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The B Train, Brought To You By Bloomberg

Jen Chung

Published Jul 27, 2004

Modified Mar 6, 2008

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Jen Chung

Published Jul 27, 2004

Modified Mar 6, 2008

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Holy cow, if the MTA really does find sponsors for the city's subway stations, Gothamist would definitely have a bake sale to raise money to get a really crappy, cheap subway station (probably something on the G) named after us! The NY Times' Michael Luo reports that the MTA has "quietly issued" RFPs from marketing companies to see what sponsorships they can conjure up, given the current fervor of corporations trying to reach consumers everywhere and the $1 billion deficit the MTA is facing. Why, it's only been in the recent past that subway cars are blanketed in one advertiser's message, now you could be getting on at Google Station (something in the old Silicon Alley, we think). The MTA argues that its transportation system is as valuable, if not more, than stadiums who get named after companies, since people take the train every day. Other cool transportation facts from the article: More people ride with the authority in 11 weeks than fly airlines in an entire year and every three years the authority moves the "equivalent of every man, woman and child on the planet." Of course, there are those worried about potential of corporations seeping into every part of our lives - and "how low will New York sink?" Gothamist found Gene Russianoff's (of the Straphangers) guarded answers interestin (he suggested the MTA poll NYC residents, as well as go slowly) because reveune from sponsorships would help keep subway fares down and hopefully have more money for subway upkeep to be better. But still, no one really wants a branded subway platform - we like them smelly and sweaty.

Luo's article points out that some subway stations are already branded: The 116th station is associated with Columbia University, 47-50 Street is Rockefeller Center, and Times Square is really named after the Times. Some other stations are branded, though not officially: Bedford is Hipster City; Seventh Avenue in Park Slope is MacLaren Baby Stroller Row; and on some game nights, the 7 is the Mets Express. The NY Times also speaks with people about the possibility of sponsored subway stations: "That's insane."

The Daily News brings up the subway violence this past year, while the Post cleverly comes up with Dairy Queens Plaza in their story. There was a book, Jennifer Government, from last year, where people have the last name "Nike," "McDonald," or "Nike"; Gothamist found it more clever in concept than in execution. Mayor Bloomberg tried to find ways to get value from I Love NY and Gothamist Sports on naming the Jets Stadium.

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