Corporate Sponsors

[William Marsden]

This morning I heard that GM could really be headed for bad times. They may even be looking at bankruptcy (this morning isn't the first time I've heard these rumors). I started wondering, if GM goes belly-up will the Test Track Pavilion be changed or would Disney try to find another automaker to sponsor the attraction? Since Test Track is all about automobiles I'm assuming that a car company would have to be the sponsor. I just remember back when Horizons lost its sponsor. If I'm correct, it seems that the building sat around for a good long while before Mission Space finally came on the scene.

Incidently, does anyone remember the "Adventure Into Inner Space" ride at Disneyland? Everyone I know of who remembers that attraction use to call it the "Monsanto" ride. I always thought that Monsanto got the most bang for their buck as a corperate sponsor. No one calls Spaceship Earth the "Seimens" ride or Journey Into Imagination the "Kodak" ride etc. Go figure.

 

[CaptainMichael]

This morning I heard that GM could really be headed for bad times. They may even be looking at bankruptcy (this morning isn't the first time I've heard these rumors). I started wondering, if GM goes belly-up will the Test Track Pavilion be changed or would Disney try to find another automaker to sponsor the attraction? Since Test Track is all about automobiles I'm assuming that a car company would have to be the sponsor. I just remember back when Horizons lost its sponsor. If I'm correct, it seems that the building sat around for a good long while before Mission Space finally came on the scene.

If GM goes down, I'm sure that Disney could find someone to sponsor it. Maybe Hess Oil or another automaker. Test Track is too popular to even be compared to Horizon's downfall.

 

[Merlin]

Incidently, does anyone remember the "Adventure Into Inner Space" ride at Disneyland? Everyone I know of who remembers that attraction use to call it the "Monsanto" ride. I always thought that Monsanto got the most bang for their buck as a corperate sponsor. No one calls Spaceship Earth the "Seimens" ride or Journey Into Imagination the "Kodak" ride etc. Go figure.

I agree. I remember that too. I think it's because most people didn't really know what Monsanto was, outside of the attraction. In contrast, Kodak already has an identity. Just a theory.

 

[Moustronaut]

Several attractions have run sponsorless. Spaceship Earth ran for almost a year without a sponsor. Reflections of Earth hasn't had a sponsor in a while either. Fedex left Space Mountain almost 3 years ago. Living Seas hasn't had a sponsor in forever, neither has Universe of Energy and Wonders of Life...

Ok so maybe that last one wasn't such a great example, but just because an attraction doesn't have sponsor it doesn't mean it doomed.

A more pressing problem for test track would how to scrub the ride of all GM references.

 

[peter11435]

An attraction as popular as Test Track will continue to operate with or without a sponsor. And they would eventually find a new sponsor.

Also remember not every attraction needs to have a sponsor. Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller Coaster, Splash Mountain, and Everest are all examples of major rides that don't and have never had a sponsor.

 

[mousermerf]

If GM were to cease to exist, we 'd have a problem, but as it stands, the contract is an agreement of cash flow. It's a contract they're not really allowed to break, though i suppose that's what bankruptcy is all about.

I do imagine if things get worse for GM they will not renew sponsorship later.

 

[lamarvenoy]

First off, GM has somewhere in the neigborhood of a $100 Billion in liquid assets. They could afford to lose money for several years before going belly up was ever even considered. Will they restructure and downsize,probably. My uncle works in a plant in Georgia that is 5-7 years old and they are closing it and pulling out of the mini-van market completely. If a company that large were to die the effects would be catastrophic on our economy and would reach every sector of our buisness world.Who would sponsor Test Track would be the least of our worries! Ford is much worse shape and even they are still nowhere near .