Well, they're still going to be there. Just in a different place (that's just as prominent). I'm not a fan of tons of advertising in the ballpark...especially not on things like the facade and foul poles. I understand that these signs are "honoring" some decent Houston businesses doing good things for the community...just wish they could be honored another way besides polluting the ballpark. They should place LED boards along the facade that not only can honor these businesses but also display game related info, or be converted to pertinent graphics (K signs?) or something. Anything to avoid the further polluting of signs in a taxpayer funded ballpark that the team does not own and shouldn't be able to do whatever they want to it.
I hear ya, but I think it is something that we have to accept: there will always be permanent advertising in stadiums. It has been going on for literally centuries. As much as a ribbon board spot may seem nice, these guys are dishing out some decent dough for prime spots. On top of that, the money is going to an opportunity that may not exist had this advertising campaign not began. Are they benefiting from giving money to charity? Hell yeah they are, and if that puts baseball diamonds across the city of Houston for kids, I think we are missing the point. Now we get our skyline back, and some decent pub for a good thing done poorly before.
Again... I understand why they are putting up the signs. Fully understand the presence of advertising in the ballpark. Doesn't change the fact that these signs, as long as they're in a place of prominence, makes the ballpark look much worse. If they have to find a way to keep them, there's got to be a more tasteful compromise. All the meanwhile, the "championship" banners (the one thing that should be of prominence in any ballpark... even if they are just mostly division and WC championships), are being moved for the second time in three years... and the flag pennant setup probably won't look as good coming off the light tower vs. the facade.
Then make the signs look less of an eyesore. Hell, name the field after them. Feature a company on Tal's hill, or the flagpole, ... or the train (having a bunch of different cars behind the locomotive that have the company name is not only keeping them in a place of prominence, but also is mimicking what real trains look like). Hell, put them all over union station. Come up with a way to honor them that doesn't make the ballpark itself look ugly (both in person, and on TV).
What I want to know is why do they call it charity if they have their name on a 20 foot billboard inside a ballpark? Sounds more like advertising.
The two are not mutually exclusive. Nearly all corporations who do some sort of charitable work advertise it in some way.
Exactly. Sure, in a perfect world, they would anonymously donate or just have small ads, but they want to have their names immortalized in MMP for doing what they did... and I don't blame them. And I am sure they may be getting tax write offs too, but hey, if they didn't give the money, the charities wouldn't have it. In the end, I think that's what's important.
I love your train idea. Advertising is 100% tax deductible. Charitable contributions are only deductible up to 10% of income. Carry forwards are only 5 years and there is no carryback. So, it is a smart choice.
We shall see. Having billboards throughout the facade, while no longer blocking the outdoor views, could still look tacky (and it will dominate the home plate view still). Having the pennants posted on the light tower could also end up looking worse from where they are now.
No interest in arguing about the decor of a baseball stadium especially when the club is doing something to reverse the one huge issue fans have had with our beautiful stadium in 14 years.
Well, when the product on the field is as bad as any city has ever had to sit through for 3 straight years, and the majority of the city cannot even watch them on TV... you tend to focus on things like the "decor" of a baseball stadium.
What's wrong with the train? The stadium is built on a former train station. The hill provides a bit of a home field advantage? Anybody remember Puma's falling-down catch out there? Thanks, hill.
