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[Budget] State of Virginia selling naming rights to rest areas

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by SirCharlesFan, Mar 28, 2011.

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  1. SirCharlesFan

    SirCharlesFan Member

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    So, the real question is, what companies would you suggest sponsor rest areas?

    ---

    ARLINGTON, Va (Reuters) – Driving through Virginia? You could soon be making a pit stop at the Geico Travel Plaza.

    The commonwealth is selling naming rights to its 42 rest stops and welcome centers to help defray the $20 million annual operating and maintenance costs.

    "By partnering with the private sector, we will save taxpayer dollars and keep our rest areas and welcome centers open," Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, a Republican, said in a statement this week.

    With states facing severe budget shortfalls, rest stops are one of the easiest expenses to cut. Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, a Democrat, closed 19 stops in 2009 to save a projected $9 million annually.

    McDonnell reopened them about eight months later, and directed the Virginia Department of Transportation and other state agencies to figure out a money-making scheme.

    The state doesn't have an estimate of potential revenue or any particular vendors in mind, said transportation spokesman Joe Vagi.

    "We would certainly welcome and encourage anyone to submit a proposal," Vagi said.

    Virginia rest stops serve an estimated 33 million visitors each year, according to the state.

    State officials are working with the Federal Highway Administration to not run afoul of federal rules that block commercial enterprises on federally funded roadways.

    Several other states -- including New Jersey and Illinois -- are looking into similar sponsorship initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

    Florida lawmakers are weighing whether to offer naming rights for any state-owned transportation property, from highways to parks.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110326/us_nm/us_virginia_highways_rest
     
    #1 SirCharlesFan, Mar 28, 2011
  2. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    America . .. . where soon EVERYTHING will be forsale.

    Question: Would you give up the naming rights for your child [with a contract stating the name cannot be changed until the kid is 18] for 1000000$? 100000$? 10000$ 1000$

    Rocket River
     
    #2 Rocket River, Mar 28, 2011
  3. thadeus

    thadeus Member

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    We really need to start realizing that putting money at the top of our list of priorities is gradually erasing any real culture our country possesses.
     
    #3 thadeus, Mar 28, 2011
  4. dmc89

    dmc89 Member

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    This might be D&D material, but a devil's advocate response would be the free market has decided for this country where its priorities lie. Or that 'liberals' bankrupted the government with welfare spending, so we resort to such measures out of desperation.

    So then you counter that the health care bill meant to address cutting costs and pave the way for future massive health-care reform to reign in spending by consumers and government, but then they go back to step 1 and repeat ad nauseum old arguments.

    Anyway, Pfizer would be an appropriate buyer for naming rights.

    "Pretty soon, we'll have a pill that just keeps you going and going without needing any rest. Oh, and we'll make one for driving non-stop too."
     
    #4 dmc89, Mar 28, 2011
  5. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Member

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    not sure why anyone is up in arms over this one. It's not anything sacred or super historic. they're not branding state parks or something.. it's a freain rest stop.



    As for who I think should sponsor them.. how about Trojan? People would go nuts over that one..
     
    #5 kaleidosky, Mar 28, 2011
  6. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    I suppose El Paso Corp. wouldn't get much brand recognition for El Paso Rest Stop.

    But how about:

    Hooters Rest Stop
     
    #6 heypartner, Mar 28, 2011
  7. SirCharlesFan

    SirCharlesFan Member

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    I was thinking the Planters Peanuts might be interested.
     
    #7 SirCharlesFan, Mar 28, 2011
  8. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    btw: I assume anyone can buy rights. not just companies.

    Charlie Sheen Rest Stop.

    He could buy all of them between LA and Las Vegas.
     
    #8 heypartner, Mar 28, 2011
  9. Royals Ego

    Royals Ego Member

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    damn, them mexicans would be raking in mad bucks
     
    #9 Royals Ego, Mar 28, 2011
  10. BetterThanI

    BetterThanI Member

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    This guy might want to sponsor...

    [​IMG]
     
    #10 BetterThanI, Mar 28, 2011
  11. thadeus

    thadeus Member

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    The 'free market' doesn't decide anything, ever. It's not a person, it's not a computer with decision-making software, it's an ideology. It never decides anything, it never does anything - it doesn't even exist in any real sense.

    Like communism, it's a front for powerful people so that the rest of us believe that some abstract and largely unquantifiable process is really the reason why most of us are struggling while a few people are wealthy and in charge of our country.

    As for 'liberals' bankrupting government, I'd say that government itself has done a fairly thorough job of bankrupting the rest of us (with the exception of a small percentage of wealthy people who have paid large amounts of money to make sure that government represents the interests of the wealthy class).

    This conservative/liberal divide is bull****.
     
    #11 thadeus, Mar 28, 2011
  12. tested911

    tested911 Member

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    So were just talking about Rest stops right?

    Frigin Rest Stops? Hell if I don't have to pay for upkeeps of rest stops through tax paying dollars then DO THIS!!!..

    Let these corporations pay for upkeep... We might finally have rest stops that are acceptable to take a Sh@# in... lol
     
    #12 tested911, Mar 28, 2011
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