Watchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?
“Alex stood near Tiger Stadium. It was closed down now and abandoned, a ghost of itself. Alex loved baseball and lamented the new stadiums and their corporate sponsors. Who wanted to watch the almost spiritual game of baseball in a park named after a …damned financial institution?” – Gary Hardwick
I found this disturbing article early this morning:
End of an era: Sears Tower re-named to Willis Tower
Are you freakin’ kidding me??!! I’m all for keeping jobs in Chicago. But renaming the Sears Tower? Absurd and self-indulgent.
We stood by quietly when the World Music Center was first renamed Tweeter Center and then finally, the even more ridiculously corporate name; First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. In fact, I had to look that up. I can never remember what it’s called. When I’m talking about seeing a concert there, I refer to it simply as, “Tinley Park”.
We barely blinked an eye when the Rosemont Horizon was renamed Allstate Arena.
We even accepted when Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field. We just refer to it now as, “The Cell”, but secretly still think of it as Comiskey Park.
This one, The Sears Tower, is the final corporate straw. Not that any of us ever visit there…that’s for tourists. But as the article indicates, it’s an iconic landmark. We’re proud of the fact that our city houses the tallest building in the world (technically now the 4th tallest but we don’t actually acknowledge that dubious fact).
Will we EVER refer to this building as Willis Tower? I don’t think so. I certainly hope not.
If you agree, please let Willis know HERE.
Thanks for stopping by!
I heard about this on NPR. I think it is completely stupid to change the name. Building (and Bowl games) are getting names that are more of an advertisement than a name and it’s just ridiculous.
-Abby
Wow! I didn’t even know they had done that. It’s like over here. We have what was once called the Skydome. Now it’s Rogers Centre. Everyone still refers to it as the Dome though.
We’re from Chicago…We’re not supposed to take this lying down…and..I still call it the World in Tinley, sadly my son doesn’t know what I’m talking about when I call it that, but…still!
I think it’s retarded as well. And self-indulgent. Think about all the paperwork that has to be changed, now. Maps, brochures, tourist pamplets, books, etc. It’s just tacky on their part and I doubt anybody would ever remember to call it Willis – it’s been the Sears tower forever (regardless that Sears never was in there) and a landmark.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m so used to everything being bought up and renamed that I myself have become a sellout. Because if someone wanted to give me millions of dollars just to change my name, I’m pretty darned sure I’d do it. (OK. I’m so ashamed of my greedy self).
That new name gives me the “willies” – HA HA! Whatever, we’ll still call it the Sears Tower!
What next, they’ll rename the city of Chicago? Please – it’s so silly. It’s like changing my name, Jaime, to Fred. Nobody is EVER going to call me “Fred”. Because I’m not Fred. Nor will I ever be (thank goodness! lol). I’m babbling…lol 
This is just silly.
LOL – you have a point. I would happily change my name for millions too now that you mention it! Having said that, I’m not famous so no one would really care.
Thanks for your comments Fred!