Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Civic Center a successful brand here

Civic Center a successful brand here

Nov 17, 2008 - 04:05:19 CST

Having a strong brand helps market a product.

In the Bismarck-Mandan "market area," the people who buy tickets to concerts, Broadway shows and, yes, basketball games, as well as drag races and monster truck shows, know the Bismarck Civic Center. It's a strong brand with audiences. As are the Belle Mehus Auditorium and the Mandan Community Center. These are defining names for local people.

There's been conversation about the possibility of changing the name of the Bismarck Civic Center. The word "civic" doesn't have the right panache when pitching Bismarck as a site for a big conference. The word "civic" is outdated. As a word in contemporary conversation, it apparently needs an overhaul.

The Bismarck Civic Center doesn't need an overhaul. It sparkles. The building is well maintained and has nearly every electronic gizmo available to pumping up the paying crowds. Is it perfect? No. But it's mighty fine.

Shifting names and changing brands can be tricky businesses. Marketers might find the perfect name for selling the civic center to big conventions, but in doing so offend the local audience. People in North Dakota have a thing about tradition that goes beyond song lyrics for "Fiddler on the Roof." Think "Fighting Sioux."

The conversation about name change came up at the Mayors' Economic Development Advisory Group meeting last week. People there are doing good work, poking and prodding at possibilities for Bismarck-Mandan's future. They are right to have this conversation about a name change. And they are right to consider selling the name. The Bismarck Civic Center operates in the red, requiring a hefty subsidy from local taxpayers. That being the case, at least considering all of the options is important. But, please, proceed with caution.

Words are important. Names are important. That old adage about sticks and stones tells only part of the story. To be able to walk across the prairie and name the song birds and wildflowers suggests a certain respect. We human creatures tend to organize the things in our world into lists of names - categories, divisions and rankings. To willy-nilly name a thing misunderstands that need to define and organize the world with a certain honesty.

Again, let's have conversations about ways to be smart economically, but let's be cautious about giving up that local brand, that name, understood and enjoyed by Bismarck-Mandan audiences.

Yes, the Bismarck Civic Center hosts basketball games. But that's an understatement. It is one of the finest facilities for watching basketball in the region, certainly the best among any communities this size across the country.

Changing the name of the Bismarck Civic Center will take more than the case that's been made so far.

News > Opinion

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Comments

sam wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:08 AM:

" the name is really not the problem~ the reality is the commissioners and city officials are just itching to spend more money so they figure they can start with a name change then a building change and then a street change and on and on it goes and guess whose money they are spending???? "

MamaMia wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:59 AM:

" Oh for heaven's sake! It's just a one word change to bring the facility into the 21st century. You talk like they want to move it to Fargo or something. Get a grip, please! "

BabyT wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Drag races? Every electronic gizmo? First of all, I don't believe there has been a single drag race in the Civic Center. MUCH to short for anything except a kids peddle tractor dragrace. SHORT drag race tracks are considered 1/8 mile. Second, you apparently haven't been in the Ralph Englestad arena or the connected basketball courts? The Civic center pales in comparison, no wait, it isn't even a comparison. The Civic center is well maintained, but it is an older facility and DOES lack alot of the amenities a newer facility has. I agree, the term civic center is outdated and needs to go, lets update to the 1990's at least. "

Rube wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:40 AM:

" I agree 100 percent about the basketball games in the Civic Center. It is the best place to watch the games! No better facility in the state for basketball! "

George wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:13 AM:

" I'm not sure how "successful" the name really is when it operates in the red every year. "

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