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[Chron] Rockets' suit cries foul over Toyota Center lights

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by TreeRollins, Dec 4, 2009.

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  1. TreeRollins

    TreeRollins Member

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    Rockets' suit cries foul over Toyota Center lights
    Team sues over sign that’s been dark for 9 months
    By MARY FLOOD
    HOUSTON CHRONICLE
    Dec. 4, 2009, 12:07AM

    Helicopters passing over down*town Houston have had less to see the past few months — the Toyota Center's red rooftop sign has been dark.

    The giant glowing lights with the automaker's emblem and the name Toyota Center that curve with the roof above the home of the Houston Rockets went out early this year after a fire. The team's umbrella company sued three light companies this week to try to get it relighted.

    Accusing the light display's designer, producer and installer all of breach of contract, breach of warranty, fraud and other civil allegations, Clutch City Sports & Entertainment asks in a lawsuit for unspecified damages.

    “On February 19, 2009, the sign caught fire and has not been re-energized due to the fire danger that its current condition poses,” reads the lawsuit. “To this date, and with the Rockets' season in full swing, the sign remains damaged and unlit despite plaintiff's repeated requests to all defendants to rectify the defects with the sign.”

    Clutch City sued Bos Lighting Design, which designed the display; iLight Technologies, which produced the sign; and Melton Electric, which installed it.

    John Bos, the Houston-based designer of the lights, said the Rockets have been unable to resolve the issue with the manufacturer and sued everybody.

    He said the display uses LED bulbs backlighting a round frosted red tube that looks like neon but is less expensive and less likely to break in hurricane winds.

    The marketing director of Chicago-based iLight did not respond to repeated e-mails and calls for this story. An employee at Melton in Houston said the company would have no comment.

    Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis said the lights were designed for helicopter shots and that such signs typically are part of a sponsorship deal.

    The Toyota Center is owned by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. It is operated by Clutch City, which is controlled by Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. The center hosts the Rockets, the Houston Aeros and many entertainment events.

    The arena seats about 18,000 and had its groundbreaking in 2001. Toyota purchased naming rights in 2003, a few months before it opened.

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6752159.html
     
    #1 TreeRollins, Dec 4, 2009
  2. rawool

    rawool Member

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    Well, if they paid for it, might as well get it fixed...
     
    #2 rawool, Dec 4, 2009
  3. boomboom

    boomboom I GOT '99 PROBLEMS

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    Hire this guy to fix it...
    [​IMG]
     
    #3 boomboom, Dec 4, 2009
  4. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    LOL ... nicely timed, boomboom.

    "Those little lights are not twinkling."

    <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8qc_RYm0ylA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8qc_RYm0ylA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

    I hadn't noticed the TC lights were out on the roof, but I bet Toyota is pissed.
     
    #4 Clutch, Dec 4, 2009
  5. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    Out most of the year, and I never noticed.

    How long before Toyota sues the Rockets for not keeping it lit?
     
    #5 JuanValdez, Dec 4, 2009
  6. oomp

    oomp Member

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    I worked for BLD when they put the sign up. Screwed up from the beginning. BLD was called in late on several arena jobs because they tried to cut corners when the arena was built and had to have someone mop up the mess before the Allstar game came to town. The Rockets are biting someone that saved their ass IMHO.

    I don't work there anymore, so these opinons are mine and not those of the company.
     
    #6 oomp, Dec 4, 2009
  7. Nice Rollin

    Nice Rollin Member

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    never noticed either
     
    #7 Nice Rollin, Dec 4, 2009
  8. SirCharlesFan

    SirCharlesFan Member

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    Is it just me, or is the Toyota Center the most plain arena that has been built in the past decade? I went there for the first time during the Lakers series (I live out of state), and the lack of amenities/decoration was really surprising to me.
     
    #8 SirCharlesFan, Dec 4, 2009
  9. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Member

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    I thought it was pretty nice with some great sightlines and amenities.
     
    #9 rocketsjudoka, Dec 4, 2009
  10. Ras137

    Ras137 Member

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    Its better than that craphole the Astros call home. I abhor the sight lines there.

    I just wish the upper concourse had cup holders. That really pisses me off.
     
    #10 Ras137, Dec 4, 2009
  11. Kam

    Kam Member

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    They've been showing that movie on AMC all evening.
     
    #11 Kam, Dec 5, 2009
  12. fallenphoenix

    fallenphoenix Member

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    yup, and i'm not complaining :grin:
     
    #12 fallenphoenix, Dec 5, 2009
  13. hjg877

    hjg877 Member

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    At least the roof isn't moldy.
     
    #13 hjg877, Dec 5, 2009
  14. Pete Chilcutt

    Pete Chilcutt Member

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    I thought this was going to be a depth perception article...
     
    #14 Pete Chilcutt, Dec 5, 2009
  15. Parlett316

    Parlett316 Member

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    When I flew into Houston last year I stayed at the Hilton next door. The one thing I remember was being completely hammered the night before the game destroying Jack in the Box food and looking down at the Toyota Center lights.

    Then I thought, "Yao is going to dunk on some dudes bean tomorrow night on my birthday :cool:"
     
    #15 Parlett316, Dec 5, 2009
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