GM Place to change name for 2010 Olympics

by Rob Peters | August 8, 2008 at 01:24 pm | 553 views | 12 comments

Looks like GM Place will get a new name to comply with the IOC's policy that Olympic venues be free of corporate names. So far the top contender is 'Canada Hockey Place,' which to me sounds pretty cute. It's like those stores named by well-meaning shop owners whose English is a bit off. There's one on Kingsway that I particularly like: "Buddhist Worshipping Materials City"--for all your one-hand clapping needs.

General Motors Place will get a new name stripped of corporate marks during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the organizing committee said Wednesday.

The arena for many of the ice events during the Games will likely be renamed Canada Hockey Place, said John Furlong, the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympics.

Furlong was in Beijing on Wednesday to present a progress report to the International Olympic Committee, which will have to approve the name change.

The new name would reflect the IOC's policy that Olympic venues must be free of corporate marks, he said.

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JeffHuang

at 16:53 on August 8th, 2008

Is it going to be a permanent change? I wonder what General Motors think of this. Don't they have some sort of contract or anything on those lines?

I don't mind the Canada Hockey something, but the word place seems a little weird to me. Canada Hockey stadium, or Canada Hockey arena sounds a bit better in my opinion.

blizzard_magic

at 01:20 on August 9th, 2008

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andrewkumar

at 01:36 on August 9th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

andrewkumar

at 01:37 on August 9th, 2008

I think the naming rights are expiring too... I know the Aquilini's have plans to build an adjoining tower with some innovative eco-air conditioning / heating window lever technology built in.

steveleenow

at 02:45 on August 9th, 2008

I remember when it was first being built and rumours were that one of the possible names if they had not gone the corporate route was CANUCK PLACE.

tjmac

at 15:33 on August 9th, 2008

center ice at GM Place/ super all night happy fun palace of hockey ice

tjmac has contributed a photo to this story.

michaelv2008

at 20:44 on August 9th, 2008

I guess this is one of the drawbacks when hosting the Olympics but I'm sure that GM will find a way to advertise their brands through commercials

8085 Lens

at 13:09 on August 10th, 2008

This is a photo I took during the opening seqeunce of a Vancouver Canucks game at GM Place.

8085 Lens has contributed a photo to this story.

chriskuta

at 23:37 on August 13th, 2008

Go the Canucks

chriskuta has contributed a photo to this story.

rarogers3

at 00:48 on August 14th, 2008

San Jose Sharks warming up before morning skate.

rarogers3 has contributed a photo to this story.

eye for beauty2007

at 14:36 on August 16th, 2008

Re the Moon over GM Place photo: It was a cold winter morning early in 2008; the moon was heading down as the rising sun was beginning to illuminate the downtown core.

eye for beauty2007 has contributed a photo to this story.

Mrs. Julia

at 18:37 on August 23rd, 2008

The Police started their World Reunion Tour in Vancouver at GM Place on May 28th, 2007. It was awesome.

Mrs. Julia has contributed a photo to this story.