November 16, 2006
Name That Bridge!
From the people who brought you AT&T Park and Monster Park and the Doritos’s Fiesta Bowl comes word that the Golden Gate Bridge-- THE Golden Gate Bridge-- might get corporate sponsorship too.
Okay, before we all start screaming and shouting, it's more for the Golden Gate District than it is for the bridge as the district is about $87 million in debt. And even they seem to be aware that they're about to commit mass sacrilege.
So far, possible ideas might mean signs at the beginning or end of the bridge or some other type of low-key advertising. The idea they say is to get sponsors that fit into what the Golden Gate Bridge represents. We're guessing that means we won't see the Bud Light Golden Gate Bridge or the Levitra Golden Gate Bridge of Fremont. We should also mention that they've only so far hired a consultant to look into it as opposed to put the sucker in bidding.
But still.
The type of program they're looking for has been used so far with National Parks, a plan called ""Proud Partners Program" which has raised over $100 million for the national parks. And we should say that as much as the idea stinks, that's over $100 million dollars that the parks wouldn't have without the sponsorships. And it's either this or maybe raise fees on the bridge again.
But still....
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Yeesh - no to corporate naming or partnerships or whatever! If they're in the hole because of security and transportation then get money out of the feds. Pelosi should be able to make that happen.
Or... they could just stopped wasting money on unnecessary security. Has all the money spent on the bridge, BART, Muni, etc. really done anything to improve security? Hasn't our crime rate been going up all the while?
Would any of the money spent stop someone setting off a car bomb on the Golden Gate Bridge?
Oh and if we're going to look at making money whoring out the Golden Gate, what about getting Cicso to sponsor it and repaint the bridge in the dark teal of their logo?
everyone knows it's the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl... c'mon people....
I think the GGB and the ferries are managed as one entity, and it's the ferries that lose all the money. How can that bridge be losing money when it costs $5 to cross?
So sell the naming rights to the ferries instead. Paint the whole fleet like an Old Navy ad for all we care.