March 2nd, 2011
Should Connecticut Sell Ad Space on its Websites? How About Selling Naming Rights to Bridges, Overpa
Hartford Advocate
There are now a few Connecticut state websites selling ads to raise cash. One agency study suggests we could suck in millions by selling naming rights to rail stations and other facilities. Connecticut already charges fees for putting the names of restaurants and hotels on highway off-ramp signs.
Why, there’s even a bridge on Interstate 91 officially named for a favorite legislative watering hole: The Officers’ Club of Connecticut Memorial Bridge. (Oh, yeah, that one was done for free.)
Welcome to Connecticut Inc., a potential goldmine of commercial advertising just waiting for a revenue-desperate state like ours to start digging. After all, when you’re more than $3.5 billion in the hole and people are screaming about proposed tax increases, other less painful ways to bring in a little cash begin to look a whole lot better, even if they do feel a little sleazy.