MBTA may sell station names

Ad revenue is incredibly worthless for the T. In FY2008 they earned $11 million off advertising, out of a budget of 1.4 billion. That's less than one percent - losing it would require raising a subway fare by less than two cents, or a Zone 8 monthly by $2.44.

The MBTA selling advertising, whether it be on buses and trains or the station names themselves, is fundamentally a gimmick. It does not, and cannot, fundamentally alter the balance of their financial reality. But it tells the politicians "look, we're doing everything that we can."

The EGE wrote:Ad revenue is incredibly worthless for the T"

This is something I figured. Airport station was built with huge advertisement signs all over the place. Half the time they sit empty. Its no surprise no one wanted to buy a station and have it renamed.

I think a lot of the reason advertising revenue makes up such a small portion of the T's income has more to do with the T's limited amount of advertising space than with a lack of demand for advertising on the T.

deathtopumpkins wrote:I think a lot of the reason advertising revenue makes up such a small portion of the T's income has more to do with the T's limited amount of advertising space than with a lack of demand for advertising on the T.

I would believe that, if the advertising space they had was full. If they can't fill what they have, then the amount of available space isn't the limiting factor.

jboutiet wrote:

deathtopumpkins wrote:I think a lot of the reason advertising revenue makes up such a small portion of the T's income has more to do with the T's limited amount of advertising space than with a lack of demand for advertising on the T.

I would believe that, if the advertising space they had was full. If they can't fill what they have, then the amount of available space isn't the limiting factor.

Is the advertising space not usually full? I have never paid specific attention to advertising, as I tend to tune it out, but it seems like at least on the red and green lines there aren't a bunch of empty ad spaces.

Selling station names is a really good way to tear up railroad history by changing an old station name to some corporate marketing scheme. Then again, the MBTA needs money...