Comments on: MTA considering Sponsor-a-Station ad program

By: Ryan OHoro

Ryan OHoro — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:42:23 +0000

Again I have to express my disdain for the “compromise” of advertising. The 7 train is getting hideous. Ads on the outside, ads on the ceilings. Good lord. Can’t I have a moment of visual peace on my commute? I noticed the gargantuan Gillette ads they placed on the elevated platforms at 33rd St were destroyed and have not returned.

Where do I send my donation to the reduce visual pollution fund?

I’ll pay double to not see anything but the standard strip ads on trains.

Why should the MTA be forced to plaster everything with advertising? Where the HELL are the government subsidies? Am I the only one in this city who wants a fare hike and low income rider discounts!?

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:36:57 +0000

Great thinking. Not going far enough.

Major stations should be exploited to qualified private developers.

Imagine what the space in the concourses of Herald Square, Times Square and Union Square stations are worth!

System wide, there must be a hundred million $ in potential rent that could be collected.

And we’d win – services, lighting, flooring, air conditioning, security.

Commercial leasing is a successful and established business – its easily launched and managed.

Penn Station is booming.

Why is this so hard to figure out?

By: SUBWAYblogger

SUBWAYblogger — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:38:52 +0000

They should have adopted this a long time ago. Clearly, they are in a dire need of cash. People will live with the ads if it means no extra $$$ out of their own pockets. I think it is a great idea.

And they can be quite entertaining. Like when Bravo took over the Grand Central Shuttle platform for the Top Design show.

One thing to keep in mind though, it will never be the MTA selling any of this. They will simply allow CBS Outdoor to sell the sponsorships, of which they will take a cut. So it would be interesting to know what CBS Outdoor thinks of the possibility.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:35:41 +0000

Potential Daily News Headlines:

4 KILLED IN STARBUCKS
STATION MAYHEM

TRAIN DERAILS AT MACYS STATION

GREASE FIRE INFERNO AT
BURGER KING STATION

There may be an upside, but the downside will likely keep any stations from becoming totally branded, other than things like Times Square, 161-Yankee Stadium, and suchlike.
Besides, the revenue will be modest compared to what advertisers will want – and will likely be able to squeeze out of the MTA and its riders.