Dept. of Awkward Optics: Obama May Move Convention Speech to BofA Stadium

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Dept. of Awkward Optics: Obama May Move Convention Speech to BofA Stadium


This won't look bad, at all. From Bloomberg:

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is considering moving the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Bank of America Stadium to sell more skyboxes to wealthy donors, according to three Democrats involved in the fundraising.

The almost 74,000-seat home of the Carolina Panthers professional football team would also have room for the convention to sell more floor passes close to the stage. Planners for the event are struggling to meet a $36.6 million fundraising goal, according to the Democrats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter.

Fortunately, the team isn't totally lacking in self-awareness:

Obama’s advisers are aware of the political downside of the president delivering his nationally televised acceptance in a stadium named for a bank that considered imposing a fee that he said would have “mistreated” customers, they said.

That would be outweighed by the chance to lure more big- dollar contributors, including corporate foundations, to cover the convention’s costs, the three Democrats said. The rest of the convention, scheduled to begin Sept. 3, will be conducted at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/761539/dept._of_awkward_optics%3A_obama_may_move_convention_speech_to_bofa_stadium/

[Better Believe It]

2. So corporations and big business tycoons will be funding Democratic/Repub conventions once again.

Nothing to see here folks .... move along now!

[EC]

6. How?

I'm missing it. From what I read the stadium isn't being donated. We'll still have to rent it.

[Better Believe It]

14. They buy expensive tickets and pay for convention expenses. Read the article.

And I believe they also get some federal money.

[doc03]

3. Don't see any problem both parties are in bed with BOA n/t

[woo me with science]

4. Truth in advertising. nt

[EC]

5. I don't see where the stadium is being donated, so the

only problem is with the name? I notice on the thread people saying the Dem's are being bought, but from what read, they'll have to rent the stadium. Did I miss something?

[RC]

7. Yeah, kick backs

[ZenLefty]

8. Bank of America only owns the naming rights

It's not uncommon for sports arenas and stadiums to be named after some corporation. They buy the name rights so that their corporate name and logo get mentioned on TV every time a sports game is televised and their logo is on display. Bank of America doesn't actually own the stadium, nor do they necessarily have any sort of interest beyond naming rights.

[RC]

9. The money they pay for the naming rights, gives them many more Rights.

Depending, they can even have a say in how the place is run. Money talks, loudly.

[ZenLefty]

13. I've read a few of those naming rights purchase agreements

I'm acutely aware what rights are purchased and what comes with the naming rights. In general, the goal is advertising. Corporate logos, signs, how the stadium is referred to when it is mentioned in print or in broadcasts. What color they may paint the walls. What kind of design they can put into the carpet. What kind of artwork gets placed in and around the stadium. So yes, they may have some say in how the place is run. Never came across anything about kickbacks, though.

[JackRiddler]

10. Time Warner vs. Bank of America?

It's clear which one is deservedly considered the biggest villain, but do either of these entities have a good reputation?

[Earth_First]

12. Regardless, it's a right-to-work state with the lowest unionized workforce in the nation at 3.2% n/t

[NightTemplar]

11. if he wears a BofA lapel pin.... BofA may kick a million into his campaign fund. nt

[JackRiddler]

15. I'd hold out for 20 million on that.

[DeSwiss]

16. Birds of a feather, etc., etc., etc....... :-/ K&R - n/t