When naming rights are wrong

It’s unforgivable that Citigroup is laying off 50,000 more workers, while it goes ahead with plans to pay the Mets $20 million per year for naming rights on their new stadium. Along with those multi-million-dollar bonuses to executives, this may just be the ultimate example of corporate excess and mismanagement. About 4,000 of those jobs could be saved immediately by dropping the naming rights, if the Mets would be willing to let Citigroup off the hook. In this economic climate, owning naming rights to a sports stadium is a symbol of irresponsibility and ought to be viewed as such by consumers. But sponsors continue to throw crazy money at sports. I was listening to a radio broadcast of a football game on Sunday, and the announcer said the ball was in the “Heinz Red Zone.” This led me to think about all kinds of other possible, wasteful tie-ins, for other sports. Why not: The TD Waterhouse TD. The Verizon Reception The Dunkin’ Donuts Dunk The Star Registry ... (link)