Dumb newspaper move #453

$3.5 million to slap your name on an arena? One that doesn't even host a pro sports franchise?

Imagine what that kind of money could do for the newsroom.

Disclosure: Before fleeing newspapers, I applied for a job at the TU and the editor straight out told me that my experience was great but that, unfortunately, it made me too "expensive." So the job went to someone straight out of school with no experience vs. my seven years. In retrospect, I owe them a debt of gratitude since I probably would have taken the job and ended up hating it.

But, my history with the paper aside, how about putting that money into hiring more and better reporters and improving the product? Then people might actually read it more.

Do you think the name Pepsi Arena ever caused someone to walk into a 7-11 planning to buy a Coke to change their mind and walk out with a Pepsi?

Do you think that Times Union Arena will make one single reader change their mind about dumping the paper because they're not happy with what's inside? Yeah, me neither.