The Famous “Willis” Tower
You may not have heard of the Willis Tower, but you’ll certainly recognize it. Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings is consolidating five of its offices into the Sears Tower. According to Chicago Real Estate Daily the firm got naming rights,
Three years ago, when Sears Tower’s ownership group was looking to refinance the building, a representative compared the value of the naming rights to the building and its observation deck to stadium naming-rights deal, citing examples ranging with fees from $5.8 million to $10 million a year.
Chairman and CEO of the company views the change as a statement of the firm’s commitment to Chicago and it recognizes the city’s importance as a major financial hub and international business center.
“We are delighted to be making this bold move and firmly establishing our leading presence in one of the nation’s biggest insurance markets, and it will be wonderful for all our associates to work under one roof.”
I’d definitely consider tattooing my arm or having my car painted - heck even my house - if someone would give me a million or two or three for advertising, but I don’t think I’m quite the landmark that the Sears Tower is.
Photo by Chor lp via Flickr Creative Commons.
