A lot of folks here in Chicagoland are getting sideways over the re-naming of the famous "Sears" Tower. An icon of sky-scraping architecture in America.
Now, some new British investors with a company called the Willis Group, are buying up three entire floors of the building and have negotiated a nice deal that includes the right to re-name the structure as prime tenants and majority share-holders.
So after 36 years, the name is no longer Sears. Now it's the "Willis" Tower. Sounds respectable at least. Much better than the more annoying habit of choosing some brand-name kind of thing, like they did with "Comerica Field" back in Detroit, or "Fed-Ex" stadium in D.C.. But wait a minute....isn't "Sears"a brand name? Or how about "Wrigley Field" also here in Chicago? They're all brand names. It's been going on for a hundred years. So I suggest we get over it and remember the Golden Rule; "those with the gold, rule!" And if you can buy the building, or the arena, or whatever, then you have the right to name it.
Sounds OK to me.
Except, I wonder if I'll feel the same, when Candlestick Park becomes Shenkua Power Stadium or Boston Gardens becomes Dongfeng Arena? I think we'll all look back on the Willis Tower and think that wasn't so bad.
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