In really random and kind of upsetting news: Chicago’s Sears Tower will be renamed to “Willis Tower,” reports Crain’s.
The new name is derived from Willis, a London-based insurance brokerage company that scored the naming rights as part of its move into the Sears Tower as one of the building’s largest tenants.
Yes, it all boils down to money. Sticky, smelly, dirty money. The company is paying over $2 million for the office space, and that’s a wet dream for the Sears Tower management, who have had a really tough time trying to secure new tenants.
So I guess money can buy you anything, even if it means taking a dump on a city’s pride.
What really hurts is that this is a British company and not one of our good ole’ Yankee-Doodle American corporations. Come on, Red Coats, are you still bitter about that whole independence thing? That was like 250 years ago, dawg!
Anyways: Welcome, Willis. We’ll take the high road and say we’re glad you’re here. On a side note, you aren’t hiring, are ya?
Comments (3)
Hmm, sounds similar to something that happened to Marshall Field’s in 2006…
I wonder how long it will take Chicago to stop calling it the Sears tower.
I am from chicago and hate that the name is being changed. I wanna know what they are going to do with the hugh marble sears tower sign that is firmly set in the street around wacker. if they break it you can be sure I will be there to scoop a piece.
rumor has it they are also thinking of resurfacing the building, taking it from a striking black to a dull grey. damn brits
The British are coming! The British are coming!