Naming Rights

Navigating the Corporate Landscape...

I think naming rights, cross-branding, and advertisement are way out of hand. This might be just be "20 Minutes Into the Future..."

-David Deckert, 10/21/01

"So where do you want to go for dinner?" "I dunno." "How about TGI Friday's?" "Nah, how about Chili's?" "Maybe Italian? Olive Garden? Can you pick me up by the way? My car's in the shop." "Sure. Olive Garden's fine. You'll have to give me directions to your place though." "No problem. Where are you coming from?" "AOL-TimeWarner Creek Villages." "Which one?" "The new one." "Oh, OK. So, you're going to want to get on the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Freeway, eastbound." "OK." "Go for about 5 miles, and then you're going to want to get on the Merrill Lynch Expressway, northbound. Then go about another 3 miles. You'll pass the old State Farm stadium, and get off at exit 155-Citigroup." "That's the one with the giant Philip Morris sign?" "Yeah and that big display screen. Sometimes they show the WalMart Family Show, which is nice when you're stuck in traffic. Anyway, get off there and when you get to the light, turn right onto BankOfAmerica Blvd." "OK" "From there go about 3 lights and turn at the Disney-McDonald's sign and drive through the arches. Then go another block and turn left onto MonsantoFarms Rd. That's just after you pass AT&T High School." "Yep." "OK, then your next right is going to be HP-Compaq St. Turn right. Go past to the entrance to the Enron-Exxon-Mobil Villages and turn into PepsiCo Valley Apartments. That's my place. At the gate just pull up to the monitors. It'll let you type in my name after you watch the 30 second ad. I'm in the Pizza Hut building, apartment 25." "Allright. I'll see you in about 30 minutes." "OK. What kind of car are you driving by the way, so I can look out for you?" "It's a yellow Ford Camel-LowTar, with a Wells-Fargo-Amex banner on the front." "Great. See you in 30 or so." "OK, bye" *click* "Thank you for using Sprint! If you'd like to apply for the GE Platinum MasterCard, just say any word, or please hold silently to be disconnected."

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