How Much to Change Our City's Name to "McDonalds, IL"?

By Rachelle Bowden in News on May 1, 2006 11:21AM

So, maybe we can deal with the Skyway having a corporate name. Or how Wrigley's bleacher seats are now the Bud Light Bleachers. Or how half of Millennium Park is named after one rich corporation or another. But how much is too much?

We should have put 2+2 together, but didn't really think that after last week's Skyway announcement, that the city would start looking for companies interested in putting their logos on city buildings, events, programs, and even vehicles. City Hall issued a request for proposals from companies who'd like to put their name on our stuff and are willing to shell the money for the rights to do it.

Don't think we'll be seeing Pay Day Loans Chicago Skyway or Playboy Chicago Skyway, as we suggested, any time soon, though. Budget Director Paul Volpe says the city isn't just desperate for the cash and that "The corporate image would have to be consistent with the city's values" and that "anything that does not violate or put in jeopardy the city's reputation or world-class image is on the table."