In case you hadn't noticed, First Union is now Wachovia and the FU Center and Spectrum are now the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum. Does that mean we have gone from the FU to the Wach?

What do you think?

It's such a shame - "FU Center" was so appropriate, so Philly, even if First Union was not a hometown institution.

I find the appearance of Wachovia in the Northeast odd, since I grew up Winston-Salem, NC, in which were located the headquarters of three companies that have since achieved national notoriety: Wachovia, RJ Reynolds, and Krispy Kreme.

Many fond memories of depositing a check while chewing on a donut and with a lit Camel in my other hand...no, just kidding.

Incidentally, in NC we referred to this bank as "Walkalloverya". Feel free to spread that around.

So what can we nickname our arenas?

The Spectrum is always going to be the Spectrum, no matter what bank's name appears before it.

As for the Center, the best I can think of is just calling it the Cove. It's not nearly as cool or fitting as FU Center, but a name like Wachovia isn't very helpful in the nickname department.

I still like the Wac Center!

How about "WC"? You know, as in British English for "toilet"? That way, the facility can age into its nickname. It may be all bright & shiny now, but someday it'll be just like the Vet, and then we'll have an appropriate nickname all ready to go.

Hopefully the teams won't live up to that!

No, that would make it the Have a Pretty Good Team, But Never Win a Freakin' Championship Center. Which, clearly, is a very cumbersome name for a arena.

I can imagine a Sportscenter anchor getting tongue-tied..."Moving on to the NHL, the Penguins headed across the state to meet the Flyers at the PGTBNWAFC Center..."

:wink:

Imagine that?

What would be the best new name?