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With the Citigroup buying the naming rights to the new Mets Stadium, MTA executives are hoping to hitch a ride on the company's money train.
On Tuesday, the Daily News reported that the MTA will be in discussions with Citigroup about renaming "two MTA stations: the Shea Stadium stops on the subway and commuter railroad systems, an authority spokesman confirms." There were two opinions in the article: An MTA board member who said he would have "no problem with the MTA doing everything it can to increase revenues from non customers so as to keep fares and tolls as level as possible," and the Straphangers' Gene Russianoff, who said, "What's next? Will we give riders directions to take the Bayer Aspirin IRT to Walt Disney's Times Square and then switch to the McDonald's 7 line to the Citigroup stop in Queens - which also happens to be the stop for the Mets Stadium?" Well, if the stadium is called "Citi Field," it would make some sense for the stop to be Citi Field, too. But it's true, we don't want the McDonald's 7 line - though we'd gladly have a Febreze IRT with Febreze-scented train cars.
Remember how two years ago the MTA announced it would look into sponsorships of subway stations, by issuing RFPs to various companies? And then the Top of the Rock is being hyped on the F train.
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Maybe they can pay the scratchiti clowns to carve the logos on the windows.
www.forgotten-ny.com
Having the private sector sponsor the maintenance of subway stations is what the MTA should have pursued decades ago.
I used to take 47-50 St/Rockefeller Center every day and loved how the outer mezzanine was all decked out in classic, pristine Rockefeller-Center-style Art-Deco with shops, banks, security, a zealous cleaning crew, and tony architecture & signage. All well maintained 'cause it was Rockefeller Center's responsibility (and it had a reputation to maintain), but once you went through the turnstiles...blech. The interior mezzanine and platform was everything we've come to expect from the MTA. Grimy floors, peeling paint, falling tile, et cetera. But hey, the original, untouched IND system architecture still retained the charm & warmth of a detention center, psych ward, or housing project.
The stark contrast between the interior and exterior mezzanine symbolized (for me at least) the difference between public and private entities. The IND subway system was a socialist endeavor and its stations are pragmatic and utilitarian in design. While Rockefeller Center, a temple to capitalism, is lavish and glamorous in design.
That station's namesake and the companies in its vicinity should definitely be chipping in its upkeep. Rockefeller Center 's been getting free publicity ever since 47-50 St Station was built. Rockefeller Center should give its visitors a seamless experience; from the train doors all the way up to the ice-skating rink or else the MTA will strike Rockefeller Center's name off of the station name, likewise with the future CitiField.
It's only fair.