Stick another nail in the "Houston is a World Class City" coffin.
Metro mulling ads in and on buses, train stations. Dug. HoustonChronicle.com ($$$)
Truly "world class" cities have had these ads for years. London, Paris, New York, Las Vegas. Hell, Vegas has full bus wraps depicting certain shows for goodness' sake.
If Houston ever wants to be viewed as anything more than a regional city with one hell of an industrial driver for it's economy it will need to stop listening to those who want to limit it's scope and stop making issues like this a thing.
Of course, it could be worse....
Metro should go slow in considering advertisements on it's buses. Editorial Board. HoustonChronicle.com ($$$)
Now, if you're a clear thinking individual you might be wondering on what expertise a newspaper editorial board is standing on when they try to provide advice to any organization on advertisements?
After all, it was newspapers lack of understanding of on-line advertising trends that has all but scuttled their operation and news gathering budgets. They refused to modernize, paid the price, and are now suggesting that Houston Metro follow in their footsteps.
For an agency in desperate need of revenue, I'm far less against ads on busses, trains and train stations than I am taking of said revenue from the general populace through threat of force (taxation). This being the Chron ed-board however, who has never met a municipal tax increase they didn't like, you shouldn't be surprised that they have a problem contemplating advertisements on things they wish other people would ride more often.
Advertising on Metro vehicles, at Metro train stations is a great idea. It allows companies to voluntarily choose to spend their advertising budgets with Metro, and it would certainly make for much more visually appealing vehicles. Imagine a bus with a full Texans wrap, or the Astros, or a Rocket(s) train. A Metro bus decked out in all Dynamo Orange would be a fantastic specimen.
Yes, there are questions which adverts to allow. No one wants to ride on the Viagra Bus for example and political/issue adverts should be right out. Obviously no beer or liquor, but a Museum of Natural Science bus with a wrap that changes quarterly has some spectacular potential.
Nothing lewd, obviously, and no-one, ever, wants to see a giant image of a toilet on a bus, but a gigantic Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo bus would be pretty cool. Mattress Mac might also be out, but if he could keep his smiling visage off of the bus his furniture store's logo is pretty cool.
Rebrand the 9 as "Bernie's Burger Bus" and you have an instant winner.
This should not be this hard.
