Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum reopened this
week after $13M worth of renovations, with the addition of
"McDonald's" on the building. The restaurant chain donated $5.5M
for the renovation, and gets its logo on center court and name on
the complex. In addition, the new arena features a McDonald's
restaurant with a drive-thru. The corporate deal is the first
for a college, analysts said, and administrators say they must
look beyond "traditional sources" to fund major projects these
days. However, Georgia Tech students were upset at the
prevalence of the McDonald's name, with a whole section sporting
cardboard crowns from Burger King as a protest during Saturday's
first game at the remodeled arena. Although the Univ. of CO's
arena is named the Coors Events and Conference Center, the school
says the arena was financed by a donation by the Adolph Coors
Foundation, and is named for the family. Ohio State recently
announced its new arena will be named the Value City Arena after
the hardware store chain donated $12.5M. Georgia Tech officials
said they have not ruled out additional corporate support, as
they look to expand their football stadium (AP/N.Y. TIMES, 1/23).
