I'm fine with the name Toyota. But I agree with others who feel that "Toyota Center" really sounds like a parking lot with five thousand shiny cars. Instead, how about the "Toyota Summit"? This avoids all connotations of brightly-lit dealerships. More importantly, it gives us another link to our championship past, something that would go hand in hand with the new logo. Heck, with that name we could even once again refer to the arena as simply "The Summit." Additionally, the word "Summit" literally means "high place," which fits now more than ever with Yao. And I have to think that these are connotations and images the Toyota corporation would be comfortable with from a branding perspective. My 2 cents . . .
It would have been cooler if we could have called it the Lexus Center. Atleast that would sound upscale.
It's not as bad as all that!! As a frequent patron of GM Place ("The Garage") I can tell you that they also have cars on display, and it's really no big deal. For the cash they spend I guess you have to let them push their product. That's why I would have prefered a beer company, I suppose.. Come on girls. Look around. As far a corporate names go, Houston came out pretty well. By the way...I'm starting to like the trendy sushi logo too.
Les pays just over $7 million annually for the building. We don't know if the naming rights will cover that because financial details haven't been disclosed. The city receives 5 percent of all naming rights so that will factor in as well.
I liked the "The Summit" but not "Compaq Center. Toyota Center? It's going to take some time for me to get used to hearing that name. "Minute Maid Park" is the very worse of them all! It could have also be named the "Chevy Center", "Dodge Arena," and etc. I don't own any of those vechicles. I have a Mitsubishi!
Or "Camaro Center." All the Power Dancers could have worn mullet wigs. That would have been a hot ticket for sure.
I'm just happy we didn't go with anything super hokey like the "Toyota Launchpad." (in an attempt to mesh with the new logo and all). Then people would call it simply "The Pad," which would bring on a whole slew of unwelcome sponsors . . .
Actually no it couldnt. GM, Chevy's parent company has naming rights already secured to GM Place. And as brought up earlier by someone else, GM has vehicles always on display in the concourses as does Ford at the Lions new den too. And they really dress up the concourses to showcase these vehicles too. I've even seen interesting concept cars of the future featured at both venues. And NO, there are no sales people there. This is DEFINITLY not as bad as everyone thinks. In fact, I wont be suprised if it doesnt become a gathering spot for people in Toyota Center. On the other hand, seeing a pickup truck in the arena bowl is going to be kinda odd. Now that really lets a visitor know there in Texas, capital of the truck. Hopefully its a smooth custom dropped Tundra on 22's or something. That would really be sweet.
or maybe they could put this truck in the "Tundra Zone"......... or they can go old school on us Oh yeah, this "Tundra Zone" could get very interesting.
LOL.... Hmmm... You: "Honey, I'm headed out to the Seven Up Yours Center." Wifey: "Up mine? No, up yours! You aren't going anywhere! Come back in here and change the baby" damn..I wish I was funny... tiger... I know you kids love them ugly ass trucks..but since Toyota doesnt sell them like that..i doubt they would put those kind of trucks on display...
The sky has not fallen. But it's a pretty reasonable statement that the Rockets organization will be influenced by its corporate sponsors when it makes decisions. This kind of thing happens all the time. Take companies, for instance. Most boards of directors purchase "key man" insurance for certain executives because they are important to the business. In fact, in venture capital and/or private equity deals, funds that sponsor these companies often require it or else they won't put any money into the company. In filmmaking, film financiers often require similar insurance and/or approval over key talent involved in a project before they are willing to contribute to the financing of a film. The companies that finance Mission: Impossible 3, for instance, probably have protection should Tom Cruise fall out. Finally, in television advertising, major networks will often cancel shows or censor their content to please advertisers. While I doubt that the Rockets will be "run" by Toyota or any other sponsor, I wonder if there are provisions in their sponsorship agreement that allow Toyota to lower its naming rights fees if Yao is no longer a Rocket or if he does not perform at a certain level.
