City is selling naming rights to filmmaker — for 60 days, at least
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comAltoona, Pa., won't be with us much longer
Seeded on Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:26 PM EDT (msnbc.com)
- msnbc.com sites & shows:
- TODAY
- Rock Center
- Nightly News
- Meet the Press
- Dateline
- Morning Joe
- Hardball
- Ed
- Maddow
- Last Word
- msnbc tv
Leave a Comment:
For a price I'd bet they'd sell their souls too.
Named POM...As the locals would say, Piece Of Manure.
Will my GPS automatically update this change or do I have to go to the web for this? I was planning on visiting POM Wonderful Presents the Greastest Movie Ever Sold but I might miss the exit if it hasn't been updated on my Zumo
Nice one Steve!
Shss! Glad I don't need to send any mail to them. Couldn't afford the envelope for the address.
They may really need the money
Yeah--well, wait till you see the flashing Bud Light signs on the White House.
Ladies and Gentlemen. May I present to you the real problem with Americas economy...
Lack of responsible spending.
Let's buy something (the name of a town) that has no tangible benefit. Oh, I'm not counting the money he'll make from the movie? The movie that has no tangible benefit?..... Ladies and Gentlemen....
This is an old trick. Ever hear how the town of Truth or Consequences got it's name? Look it up. There's nothing new anymore.
Yes, responsible spending would be nice if we had money. But, unfortunately, we have had to hold our belts to give the highest 10% a tax cut. Maybe, the "trickle-down" will work to restore the original name the city to the original name, Altoona. Should we ask the companies to name or towns or the rich people?
They already have!!
I was just thinking about this same dilemma, I am glad they are making a documentary on it!......we taxpayers pay for the stadiums to be built (socialism). Then the owners get stinking rich. Then a corporation comes by and names it after their company after donating some money. However the taxpayer built the dam thing, shouldn't the name remain the city of the town?
Undisclosed amount according to local papers here in Pom Wonderful Presents, PA is $25,000
Jack, LOL- ever been there? I have to agree
Abt 4 years ago on the night Bonjovi Concert in Toronto,my wife and I, on our anniversery meet some students of the famed Altoona. They spoke highly of their city:) at the bar we laughted and drank our buzz beer with some of the greatest people in the world. If you're out there remember, raise your glass high and cheer, Altoona we'll miss you the s....... of the world!
And the point is? People will do anything for money?
Will maps be printed? I want one.
As a sign painter, I'm wondering it the offramp, city signs, etc. will be changed. I'd like to get that contract.
I do hope you're being facetious - otherwise I would have to think that you missed the part of the article that said the change would only be effective for 60 days.
ok i live in the sold out town of altoona....well does this mean that we have write out our checks to altoona school district or do we write what the hell name on the check cause its no longer altoona.......lol it would be funny if people were writing checks to this new name or should i say sentence of a name..... now that would be funny ....well cant say altoona never made world wide news...
Make them out to "The town formerly known as Altoona"?
cant wait to come support the baseball team.... the POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Curve!!!!!!
You are spending out of your own pocket for your childrens' education? Yes, if I had to pay out of my own pocket for the education of my/our children, I would sell my name to the highest bidder.
Not likely. The company bought naming rights, not the town itself.
It would only apply to the address. i.e:
John Smith, 123 Any Road, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, PA.
Anything named with "Altoona" would remain as is....as it is a "business" name.
I guess Aunt Oona won"t be Oona from Altoona any more? Sad, what people will do for money Pete
I'm wondering if we'll have to start call people from Altoona Pomaides, instead of the usual Altoids.
Even better she will be Oona from POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. You just don't get a handle like that every day.
Above
Before too long, this is going to catch on ... hey, where are you going this weekend? "oh, i'm going to coca-cola, virgina.. i hear it's a sweet place!" or.. "oh man, i just had the longest flight in from Microsoft, TN. The flight was delayed w/ an unspecified error... they told me to contact my system administrator for details.... whoever that is."
Haaahahahahaah.....aaaaaaaaaahahahahahaahahahahahahhah.... 666???
Pennsylvania already has strange names to some of its towns to begin with. There's "Bird In Hand," "Butztown," and my personal favorite, "Intercourse." :)
too funny
LMAO..you are right Pennsylvania does have some pretty funny names..Don't forget Blueball Rd..Now it goes along with those funny little towns you have listed up there!! I have family in Altoona I can hear my uncle's laughter over all of this now!!!
Is that in Canada?
...Oh, what a wonderful idea!
 Ive been there to visit family, Parts of town are beautiful. At least they are only changing it for 60 days.And the $$ goes to help the police. Not bad if they can get rid of the corrupt ones. There is a town here in North Texas that has changed their name to DISH... as in Dish Network. All 218 residents (at the time) got free basic programming and a dvr for 10 years in echange for the name change. but with all the contamination there from drilling I dont care what they gave the residents... I wouldnt live there.Â
 Ive been there to visit family, Parts of town are beautiful. At least they are only changing it for 60 days.And the $$ goes to help the police. Not bad if they can get rid of the corrupt ones. There is a town here in North Texas that has changed their name to DISH... as in Dish Network. All 218 residents (at the time) got free basic programming and a dvr for 10 years in echange for the name change. but with all the contamination there from drilling I dont care what they gave the residents... I wouldnt live there.Â
 Isn't that how Truth or Consequences, NM got its name?
When I grew up there, there were about 80,000 people! I'll have to call my Mom and say "What the? Did you run everybody off?" With shopping malls and restaurants, galore, where's all the people coming from?
They come from Bedford.
So true! I woudn't have been a weekend without going shopping at the Logan Valley Mall! I still go up there when I get up there.
Used to live there, The longest 30 years of my life. Was like getting a sentence of 25 to life in a state pen. What a S&#$hole. Never so happy to get retired so I could move back to civilization once again. They had to take them up on the offer because the area is very depressed. Not many cities would go thru such hassle for just 25k, but any money is more then what they have.
I've been there. Stayed in a the Sharaton Hotel back in 1979 with an Aunt and Uncle, brother and cousins.
So New Hampshire is the Granite State, will that make Pa. the Pomegranite state?
Typical Pennsylvania Coal miner mentality anything for a fast buck for the crooked politico's.
shut your face, mtpb2009. if there weren't so many environmental groups and political activists and lobbyists trying to shut down the coal industry, there might be more money for the town to earn. instead, a once thriving rail town and coal hub have fallen on hard times, not to become a slave to middle management of imported goods. make sure you know the history of a region and state before you throw ignorant statements into forums online. they may have sold their name, but at this point, that's about all they have left to sell.
Stupid name. Doesn't make me wanna run out and buy their juice either for some reason. They can market all they want. Hope the money helps. Do they have to change letterhead and all that crap? Wonder how much it's gonna cost the city in the long run.
Hmmm, will the team jerseys reflect the change...? Starts at the shirt and continues down the leg and around the back...
What teams?
Companies already own politicians why not start selling towns and states to the highest bidders.
Maybe it has already been done at a larger scale and now it's starting from dhe bottom. How much are we in debt now days???
You said it! Atleast this time it is out in the open instead of behind closed doors as usual.
Prediction: Altoona's police department will not invest in more equipment and expensive vehicles in order to ticket more people needlessly. Don't get me wrong, police departments in Altoona area and accross the country do a great job and put their lives on the line every day... but if there is no crime to support hiring so many officers don't justify their existence by ticketing people going left of center or 6 miles over the limit.
Supporting evidence: The following police department fund themselves in large part by ticket revenue: In PA there are North Strabane, Peters Township, South Strabane as well as State Police detachments in Greene County. In WV there are Morgantown, Granville, and Summersville (which has been named the biggest speed trap in the United States).
Where the money is REALLY needed: The money raised would have been a huge boon to the school district which is draining money from landowners. I am not sure how many districts are in Altoona's county but PA needs to take a look at how their neighboring states plan school districts. Most states have one district for each county while Washington County alone has 6 and Allegheny I believe has 29!
I don't know where you come from but most states don't have 1 school district per county. I have lived in 2 states and both had multiple school districts in each county. also I have family that live in 3 other states and they have multiple school districts in each county. El paso county Colorado has several with like 3 or 4 alone in the city of Colorado Springs. school districts are broke down by population. not by cities or counties. there is a school district in Pa that I went to as a kid that at the time had 5 or 6 small towns and outline farm areas in it that merge with another school district in the 90's when the attendence dropped in the other school district. so the # of small towns in 1 school district increased. and if I recall the county lines right that school district is now in 2 different counties
tdevil, I was raised near Altoona and now live in Maryland. The state of Maryland has one school district per county (with # of schools per county dependent on population obviously). You may want to research Maryland's national ranking in education with its "one school district per county" method. Maybe it isn't so silly a concept after all. I'm glad my kids are going to school in MD.
there is a reason there are that many schools in the area it is because it is the city of Pittsburgh and its metropolitan area, which has around 2 million people i dont think they can all go to 2 school districts. also i live in peters and dont know how they fund the police by tickets our magistrate will let anyone off if you promise to not do it again and say your sorry. i am also glad peters has a separate school district because it is much better than the ones around it.
Only 1 school per county? I think school districting is done by population, not by county. Each State (OR Commonwealth) has their own rules.
I think they do it by whatever alignment the stars happen to be in.
So, it's only for 60 days, and the movie has already been made? Seems a bit silly to me. Will they have to change the signs on the freeway? That would be a waste of state and Federal funds. They didn't really think this through...what a pain in the neck.
lol to funny...going to have to the call the folks in Mill run and tell them about it lol