Keep train station names as they are

3/19/07

Give the state Department of Transportation credit — they know a moneymaker when they see one. Whether the state is OK with creeping corporate ubiquity is the real question.
In an attempt to find new revenue streams, the DOT is exploring selling naming rights to train stations and other transit facilities. Instead of the Fairfield train station or New Haven’s Union Station, we could commute from the General Electric Terminal or The Original Frank Pepe New Haven Pizza Center and Transit Hub. Maybe The United Illuminating Co. could secure some positive press by getting naming rights to the Bridgeport station and guaranteeing the lights on the train stay lit. The possibilities boggle the mind.
But if train stations are up for grabs, why stop there? Why not the train cars themselves? Maybe the long-awaited replacement cars could be sponsored by the state of Virginia. Be careful about some companies, though — the T-Mobile Car or the AT&T Carrier could give people the wrong impression; seriously, no one wants to hear your cell phone conversations.
The bar cars are easy; the competition would be fierce to get these. But would the state be more comfortable with Budweiser or Sam Adams as its beer of choice? Or maybe we need something higher class; it is Connecticut, after all.
Once the trains are done, the logical next step is state-owned stadiums. We are, in fact, way behind on that one. So goodbye Gampel and so long Rentschler, and say hello to Nike Pavilion and Aetna Field. Other state-owned buildings make sense, too — maybe in honor of all the defense funding coming into the state we could have the Sikorsky Old State House and the Electric Boat Legislative Office Building.
Then the only thing left to sell will be individual legislators. Who would be first in line to sell ad space on the back of his suit jacket? Try something inoffensive at first — maybe Snapple.
In truth, advertising and corporate sponsorship are so all-encompassing that selling the names of a few train stations would hardly be noticed. It’s not like people wouldn’t still call it, say, the Southport station, even if Starbucks stuck its name on it. But the state ought to approach this gingerly. Any new revenue is welcome, but no one is looking forward to hopping on the train at Milford’s new Penthouse Boutique Terminal.