Olympic Venue Naming Rights: Six Major Companies Reportedly In Bidding

BEIJING -- For sale: the right to name one giant bird's nest. Serious inquiries only.

For a price tag in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the manager of the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium is selling the 30-year rights to put a corporate name on the front of the Beijing Olympics' most prominent venue, as well as the rights to about 10 specific partnerships, such as soft drinks and technology, inside. Next door, Beijing's "Water Cube" Aquatic Center is also selling partnership rights, though so far only inside.

Ben Sturner, chief executive of New York-based Leverage Agency, which is helping broker both deals, says six multinational companies are competing for title rights to the stadium, which cost $500 million to build and whose steel superstructure resembles a bird's nest. He won't name them but says he has been taking top executives through a whirlwind sales pitch in recent days, including visits to high-profile Olympic events.

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Comments

[Amalek]

It sort of reminds me of MIcrosoft's Vista sofware.

[javaman]

I think it should be called, "the long march to capitalism" arena.

[realityczech4u]

"Any sign going up on the front of the stadium "has to be very classy and sophisticated," Mr. Sturner says.
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I fail to see how it is possible for it to be "classy and sophisticated". Corporate names and logos are nothing but capitalist graffiiti. Go ahead and pimp out your public facilities, China. Guys like Mr. Sturmer can broker you into adopting some of the tawdriest aspects of American capitalism. I suggest KFC. The "Kentucky Fried Chicken" stadium would be the epitome of class and sophistication.

[chinationreport]

History will remember the 'Bird's Nest' as a venue of significance for China and its people. Any company that gets that naming right will get a business and image boost in China. GE alone worked on hundreds of projects for Oympics. GE technology is helping China improving environment in many ways, water, air, waste management. I see GE as a very positive partner. I just don't see why Chinese need to switch from their tea to drink Coke and get fat...

From:
http://www.chinationreport.com/#EditorsChoice

[darthdarcy]

Call it The Bilderberger Nest or the Tri-Lateral Commission Nest, or just The Rats Nest for both of them and the Red Chinese in a Joint Venture..!

Simple as that..!

[revko]

Looks like a tired rubber band ball