@LaComtesse: Absulance coming through! We need to lower this teenager's self esteem stat!

At Providence Saint Joseph hospital across the street from where I work, the entrance is entitled Disney Plaza, and they have the Walt Disney Company Foundation Labor and Delivery department. Granted, it's right next to Disney Studios and Walt Disney himself was instrumental in the development of the hospital. It is a nice place though, they use the money well!

@rdldr1: Bass Pro shop. Was that before they had the half naked pictures of boys, lol? If you want to shop there, have at it. I just think that the majority of their customers are the panzy types who spend more time in front of a mirror than most. Same goes with the Gap.

@SpdRacer: Verily. It's still rea... erm, the Civic Center to me, dammit! (boot to XL's metaphorical head)

Like when a Japanese company wanted to buy the naming rights to Soldier Field in Chicago (in the late 80s, I think), which is a war memorial to those soldiers who died in World Wars I and II? Sony "Sorry about the death march of Bataan" Field?

It irritates people because it's out of hand, often ill-thought-out, and sometimes renaming beloved local institutions. These companies could avoid a lot of ire if they named things, like, "Comiskey Park by Cellular One" instead of "Cellular Field" or whatever the hell New Comiskey's name is these days. Even "Soldier Field by Sony" particularly if followed by the sportscasters saying every time, "Sony salutes American soldiers past and present," would be a lot better than "Sony Field."

I mean, yeah, Japan's a friend and ally of the U.S. and most Japanese multinationals employ a lot of Americans and I appreciate whatever company it was wanting to support U.S. sports ... but it was insensitively done. History's not trivial, even when the wounds of the past have been healed.

PS -- I don't think it was Sony that floated the idea, that's just for illustrative purposes.

As for American prudishness...it's got to stop. Boobs are boobs, nudity is natural, and as long as the models aren't actually in poses where privates are touching, then who cares? My 8 y.o. daughter loves going to the sculpture wing of the NGA and she sees more nudity there than in A&F catalogs. Sure, it's led to questions about body parts, but I'd rather her ask me than her classmates.

@Bryan Price:

It's not a new development. A&F has been supporting Children's trauma center for afew years. Last time I was in their ER with a friend and her daughter, there were Disney murals on the wall. Just because A&F supports it, doesn't mean that nudity is plastered all over the place. (And this ER trip was after A&F started donating). Not disagreeing with you, supporting your argument.

And they are a nationally recognized Children's hospital. This is missed in the article. Whatever. Gotta focus on OMG BOOBIES.

Children's ER is nicer than Ohio States. For what I pay, I should get an autographed football damnit....

there is a canadian flag on the picture in the story.

/ thought it was funny

Will they give kids a thong when they leave, instead of a stuffed animal?

To the individuals complaining about their campus's naming stadiums, I'm sure you don't want that multi million dollar building coming out of your tuition.

i wonder if they'll blast loud music and pump the nausiating scent of perfume throught the ER.

hey there is a canadian flag on the story picture.

/ just thought that was interesting

My brother spent several years of his life at Columbus Children's Hospital. They are great people who saved his life, so I really could care less what they call the place as long as they keep up the good work.

I hope their trauma centre has world-class plastic surgeons to fix the kids right up. Even those who come in with minor ailments will be referred for all sorts of cosemetic improvements - essential to promoting Abercrombie and Fitch.

</sarcasm>

"C'mon Mom, can't we go to the Abercrombie hospital instead of this generic one? All the cool kids go there."

I live in Columbus. Children's Hospital has been an important part of our community for many years. When Nationwide made their contribution the only thing that changed was part of the sign outside and some stationary.

So, I'm really OK with naming the ER the A&F ER or whatever. I just don't think it will make any difference at all.

i live in the bay area where we have a baseball stadium that i can't even keep track of what to call anymore... first it was pac bell, then it was at&t, now god knows, it's proabbly sponsored by HGH or something. anyway... i am generally disgusted by this trend... but being that i work in economic development i know how incredibly difficult it is for local governments and institutions to fund projects like these. the only thing that will reverse this trend is a congressional action to stop drug/medical companies from charging so much. either that or we all pay higher taxes to fund them. we had 2 bond measures on the ballot in my county on 2/5 that would have funded a retrofit/remodel of oakland children's hospital and both failed. the bottom line here is that a company is giving money to help sick kids. i think it's OK.

I see people all the time complain about art centres, hospitals and other 'public' buildings having sponsored names. The big question is: Would you rather not have them at all? And Stadiums...If Putting Papa John's name on a stadium means less (or no) tax payer money going towards its construction I say brilliant!

Who gives a shit what its named, if the donation helps the kids that are sick name it whatever the hell you want, get off the high horse consumerist.

Irritated me enough that I made a note NOT to buy from that company.

@rdldr1: Sorry, wrong. Graduate degree in EE, husband and father to 3 girls. But really, can you imagine an Iraq veteran shopping there? Its for the manzy panzies and guys who cried when Wham broke up.

I saw the post last-night and got a real kick out of the picture, so appropriate for A&F. I was disappointed to check back in this morning and find that you'd censored it. I get that people are sensitive, but it's your blog.

"Nurse, I need 3Ls of overly-branded rugby shirts, stat!"

I call 'em 'Aberfimbie and CROTCH'. Wouldn't use their sex-pital.

(Yes, that's where the original photo is from)

Why is AF evil again?

I remember GAP has sweatshop labor and AA has the creepy underage porn ads. What did AF do?

And companies -especially fashion related ones - are all a bit evil. But, if AF takes the profits from selling lots of boring clothes to middle-class trend-sheep and gives it back to the community, I can't complain.

And Boobs are great. We were just pointing them out. Except for that one complainer.

HA, I though I was the only one who saw her tits eariler today on the picture, LMAO

Nationwide paid $50million to put their name on the hospital. Then they laid off a bunch of people right afterwards. So who is the worse company?

As for body issues, EVERY woman has them. Get used to it.

Pretty soon our president will have to incorporate "Mountain Dew" in all of his speeches and we will be getting law degrees from Costco. It's coming, people.

First thought. I don't think posters of A&F models, clothed or not, are going to be plastered across the ER. I'm sure there aren't bunches and bunches of posters for Nationwide in the halls of the rest of the hospital.

Second. What a bunch of loons for even thinking about it.

Third. There is no such thing as bad publicity. What a marketing coup to get Columbus' name in the news.

@ Tombo

Thank god it's at least not called the Carnival Center. That has to go down as the worst naming choice ever. That said:

@ article.

I don't see the problem here. I am annoyed by stadiums and tournaments and even opera houses constantly changing their names to suit the highest contributor but if it helps build a hospital..... who the hell cares? As far as "such and such study shows". Please dont post something like that without placing a link to the collaborating material. Anyone can claim anything and run a skewed "study" to suit their goals.

"sexualized"??? did sex become bad again? What exactly is sexualized? Cleavage? Longing Eyes? Anything above the ankles?

Sorry, but this story has so many wrong things going for it in my mind that I will just move on to the other amazing content on the site.

But yeah, I'm with you on it.

@Spaceman Bill Leah: In 1996, the Washington University (in St. Louis) School of Law was renamed the "Anheuser-Busch School of Law." Didn't last long.

@Spaceman Bill Leah: I totally thought you said "Buzz Lightyear Birthing Center" and thought "Me too!"

If a company wants to donate the money to build a hospital, why should I complain? Does anyone complain about Rockefeller Center?

@sohmc: Why not the Prego Maternity Ward and Family Planning Clinic? The tagline writes itself, ya know...

If that hospital entrance smells like the shit fragrance they spray around the A&F entrance at the mall, I don't care how fuckin' sick/injured/close to death I am, I'm turning around and toughing whatever it is out at home. [Yes, actual hospital odor is preferable.]

Ambercrombie and Fitch, the preferred store for members of NAMBLA. I can't imagine a real man ever shopping there.

This post has been brought to you by:
The McDonalds Obesity Clinic
The MTV ADD Center

Boob has been censored! Your eyes will be made whole again by the grace of innocence. (Oh, I guess rant hasn't ended after all.)

Hmm.... I'm not sure if people are going to like this.

Sports stadiums are different (and I'm from Chicago, where we're currently really worried about the future of Wrigley Field). And as far as I'm concerned that stadium that the White Sox play at will forever be called "Sox Park". But if I break my arm trying to balance my beer while catching a pop-up foul, I don't care if they take me to BudPepsiTrojanHaliburtonComcast Hospital, as long as I get fixed up.

I'm slightly uneasy about renaming a place that already exists and has a known name.

But I guess demolishing something then rebuilding an exact copy just to placate me isn't a terribly efficient use of resources.

So the protesters are saying "we like your money, just we dont like you." How selfish.

Im ok with buying names, its like buying advertising. Besides the names have to come from somewhere...why not the company who paid for it? My old company was asking for donations to build a building, donatons over 50k were promised naming rights (things like confrence rooms, dormatories, etc)

@tombo: I agree! I think there was a super bowl held at the Coca Cola Stadium. The Super Bowl is proudly sponsered by Pepsi!

I hate how my Alma Mater is doing the same thing. Comcast Center was the Cole Field House. Chevy Chase Bank Stadium was Byrd Stadium.

I hate it.

@tombo: I agree. Wasn't there a Super Bowl game that was being held at the Coca Cola Stadium? I remember hearing ads about "Super Bowl at the Coca Cola Stadium, sponsored by Pepsi!"

I hate how my college (Maryland) is selling out too. Comcast center instead of Cole Field House. Chevy Chase Stadium instead of Byrd Stadium.

I hate it.

Naming rights is getting out of hand. In Miami now have the Arsht Center which used to be the Carnival Center -- which is actually the performing arts center but you would never know by the name.

Dolphins Stadium used to be called Pro Player Stadium after the socks company. I refused to attend concerts at the Office Depot Center which is now the Bank Atlantic Center.

Shea Stadium in NY is not even going to keep that famous name, it will be sold out for bid when the new stadium is built. What next, Yankee Stadium no longer Yankee Stadium?

I think it shouldnt matter how attractive your kid is. Even ugly kids should be taken to the Emergency and Trauma center if necessary.