The new Russian owner of the IPSCO steel empire has mandated that all its company properties including operations in Regina, henceforth, be known as EVRAZ INC. to reflect the parent firm’s brand name. So what does this mean for the current names of such public places in Regina such as IPSCO Place?  Will its name also change and that of the various city signs promoting IPSCO Place?  And what will happen to the name of the Roughrider’s home stadium, when Mosaic is invariably bought by new corporate owners?

I’ve been wondering about what’s next in this game of corporate name buying rights.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please stand for the singing of our National Anthem.  Today’s performance is sponsored by Tim Horton’s!”

(Two years ago, I wrote a piece on the same theme.  It is titled ‘What’s in a Name?’ in the Essays section on the right sidebar.)