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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: SSOWorld on July 16, 2009, 10:36:26 AM

Title: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: SSOWorld on July 16, 2009, 10:36:26 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-16-sears_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-16-sears_N.htm)

Naming rights all over again - the Chicago skyscraper's name was changed through a deal with it's newest and biggest client. Though I'll always remember it as Sears Tower.

A Skydeck visit will never be the same - especially the side-show videos they show prior to one's ascent.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Chris on July 16, 2009, 10:38:56 AM
Yeah, it will be weird for Chicagoans and others... Sears is wellknown all over the world. I have heard about this a few months ago for the first time.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: US71 on July 16, 2009, 10:53:50 AM
No one will call it Willis Tower. "Big Willie", maybe.  :)
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Coelacanth on July 16, 2009, 10:58:50 AM
Whatchoo talkin' bout?
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: njroadhorse on July 16, 2009, 11:06:07 AM
That is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.  What's next, will the Chrysler Building become the Toyota Building or something?  :banghead:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Chris on July 16, 2009, 11:20:38 AM
Quote from: Coelacanth on July 16, 2009, 10:58:50 AM
Whatchoo talkin' bout?

The Sears Tower in Chicago (one of the tallest buildings in the world) has been renamed to Willis Tower, due to a new occupant.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: mightyace on July 16, 2009, 11:36:29 AM
Maybe they can film the next Die Hard movie there?  :) :sombrero:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: njroadhorse on July 16, 2009, 11:39:00 AM
Quote from: Chris on July 16, 2009, 11:20:38 AM
Quote from: Coelacanth on July 16, 2009, 10:58:50 AM
Whatchoo talkin' bout?

The Sears Tower in Chicago (one of the tallest buildings in the world) has been renamed to Willis Tower, due to a new occupant.
That's from a show, and the famous line was, "Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis?"
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: mightyace on July 16, 2009, 11:40:15 AM
Quote from: njroadhorse on July 16, 2009, 11:39:00 AM
Quote from: Chris on July 16, 2009, 11:20:38 AM
Quote from: Coelacanth on July 16, 2009, 10:58:50 AM
Whatchoo talkin' bout?

The Sears Tower in Chicago (one of the tallest buildings in the world) has been renamed to Willis Tower, due to a new occupant.
That's from a show, and the famous line was, "Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis?"

The show was Different Strokes.  See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/)
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 16, 2009, 02:00:36 PM
could be worse.  at least it isn't called the AIG Tower.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Chris on July 16, 2009, 02:01:46 PM

Quote from: njroadhorseThat's from a show, and the famous line was, "Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis?"

Quote from: mightyace
The show was Different Strokes.  See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/)

I see. I'm not too well-known with American TV shows from the 1970's.  :-D
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: njroadhorse on July 16, 2009, 02:50:17 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 16, 2009, 02:00:36 PM
could be worse.  at least it isn't called the AIG Tower.
I would seriously hurt someone if it was. :-/
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Chris on July 16, 2009, 02:58:39 PM
^^ What if some Dubai investment group took it over?  :)

Al Muraqqabat tower or something  :ded:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: City on July 17, 2009, 02:10:29 PM
Willis Tower!?  :wow: It's like renaming every last thing in the world!  :ded:

What next? North Dakota and South Dakota becoming Dakota!?  :-P

~City
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM
Quote from: City on July 17, 2009, 02:10:29 PM
Willis Tower!?  :wow: It's like renaming every last thing in the world!  :ded:

What next? North Dakota and South Dakota becoming Dakota!?  :-P

~City

or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA
-Upper Peninsula left Michigan for Wisconsin :sombrero: :rolleyes: :spin:

Edit: Coleman Young airport is renamed Jerome Kavanagh airport  :spin:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: SSOWorld on July 17, 2009, 10:03:32 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM
-Upper Peninsula left Michigan for Wisconsin :sombrero: :rolleyes: :spin:
That would be funny - since it was Michigan that stole it from Wisconsin to begin with  :-P :colorful: :spin:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: florida on July 18, 2009, 01:44:33 AM
Quote from: Master son on July 17, 2009, 10:03:32 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM
-Upper Peninsula left Michigan for Wisconsin :sombrero: :rolleyes: :spin:
That would be funny - since it was Michigan that stole it from Wisconsin to begin with  :-P :colorful: :spin:

It doesn't even mesh with "the hand" of Michigan. Give it back and let it be a spur of Wisconsin.  :nod:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: PAHighways on July 19, 2009, 03:20:09 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PMor others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA

It already has in terms of TV markets.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: SidS1045 on July 20, 2009, 02:25:48 PM
The new name will probably take hold about as well as Avenue of the Americas or the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: florida on July 20, 2009, 02:48:34 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM




or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA


Yay! PA will finally get some beachfront property.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 20, 2009, 03:07:43 PM
no, North Dakota and South Dakota will be both be absorbed through merger by the ever-expanding Bank of America.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Stephane Dumas on July 20, 2009, 07:03:16 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 20, 2009, 03:07:43 PM
no, North Dakota and South Dakota will be both be absorbed through merger by the ever-expanding Bank of America.

I taught there was annexed to Canada  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 12:57:39 AM
Quote from: florida on July 20, 2009, 02:48:34 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM




or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA


Yay! PA will finally get some beachfront property.

You mean ocean beachfront property.  PA has had Lake Erie coast for over 200 years.  :sombrero:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: florida on July 21, 2009, 01:16:12 AM
Quote from: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 12:57:39 AM
Quote from: florida on July 20, 2009, 02:48:34 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM




or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA


Yay! PA will finally get some beachfront property.

You mean ocean beachfront property.  PA has had Lake Erie coast for over 200 years.  :sombrero:

Lake Erie doesn't count. That's lakefront property, it's freshwater, no?  ;-)
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 01:27:35 AM
Quote from: florida on July 21, 2009, 01:16:12 AM
Quote from: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 12:57:39 AM
Quote from: florida on July 20, 2009, 02:48:34 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM




or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA


Yay! PA will finally get some beachfront property.

You mean ocean beachfront property.  PA has had Lake Erie coast for over 200 years.  :sombrero:

Lake Erie doesn't count. That's lakefront property, it's freshwater, no?  ;-)

Well, it isn't salt water.  But, calling it fresh might be a bit of the stretch!  :-D

I guess the reference to beachfront property comes from my Ohio days.  Northeastern Ohioans like to think of themselves as on "The North Coast."  And, swimming areas along Lake Erie are called beaches.  :poke:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: florida on July 21, 2009, 03:44:05 AM
Quote from: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 01:27:35 AM
Quote from: florida on July 21, 2009, 01:16:12 AM
Quote from: mightyace on July 21, 2009, 12:57:39 AM
Quote from: florida on July 20, 2009, 02:48:34 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 17, 2009, 08:57:50 PM




or others things like:
-New Jersey cease to exist and is scinded in parts between NYS and PA


Yay! PA will finally get some beachfront property.

You mean ocean beachfront property.  PA has had Lake Erie coast for over 200 years.  :sombrero:

Lake Erie doesn't count. That's lakefront property, it's freshwater, no?  ;-)

Well, it isn't salt water.  But, calling it fresh might be a bit of the stretch!  :-D

I guess the reference to beachfront property comes from my Ohio days.  Northeastern Ohioans like to think of themselves as on "The North Coast."  And, swimming areas along Lake Erie are called beaches.  :poke:

The Wright Brothers, Smucker's, and the Kent State riots weren't enough?  :sombrero:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: SSOWorld on July 21, 2009, 06:33:27 AM
well there is a 'difference'. at least the National Weather service does :P :pan:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: City on July 21, 2009, 02:53:48 PM
I never knew that my posts could veer off the main topic.  :crazy:
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: jgb191 on July 23, 2009, 01:18:16 AM
If anyone asks me what the world's tallest building is, I will still to this day firmly answer Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago (at least until the Burj Dubai's final height gets to be determined) due to the mere fact that the pinnacle of the Sears Tower extends higher than that of every other completed buildings in the world -- even higher than Petronas Towers and Taipei 101.

1,730 ft -- Sears/Willis Tower
1,667 ft -- Taipei 101
1,614 ft -- Shanghai Financial Center

I also consider the Empire State Building the fourth tallest building in the world to this day (I like to include antennas).

Again, this is only my opinion, the books will say otherwise.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: broadhurst04 on November 07, 2011, 11:19:48 PM


I consider NJ to simply be a giant suburb - the northern half for NYC, the southern half for Philadelphia.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: NE2 on November 08, 2011, 12:44:40 AM
What a bump.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: formulanone on November 08, 2011, 08:07:00 AM
Quote from: NE2 on November 08, 2011, 12:44:40 AM
What a bump.

More like a collision?

On-topic: When I finally saw it in person back February, nobody referred to it as the Willis Tower until you went inside of it. Even then, it's just one of those things...then again, our local NFL stadium has undergone so many name changes in the past 15 years, that I just refer to it as Joe Robbie Stadium (after all, he started the team, and it was the original name); that's what the locals call it, but media calls it whatever name it has this year.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F02%2FWillisTower.jpg&hash=569f7cc144e01789ec40ab0bb0b2d7340a1e000b)
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: SteveG1988 on November 08, 2011, 09:38:40 AM
Funny thing, sears has not occupied that building for many years prior to Willis taking over the naming rights. In 1995 sears completely moved out...They sold it in 1994.
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: Takumi on November 09, 2011, 09:27:45 PM
Funny thing about the mega-bump is it wasn't even on the actual topic!
Title: Re: Willis Tower - What the Hell!!??
Post by: jgb191 on November 09, 2011, 10:59:18 PM
It's been years since I last posted on this thread, but I think it's now fair to say the Sears Tower (or Willis Tower) has since lost all part of the record.  For the last decade the debate raged on about the World's tallest building, but my answer firmly remained with the Sears/Willis Tower because it's antenna extended higher than any other building existing until last year when the Burj in Dubai obliterated all records in every category (roof, pinnacle, architecture).  

I believe the Burj Kalifka beats the Sears Tower (which I still choose to call it) by about 999 feet.

While the Burj's records remains comfortably unthreatened in the forseeable future, the Sears Tower is going to slip further down the rankings.  There are several buildings currently under construction that will top the Sears Tower in pinnacle height, including a the new World Trade Center tower in New York City.