Naming Rights to the Metro Station/Line of Your Choice

[JamieLei]

An advert from this week's copy of The Economist:

Naming Rights.jpg

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What are your thoughts regarding corporations to sponsor and name metro stations, or even whole lines after themselves? It's an impressive way to fund the Dubai Metro, although it completely ruins the geography of the city, as the area around 'Royal Dutch Shell' station becomes known as 'Shell'. Many of us know our way around London by looking at the London Underground Map - for instance that Heathrow is in SW London, Upminster is in the East, and Clapham is in the South. This in my opinion is ruining what remains of the culture of an already consumerist city, and instead of being the people's pride and joy, it will become Samsung's. I certainly wouldn't be too happy hearing automated announcements telling me to "Change to the Unilever" line for the airport...

[beeb375]

Well it's something I can't imagine being allowed in the UK, but in Dubai, where new office parks have such imaginative names as 'Internet City', and streets are numbered rather than named, I doubt anyone would give a crap.

I'm guessing names will be more along the lines of 'Toyota Rashidiya Interchange' or 'Gulf Air Blue Line' or something.

[Ploes]

I'm guessing names will be more along the lines of 'Toyota Rashidiya Interchange' or 'Gulf Air Blue Line' or something.

You would hope.

Otherwise whats going to happen at the end of a contract or when a company gets bought out / goes bankrupt?!

[EXTspotter]

If you get on the Gulfair Metro, you will be late, smelly, have sit next to a goat for 9 hours and then end up in Oman.

[beeb375]

On the contrary, you'll arrive on time, get served some amazingly awesome food, and get a crapload of free snacks and drinkies. In my experience at least.

[Toni Babelony]

If I had the money, I'd buy a station and name it: 'Karl Marx Avenue' or 'Great Stalin Square', just to annoy 'em.

[Kevo00]

Well this has happened in the UK before, in sorts at least...Singer station in Glasgow, named after the sowing machine company's (now closed I think) factory there, IBM station in Greenock, and British Steel Redcar are all examples of stations named after companies.

[beeb375]

Yes, but those are so named because the stations were built because of the factory, or their primary purpose was to allow people to get the train to that factory, they weren't just randomly sponsored.

[ThorRune]

Driving down Carlsberg avenue, you will see the clubs on the right, the brothels on the left and at the end is the hospital and police station.



I think this is a big oppertunity for buisnesses, and in in new-founded historyless cities, it would probably be okay. But like people have said before here, it could easily ruin the infrastructure and history of a area. The old name should, really, get to stick. It is hidden commercials, and i generalyl don't like them.

[Ploes]

Yes, but those are so named because the stations were built because of the factory, or their primary purpose was to allow people to get the train to that factory, they weren't just randomly sponsored.

Yeah. Look at "Staples Corner" in London (Yes I know its a road junction, but named after a company without payment, just like the stations listed!)

[JamieLei]

The Staples factory was so prominent that the area got named after it. Just like Wedgewood in Stoke-On-Trent. However, these companies didn't buy their way into it - the area bought their way into them.