Where the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars play.

Used to be a great airline, but struggling since 9/11. Lately, Don Carty the CEO has been in local press letting everyone know that they have to downsize pretty significantly.

When I worked at BEA Systems, the executive management of BEA (in San Jose) wanted to spend $50,000 to put up a neon sign on the 10 story building we were occupying. My local VP was against the idea (and eventually convinced the executives) for several reasons.

1. That's another help desk support person we can hire.
2. It will cause customers to start arriving at our office (we were an engineering office, not a sales office).
3. People looking for jobs will show up. (At the time we had a part-time receptionist and light security.)
4. If someone (terrorist, former customer) becomes angry with us, our sign becomes a target (and the sign tells the angry person which building to attack).
5. The signs are never maintained well, without spending a lot more money. Power goes off, light bulbs burn out, etc.

Now, imagine what some of these companies could have done with the money they spent buying naming rights to an arena.

I think if a company is dumb enough to spend a bunch of money buying naming rights to a center, then perhaps they aren't smart enough to stay in business, either. (Enron, 3Com Park)

Southwest Airlines is the official sponser of the NFL, and some charities, but they don't run around spending millions on naming rights to buildings.

Glen Austin