As a continuation of the 'cancel culture' that is ripping through the country, UT has made a deal with Food City to add their name to the Thompson-Boling Arena. In an article by Adam Sparks, of the Knoxville News-Sentinel (8/23/2023), the headline of the article reads, "Tennessee Vols fans OK with renaming Thompson-Boling, but leave Neyland Stadium alone." In the article Sparks' further quotes three sources, rather anonymously, as "a UT fan said," and "one fan said," and then "another fan said." In any verifiable poll, 3 out of over 1,000,000 plus Tennessee Volunteer's fans is hardly a representative sampling of the group; to assert that VOL's fans are 'OK' with the change.
I certainly received no 'survey' and do not approve of 'renaming' Thompson-Boling Arena. If you want to put signs on the side of the building showing Food City as a sponsor, then certainly do so; and Tennessee will greatly benefit from the revenue, but when you talk about renaming a facility, that is reaching to the absurd.
What's so important about a name change? First, and I'm sure UT only thought about the money, but Thompson-Boling Arena is a map designation. It appears in every search, in maps in every smart phone and other devices, and on current road maps. It appears on every campus map that the university publishes, and in other online searches about basketball on the University of Tennessee campus. And secondly, since searches will pull up any name reference, visiting fans will become confused about whether they are searching for Thompson-Boling, or Food City Arena. as this confusion grows, UT will be tempted to drop Thompson-Boling all together and that I am not 'Okay' with.
The article went on to, in my opinion, mock 'Garza Law,' and 'Pilot Truck Stops,' citing again "fans cringed," "a fan said," and "two other fans, with gritted teeth, suggested,". This falls under the category of editorial comment much more than it does news reporting. I doubt anybody is really shocked by that.
UTK likes to go after the big paydays and that is understandable, but please don't sell out our collective heritage, eliminating the names and deeds of former greats, on campus and in life. Leave the individual names alone on buildings, stadiums, arenas, and other special places around campus that individuals invested their time and hearts in helping to build. My diploma has Ed Boling's signature, and it wouldn't mean nearly as much with a 'Food City' logo.
(PS - I shop Food City and love that they offer more of the brands that I like to buy, rather than filling the shelves with only their store brand like two of the area's other large grocers. I appreciate all they do for our area, the cleanliness of their stores, and their courteous staff.)
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