More an LA-local story, but it piqued my interest nonetheless. United Airlines has purchased naming rights from USC for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Memorial Coliseum is 94-year old LA landmark and home to USC football games. It was constructed as a memorial to WWI veterans and has housed football and baseball teams over the years. It was also used in the 1932 and 1984 summer Olympic Games.
United will pay a whopping $70 million over 15 years for naming rights!
This figure struck me as excessive. Although LA has emerged as the top contender for the 2024 summer Olympic Games, Olympic Committee rules do not allow sponsored stadium names so United won’t even necessarily receive Olympic publicity.
But then it hit me…CEO Oscar Munoz is a USC alumni.
And if your corporation is going to engage in philanthropy, why not help your alma mater?
I’m no longer a United Airlines stockholder so this is not my business per se, but as an LA resident and very loyal United flyer I sure would have preferred to see an increase in international service at LAX instead of a vanity purchase.
Then again, this lucrative investment shows a commitment to Los Angeles. Hopefully United will not cut service to LAX even as it beefs up its name-recognition.
Top image: Stephanie Kemna / Wikimedia Commons
Just like how UA dumps all that money into Polaris marketing yet few aircraft have the hard product and the flight attendants are consistently inconsistent with service.
I hope no one sits in the wrong seat at the coliseum. They will be dragged out.
I am not happy about this only because the Los Angeles Colosseum should not have sold naming rights. To me (USC Grad), it is an iconic stadium that should live on under its historical name, much like the Rose Bowl, Yankee Stadium, Camden Yards, etc.
As an LA resident I heard this last night on the radio news when it was leaked. I don’t like it at all. I think it’s a crass way to get money. USC is hardly a struggling enterprise, and that is an iconic building and name. A positive note is that the deal supposedly has the stipulation that Memorial Stadium has to be included in the final moniker. It still ruins it.
How about taking 70 million to get the Polaris seat manufacturer to hurry the Hell up? Or redesign their stupid plastic inserted champagne glass that encourages spilling? Otherwise I don’t know what this does to improve publuc perception. Theyll just be a lot of jokes.
https://www.apnews.com/4d180e57b7b249d68d961d03b3a5ea75