Victory Park: AT&T Plaza

[Nagih12]

I saw on the DowntownDallas website and it said that Victory Plaza has a new name and will be switched to AT&T Plaza. Does anybody have other info about this? I myself don't like the name change. We go from Victory, to a whole new company. :grr: This is what it said:

AT&T NAMING ANNOUNCEMENT

"For the past several months AT&T has been holding various events at Victory Plaza by American Airlines Center, and this week the company announced securing the naming rights, now calling the area AT&T Plaza.

The plaza is home to several boutiques, restaurants, and the new WFAA studios. Throughout the year the area is filled with sports fans, residents and visitors, making it one of the most popular D Spots in Downtown."

Link:DowntownDallas (http://www.downtowndallas.org/current.htm#ATT)

[Bryant]

Gag!!

[Spjz]

Call it what ever the f*@$ you want! Anybody been to the Ball Park in Arlington lately? How about NextStage? Or the StarPlex! Instead of tolls, maybe we could sell naming rights to highways! We could have the ExxonMobil Trinity Parkway!!!

[Geaux Tigers]

^Starbuck's Central Espressoway has a nice ring to it!

[Rob]

Lame. Lame. Lame.

[frankchitown]

Yuck..I'll never call it AT&T Plaza, besides, there's already an AT&T Plaza downtown beneath their HQ on Commerce. However, it could be fun to start saying "We're going to the A double T at the double A C."

[KesslerDweller]

This Is So Stupid !!!!!!!1

[AeroD]

I don't see what's wrong with calling "Victory Plaza" the "AT&T Plaza".

The whole plaza is corporate and/or caters to those who are into brand names. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I mean it is next to the "American Airlines Center". Is anybody hung up about that? Plus "Victory" is to new to Dallas, and I doubt the name change will throw many people off.

This is Dallas not Austin.

[elmstreetdallas]

What does "This is Dallas not Austin" mean?

Please explain.

[AeroD]

What does "This is Dallas not Austin" mean?

Please explain.

People in Austin, or at least some, are trying to "Keep it Weird". Which means avoid all things corporate or anything that tries to destroy its uniqueness or something along those lines.

Austin wants to be anti-establishment. Nevermind that Whole Foods is the Attila the Hun of the organic food market destroying everything in its path across the country, Dell launches global ad campaigns to get people to buy their computres, Temple-Inland cuts down thousands of acres of trees at its sites in East Texas and is spinning off Guaranty Bank, Austin is the seat of state government, etc. Not that is anything wrong with those things. But Austin should be more honest about itself.

Dallas does not have that same kind of knee jerk reaction. People in Austin would say in fact Dallas is in love brand-names and crass marketing.

Granted people here would not be too fond of calling Dealey Plaza, let's say the "Belo Dealey Plaza", or visiting the "Blockbuster Dallas Historical Village at Old City Park." These places, unlike Victory, have long historical ties with Dallas, and are just that historical.

Victory has mega-screens, $65 margaritas, gelato, and Belo outpost. Additionally, Victory was not created by our founders, it was created by a development team. So if they want to sell the naming rights for their plaza that is less than a year old, that is their privliege.

This name stuff is not so bad. Just look at the Dallas Zoo. I remember when the tigers used to be in cages, and not they have cooler digs at the "ExxonMobil Tiger Exhibit". The chimps used to be in the concrete cells, now they live in the Kimberely-Clark exhibit.

[Bferris]

If it makes you feel better, I have noticed that the pavement in Victory Plaza is starting to crumble, crack and fall apart in quite a few spots. There are a couple loose pieces the size of saucers out there in addition to many small ones.

[AeroD]

If it makes you feel better, I have noticed that the pavement in Victory Plaza is starting to crumble, crack and fall apart in quite a few spots. There are a couple loose pieces the size of saucers out there in addition to many small ones.

It's called character and Old World charm. ;)

[Quiz03]

Y'all are being way too negative about this. The fact is a company thinks that this area is so important that they want to be a part of it. They think there will be enough people there to make this marketing expense worthwhile. What's wrong with private enterprise investing in public spaces?? Isn't that what you want fot the woodall rogers park?

[Bferris]

^ To clarify, Victory Plaza is private property, not a public space.

Also, during the NHL All Star Game, Victory Plaza was renamed "All Star Plaza".

[LH_Newbie]

In a time of growth - if a company wants to hand over money - you take it. It'll help to maintain the areas and spur further growth. These are good things IMO.

Brian

[Lionel Hutz]

This is not surprising and nothing new for Dallas. I've got no problem with it. A big company wanting to support an open air plaza is a good thing. Ever been to Millennium Park in Chicago? They have "Cloud Gate at AT&T Plaza."

http://www.millenniumpark.org/artandarchitecture/cloud_gate.html

[cowboyeagle05]

My question is What is channel 8 going to say now
"Welcome to NEWS 8 in HD at AT&T Plaza" or "Welcome to NEWS 8 in HD at AT&T Victory Plaza" or "Welcome to NEWS 8 in HD at our AT&T Plaza studios"

[LH_Newbie]

^^ Who cares?

[Rob]

^^ Who cares?

People who think it's lame when everything in this world has to have a brand name slapped on it and become another corporate advertisement?

[LH_Newbie]

Then start bidding or stop complaining. Cake isn't free. Of course, that's just my opinion. :)

Heck, if a company wants to pay me the right amount, I'd put a "skin" on my vehicle to do advertising or change my name to "AT&T Brian".

Brian

[Nagih12]

Well IMO, I don't like the name change because AT&T is a company from San Antonio, and it sounds very reasonable if a company from the Metroplex has it's name on DFW sites. For example, American Airlines Center. AT&T is a major company from San Antonio. Also, everything is "Victory", and if we have something akward in the mix, it will be ruined. This is more like advertising for AT&T.

[Quiz03]

This is more like advertising for AT&T.


This is advertising for AT&T.

[Nagih12]

This is advertising for AT&T.

That is the reason why I am not satisfied with the name.

[br.reese]

Money, Money, Money

[Nagih12]

Dallas is not getting any of this, San Antonio and AT&T are getting all of it.

[logan]

so lets just rename it Spurs plaza then. what the heck... why not? if at&t is from san antonio. (this is the silliest conversation ive ever seen on this site.) corporations sponsor things. this is a thing. it is sponsored.

[rosewood]

What does "This is Dallas not Austin" mean?

Please explain.
It means Dallas is full of smart sophisticated pro-American capitalists not ultra-liberal, socialistict, anti-Americans worshipping at the alter of communism.

[MarkL2023]

Its been called this for months. Why is this such a big deal?

EDIT : According to the victory park website that is

[txRNGr]

Exactly what I'm saying! Dallas is not getting any of this, San Antonio and AT&T are getting all of it. This doesn't make any sense.
Haha, San Antonio isnt getting squat. And AT&T is the one that paid money to have their name on Victory Plaza for advertising. Like others said, this is good for the plaza, it will more than likely ensure its maintanance over the years...AT&T won't want their plaza looking like crap, will they?

[mikedsjr]

It's called character and Old World charm. ;)

If it was old, then yeah. But something new and something that has a look of surburbia, shouldn't crumble. To me, Victory Plaza says urban building/suburbia style.

[LH_Newbie]

It means Dallas is full of smart sophisticated pro-American capitalists not ultra-liberal, socialistict, anti-Americans worshipping at the alter of communism.
While a little more dramatic than I may have put it... I totally agree! Let corporate America help pay for things so we can build more. Is there something wrong with that?!?!

[Kelley USA]

I just bought the naming rights for the park- it'll now be called Kelley USA Park! So come on down and walk from AT&T Plaza down to Kelley USA Park!

[logan]

and i recently purchased the rights to all sewage and electrical covers in victory. there will be a marble plaque next to each one (similiar to hollywoods stars) stating the sponsorship of all sewage and electrical covers. "Sewage and electrical covers sponsored by logan" I hear they need a sponsor for the outside electrical outlets and fire hydrants.

[LH_Newbie]

Hey, if someone wants to pony up to sponsor sewage... I'm all for it. It's called a revenue stream. :) No pun intended.

[warlock55]

It means Dallas is full of smart sophisticated pro-American capitalists not ultra-liberal, socialistict, anti-Americans worshipping at the alter of communism.

I don't think this forum (excepting Pegasus Place) is the place for statements like this.

[DallasTT]

AT&T does sound lame. It makes me think of the old plazas they have downtown.

[JohnMcKee]

Well IMO, I don't like the name change because AT&T is a company from San Antonio, and it sounds very reasonable if a company from the Metroplex has it's name on DFW sites. For example, American Airlines Center. AT&T is a major company from San Antonio.

AT&T has a huge presence in Dallas and it is home to one of their largest operations centers in Irving and one of their largest training centers. I just googled and they employee over 13,000 people in Dallas.

[tamtagon]

I dont really get the big deal about switching corporate sponsorship for the plaza. Advertising with the name "Victory Plaza" is not a different kind of advertising by using the name "ATT Plaza." It's a smart way for the Victory Park Development folks to make a little money... there doesnt seem to be a need to sell the project to North Texans anymore, so might as well let ATT pay to be associated with the plaza.

[LH_Newbie]

If someone wanted to pay you a million dollars to hang an AT&T banner on your front porch - would you?

I know I sure as heck would. Heck, I'd do it for $10K. :)

[Lakewooder]

They should then rename the old AT&T Plaza on Commerce the "Baker Hotel Memorial Bark-Park".

[Nagih12]

I just saying that I don't like the name, but if it will help Dallas, then so be it. I'll still call it Victory Plaza.

[LH_Newbie]

I just saying that I don't like the name, but if it will help Dallas, then so be it. I'll still call it Victory Plaza.
I'll also still call it Victory, but that's cause I'm too lazy to say AT&T Victory Park. :)

Brian

[RobertB]

It seems entirely appropriate to sell the area to the highest bidder. The development has never been by the people, for the people, etc. It's been by Tom Hicks & co, for Tom Hicks & co, and it's never been about anything but the Benjamins. The priorities were clearly demonstrated when the developers blocked DART from putting an LRT station in the middle of the project, where it would have served both Victory/AT&T *and* the surrounding Uptown neighborhood. The priorities are further delineated by the AAC's sucking the life out of the formerly-just-fine-thank-you Reunion Arena, thanks to its exclusivity agreement.

It would be entirely out of character for the owners of the development to do anything *other* than whore out their birthright to the highest bidder.

And the only ones who should be surprised by this development are the starry-eyed idealists who thought that Victory Plaza would be Dallas' Times Square. Sucks that I was one of those starry-eyed idealists myself. :(

[warlock55]

And the only ones who should be surprised by this development are the starry-eyed idealists who thought that Victory Plaza would be Dallas' Times Square. Sucks that I was one of those starry-eyed idealists myself. :(

Well, it's like Times Square in that it's named after a business now. :rolleyes:

[DFW]

It should be AT&T Victory Plaza!

[kozzy]

"Belo Dealey Plaza", or visiting the "Blockbuster Dallas Historical Village at Old City Park.".

These names are hilarious :jester:

[frankchitown]

It would be entirely out of character for the owners of the development to do anything *other* than whore out their birthright to the highest bidder.

And the only ones who should be surprised by this development are the starry-eyed idealists who thought that Victory Plaza would be Dallas' Times Square. Sucks that I was one of those starry-eyed idealists myself. :(

Times Square was originally called "Longacre Square", the New York Times lobbied for the name change after the NY Times building was built.

[RobertB]

Times Square was originally called "Longacre Square", the New York Times lobbied for the name change after the NY Times building was built.
But... but... but... sputter... sputter... (head explodes)

[Lionel Hutz]

It seems entirely appropriate to sell the area to the highest bidder. The development has never been by the people, for the people, etc. It's been by Tom Hicks & co, for Tom Hicks & co, and it's never been about anything but the Benjamins. The priorities were clearly demonstrated when the developers blocked DART from putting an LRT station in the middle of the project, where it would have served both Victory/AT&T *and* the surrounding Uptown neighborhood. The priorities are further delineated by the AAC's sucking the life out of the formerly-just-fine-thank-you Reunion Arena, thanks to its exclusivity agreement.
Hey man, welcome to Dallas. This is the way we do it here. Hardly anybody does anything for the public good. It's all about "me, me, me." This isn't really news. Dallas has always been a me-first city of self-promoters, hucksters, and charlatans, all looking to make a buck. That's how the city has grown. Hopefully, there will be some sense of civic pride. But until that day comes, we just play with the hand we've been dealt.

And as an aside, Reunion Arena's days were numbered. It was coming up on 25 years. That's about the shelf-life for arena's these days. It was small, cramped, no luxury boxes, and in a desolate part of downtown (is that redundant?). The AAC is a good thing.

[WhiteRockFan]

I don't care what the place is called and I certainly think there is something special about the whole project. I was there last night with my family watching "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Not only was the weather beautiful but there was something special sitting around with about 400 people in lawn chairs with coolers. As I looked around I saw business people taking in the scene, smiling like children. Looking up at the W, people were on the balconies with drinks in their hands enjoying the scene. The same can be said for patrons at the Nine on the patio. It is a real good time and an asset not only to Uptown but all of Dallas. So; "what's in a name?" In this case it just doesn't matter.