about renaming the Sears/Willis tower. Progress is progress, eh?
It will be weird though, to hear the el announcer guy saying “This is the Doritos Fullerton station. Doors open on the right at the Doritos Fullerton station.”
This is a great idea as long as they name stations for products aimed at the neighborhood demographic. This will also help visitors avoid chancy areas of town: Williams-Sonoma is probably a safe area, but avoid getting off at D-con.
I’ll bet Apple could be talked into sponsoring the Clybourn station. Maybe Leona’s or Ann Sather for the Belmont station. Heck, the 35th street station is already called “IIT-Sox-35th.” All they need to do is start collecting from those deadbeats! (unless they already are?)
The Tropicana Orange Line?
There are three 35th Street stations, actually. 35th/Archer on the Orange Line, Sox-35th on the Red Line, and the awkwardly-named 35th-Bronzeville-IIT on the Green Line.
All things considered, I think Southwest Airlines would be the most appropriate sponsor for the Orange Line. They probably account for half of all non–rush hour traffic on that line as it is.
“Welcome to CostCo Station. I love you. Doors to my right.”
