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Fact Sheets

Naming Rights

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Naming Rights generate revenue by selling the right to name transportation assets to the private sector. Naming rights are an alternative means to generate revenue for transportation agencies that are looking for new sources of funding other than taxes and fees. One of the most common examples of selling naming rights is within the context of professional sports. Because most professional sports arenas, stadiums, fields, and tracks are publicly owned, there are many instances where they have been renamed by banking, telecom communications, and other private firms. For example, MetLife Inc pays $16 million a year to name the football stadium used by the New York Giants and Jets and Citibank and AT&T pay $20 million a year for the stadiums used by New York Mets and the Dallas Cowboy, respectively.

Project Examples

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority AT&T Station

AT&T Station

photo credit: SEPTA

In June 2010, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) approved a five-year contract to change the name of Pattison Station on the Broad Street line to AT&T Station, generating over $5 million. The agreement expands AT&T's partnership with SEPTA as the only wireless carrier providing cell phone coverage underground on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines. The partnership provides SEPTA with additional revenue and also includes station beautification efforts and improved communications including digital displays and signage.

Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center Station

As part of the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, New York, the developer Forest City Ratner is paying the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $200,000 a year for the next 20 years to rename the Pacific Street-Atlantic Avenue Station as the "Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center Station." Forest City Ratner also constructed a new entrance to the station providing access to the $1.0-billion Barclays Center arena and the adjacent Atlantic Yard development. The Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center Station is the busiest transit hub in Brooklyn, with access to nine subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road.

Chicago Transit Authority Corporate Partnership Program

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Corporate Partnership Program establishes partnerships with well-established sponsors to create innovative branding and promotional opportunities. Sponsors can choose to promote their brands in multiple CTA assets through advertisements, or by having their name or logo installed at a CTA station. Revenue generated from the program is used to help offset costs for transit operations and maintenance, expanded service, and new projects. Current partners include MillerCoors, which sponsors the CTA's Free Rides on New Year's Eve, promoting safe and responsible celebration of the holiday by providing free rides.

Quick Facts

Naming Rights involve selling the right to name transportation assets to the private sector

One of the most common applications of naming rights within the transportation sector involves transit stations

Naming rights is strategy to help transportation agencies generate additional revenue to support their operations

Contact:

Thay N. Bishop
(404) 562-3695
Thay.Bishop@dot.gov

www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/value_capture/

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