WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Forbes
log/2008/09/whats-in-a-name.html
Sept 16 2008
NY
The decision of New York’s Giants and Jets to drop Allianz as their
stadium naming rights sponsor for their new stadium raises more
questions than it answers. The German based financial company had
connections to the Third Reich during the Nazi’s genocide of the
Jews. So it is not hard to understand why many in the public and
media were outraged by the idea of seeing the Allianz name on the
new stadium.
But the boycott and death of the Allianz sponsorship begs the question:
What about other sports related deals with companies that have ties
to governments that have committed atrocities in the past? Citigroup
bought the naming rights for the new stadium the New York Mets will
open next season. Citi does a business with Turkey, which committed
genocide against the Armenians not long before the Nazis sought
extermination of the Jews. Should the kibosh be put on Citi’s deal?
During WWII the Japanese army committed war crimes that have
been called an Asian Holocaust against civilians and prisoners of
war. Toyota Motor built military trucks for the Imperial Army. Yet the
Houston Rockets play in the Toyota Center. Then there is Chase Field,
home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two banks that are part of JPMorgan
Chase history let customers use slaves as collateral.
Why stop at stadium naming rights?
Mercedes-Benz, a huge part of the Hitler war machine, sponsors the
NBA, NFL and PGA golf tournaments. Should the auto maker be given the
boot? There is a lot in a name–both money and emotion–when it comes
attached to a property that will be given enormous attention. But
shouldn’t the rules be applied evenly?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
