I read from an newspaper article that suggests we could see names of new sports hub facilities merging with corporate branding such as, StarHub Indoor Arena. Come on! Give me a break. It really sounds like crap.
To me, sports is simply an event where sportsmen over the world, regardless of races, religions, languages and differences, pit their skills in the fairest manner. It is great because it helps to avert wars and hostilies among human interactions. However, true meaning of sports was often blurred when it "rojaks" with commercials. Today, anything has a price tag on it. Be it, sponsorship on jerseys, naming rights for stadium and leagues, broadcasting rights, etc ...
It doesn't matter if they sound right at all, as long the corporate is willing to fork out the cash, they would squeeze in the coporate brand somehow. Think of the English Premier League (EPL) that we have been calling for more than a decade; now it is called the Barclay's Premier League (BPL). Strangely enough, none of my friends has gotten used calling its new name. Likewise, the new Arsenal Stadium completed in 2006, is named Emirates Stadium after its sponsor - Emirates Airline. A person who doesn't watch soccer might mistaken it as a stadium in Dubai. If one really had to sell the naming rights to earn a penny or two, please, for goodness sake, at least make sure it done with taste.
Though, it has been a popular practice among countries like Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, England, New Zealand, China, etc ... it's heartening to know that not everyone does the same for the bucks. MLB's New Yoks Yankees, who have a new stadium opening, is not open to suggestions selling their naming rights.The team's president, Randy Levine, commented that such a deal would diminish the team's value.
At home, Sports Council is also determine not to sell its national icon - Singapore's National Stadium away. I'm glad that they are still aware that it's our national icon. With this, we are sending a message across to our Singaporeans that not all, in the name of sports, can be sold for money. There is still something that we holding dear of, that is valuable & priceless.
(pssst ... by the way this is my 200th post with Typepad)
Also on my previous blog entry:
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