So now Ken Sim's ABC wants to sell naming rights to public buildings in Vancouver. Like his NPA predecessors, he wants to make a buck selling
corporate advertising on public entities. We looked at this back in 2007. I
wrote about it then. Nothing has changed. Here's my article from 16 years ago,
just substitute ABC for NPA:
Interfor Stanley Park? Kia Killarney Centre?
Eukanuba
Agrodome?
The NPA dominated Park Board is at it again. They want to
sell corporate naming rights to Vancouver park facilities. No, they aren't
selling park names -yet- but they do want to sell naming rights to corporations
and individuals with fat wallets. What's wrong with that you say? An innovative
way to raise needed money? Well, corporations have always given money to public
entities, they only wanted an acknowledgement in the past. A plaque or a
notation. Now they want to advertise on public facilities. Remember the fuss
over Telus and Science World? We were assured they would not rename Science
World, and to be fair they didn't. It's still Science World, but now it is
Science World (in little tiny letters) at TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE. This is
corporate branding of the worst kind. They get the best advertising money can
buy, and the taxpayer pays for it. Telus didn't build Science World, you and I
did with our tax dollars, but they get huge branding at our expense. Now the
Park Board wants to do the same. No, we won't see Interfor Stanley Park, but if
that would be wrong, how is naming a community centre, swimming pool or skating
rink any less wrong. Let's keep the public and private separate. Let's keep
corporate branding out of our parks.
It was wrong then. It is still wrong today. Tell Ken Sim and
ABC that public buildings aren’t for sale.
