New York's MTA decided a long time ago that it would try to sell the naming rights to the city's subway stops, but it finally found someone willing to pay up. London-based bank Barclays has offered $4 million to add its name to Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street station. The name will officially change when the upcoming sports center, also called Barclays Center, opens in 2012.
We've long forgotten the days when stadiums and arenas were named after their locations, but subway stations? New Yorkers better be prepared to see a Miracle Whip sign on the 34th Street station or get ready to take an express train to Taco Bell Avenue.
Do you have a problem with corporations invading public space or is this a good way to subsidize the taxpayers' burden of paying for public transportation?
Dessous
Camilla Skovgaard
Sloggi
I think its a great idea... i mean they already have highway sponsors and things like that, so why not? Plus, every state is hurtin' for some money right now! I'm pretty sure whenever the state bounces back they'll prob "buy it out" and change the names... they also probably wouldn't allow ridiculous companies (or atlesat the names of them like WalMart or anything) to have their name up there, unless they use the owners name or somthing... i dont know, but any income is good these days.
1anything that lightens the load on tax payers..i say go for it!! i see nothing wrong with this. good idea.
2living in NYC myself, I 100% support anything that will get extra funding for an already hurting MTA system.
we WON'T see Miracle Whip-34th St. because the type of sponsors/corporations who are going to have their names involved are also getting involved in the community around that stop. the Barclay's stop is because they also sponsor that sports arena, which is going to be a great thing for the Atlantic Ave area. Metro North (commuter rail) now has "E. 153rd St - Yankee Stadium" stop. its descriptive. kudos for Barclays for helping out the MTA while alerting people to their presence in Brooklyn.
plus, if Barclays or any other company that sponsors a station etc. means extra money that can update trains/tracks and prevent tragedies like the Metro crash in DC, I'm all for it. sponsor away!
3It will also take the burden off of passengers to pay for public transportation through ever rising fares. I think this is a good idea.
4Also being a New Yorker I support this 100%. Anything to keep the price of train fare down is great. I do not want to be paying $100 for my monthly pass like MTA originally planned to do this year. NYC has had so many fare hikes that soon people won't be able to afford to take the subway to work. The only people who will be willing the pay the ridiculous fares will be tourists.
5I was against it, but hearing mamacita's pov makes me think it's okay.
6The rates are always raising, they are constantly doing track work, so I think it may help the system's finances in the long run.
7Maybe the DC system should think of a way to inject more cash flow into the system so they can stop using cars that are not up to standard. Lack of funds has always been an issue for both systems.
8Also another New Yorker here and I definitely think it's a savvy move from all sides (the advertisers' sides, the city's side, etc).
9Oh, but Atlantic/Pacific is one of my favorite subway stop names! The convergence of oceans!!!
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