Bowl Naming Rights Discussed
Proposal to exchange naming rights for $1 million raises public concerns
By Sondra Murphy
Libbey or not Libbey? Could a Hagman, Paxton or Bruckheimer Bowl be in Ojai’s future? If fund raisers for the Libbey Bowl Reconstruction Project had their druthers, a hefty donation to the make-over could come with consideration to rename the venue.
In the ongoing efforts to raise $3 million for the project, a new idea has emerged to help generate donations. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Ojai City Council, staff brought a request to consider renaming the bowl in exchange for a $1 million donation to the effort.
Because the facility has been known by different titles over the decades, including Ojai Festival Bowl, Memorial Bowl and Civic Bowl, the Ojai Valley Service Foundation and the Ojai Music Festival came up with the idea to help garner donations. In his recommendation, city manager Jere Kersnar pointed out that it was not until the downtown park was renamed Libbey Park, after Edward Libbey, that the idyllic stage and shell came to be paired with the name of one of Ojai’s most generous benefactors. That was in the 1980s and 60 years after Libbey’s death.
Kersnar told the council that by approving the concept, it would not create an obligation to rename the facility. “The council would still retain the right to accept any proposed donation, or not, along with any conditions attached thereto,” said Kersnar. “The festival’s fund raisers would like to know if this arrow could be in their quiver while attempting to raise funds.”
“I don’t see it ending the community campaign,” said OMF executive director Jeff Haydon. He reminded the council that the bowl project committees are often asked about management, once the reconstruction is complete, and said additional money would help to run the bowl to its full potential. “Edward Drummond Libbey had no monetary association with the bowl in any way.”
Councilwoman Sue Horgan asked Haydon what the chances were of raising the last $1 million still needed for the project, regardless of renaming. “I think we’ll be able to raise the last million dollars, but at bare bones minimum,” he said.
“So basically, we’re looking at a fourth million dollars,” said Councilwoman Carol Smith. “I think it is a potential gold ring for a donor who wants to leave a legacy.” She added that she would like to get opinions from the Ojai Civic Association, Ojai Historic Preservation Commission and the public before deciding on the concept.
The other council members agreed with that sentiment. “I would also like to have it come before the Parks and Recreation Commission, too,” said Mayor Pro Tem Steve Olsen.
The majority of public speakers were against the idea. “I don’t think we honor Mr. Libbey as much as we should,” said David Mason, who added that, besides the park property, the Libbey Foundation was instrumental in helping establish museum and library sites, as well as in rebuilding the pergola. “We’re putting in more than 30 trees. There are a lot of naming opportunities there.” Mason suggested mimicking the pergola’s donor plaque placement at the bowl.
Claire Hill, Pat Hartmann and Larry Hartmann concurred during their addresses. “I would think anybody donating to the renovation is doing so because they love music and Ojai,” said Hill. Much of the speakers’ expressed concern was in naming the facility after someone not associated with Ojai.
“I think it’s clear that it wasn’t always named Libbey Bowl and it’s clear the Mr. Libbey wasn’t egotistical about his name being used and that he was very philanthropic,” said Councilwoman Betsy Clapp. “It would be rebuilding something very integral to this community, so I don’t want to get too affixed with what Mr. Libbey would have thought of it.” That said, Clapp supported getting more feedback from the community.
“My suggestion is to try everything else first,” Mason said. “If someone wants to donate $10 million, I’ll be back before you saying, ‘Go for it.’”
“I have received a lot of public reaction over the last several days and it has been overwhelmingly negative,” said Horgan. “But two others said ‘$1 million, I don’t know; $10 million and we’ll talk.’”
Kersnar pointed out that it could very well be an Ojai pioneer family that gives a donation warranting name-change consideration. He said the issue would return to the council Dec. 8, giving the city time to hear more from the community.
Congratulations, Ojai!
The Truth Coalition is pleased to announce that Libbey Bowl will now be known as the “Ret. Lieut. John Doe Amphitheatre for The Arts, Truth, and the Investigation of Life on Other Planets”. It sounds like alot, but the newly designed fascia of the bowl will hold the name quite nicely.
Patron of the Arts
12 Nov 09 at 5:48 pm
I say allow the name to change for a million bucks. We will put stipulations in the contract for naming it , perhaps say the new name must be approved by a special naming committee and it must reflect Ojai in some way. That way we won’t have “the Libbey Bowl, in Libbey Park” which is redundant.
Anonymous
12 Nov 09 at 6:52 pm
If john doe had it his way it would be called “home sweet home”.
Just call it “Betsy Clapp Bowl” as it sounds like she is gunnin for it anyway…
Ash Johnson
12 Nov 09 at 7:10 pm
God has spoken and it will be called Rudds Recreational
Center.
Tony Clifton
12 Nov 09 at 9:31 pm
I think its a great idea. Better to change the name then to let the old one fall down and be left with the Libbey HOLE…On the other hand the price tag is just a little too high! I doubt there will be any takers at 1 million.
Show me the money
13 Nov 09 at 1:17 am
How doing the same for the school district. Fiscal woes are erradicated.
Anonymous
13 Nov 09 at 6:52 am
How about selling naming rights to the school district?
billfusion
13 Nov 09 at 6:54 am
Suza Bowl! Named after our former mayor, and daisy duke wearin’ yogi!!
Lil Eva
13 Nov 09 at 9:08 am
Vanity Bowl
Million Dollar Baby Bowl
Bowling Ball………
Cereal Bowl
keep It Simple…….
Ojai Bowl….?
anonymous
13 Nov 09 at 9:39 am
Name it Black Bear Bowl, in honor of the fallen heros of the forrest.
Jesse
13 Nov 09 at 9:48 am
How about the Blue Condor Bowl?
Anonymous
13 Nov 09 at 12:26 pm
How about something like Char Man Bowl in honor of all the firefighters who have saved many structures in Ojai…I think by offering the right to rename the bowl, you’re just asking for trouble…Just continue to call it Libbey Bowl or Ojai Festivals Bowl, and let the big donor get the nice big gold plaque with their name on all the structures…they can have a nice front page story in the OVN, and at the grand reopening concert stand up and take a bow….maybe give them a lifetime pass to the Ojai Festival and Ojai Tennis event…Whatever is done, don’t start naming buildings in Ojai after former mayors…
Jeff Spicoli
13 Nov 09 at 12:51 pm
Seems it doesn’t take much for Ojai to a have bowl movement.
An apple a day
13 Nov 09 at 2:22 pm
Thank you OVN for offering to purchase the naming rights to name it Truth Bowl, but I prefer that you donate it to a local charity.
John Doe
13 Nov 09 at 2:37 pm
to: an apple a day
Its all that granola
new yorker
13 Nov 09 at 4:28 pm
When we start selling off Ojai’s place-names to the highest bidder, we begin erasing our history. When Edward Libbey bought the land and built the Arcade, the Post Office Tower, the Pergola, and the Park in 1917, he turned around and deeded it all back to the city. He didn’t ask that his name be put on any of it. It wasn’t until 1971 at Ojai’s 50th birthday that the park was named “Libbey Park” to honor our town’s most generous benefactor. Libbey Bowl,once called “Ojai Festivals Bowl,” has instead been commonly called “Libbey Bowl” also in his honor.
You don’t sell out a town’s history for a million dollars, just because its the easy thing to do. This is especially important in a town like Ojai which prides itself on being unique with a rich and colorful history. The same spirit which has tried to keep chain stores out so that Ojai won’t look and feel like every other town in California should apply here. It is Libbey’s park and Libbey Bowl as he donated the land it stands on. This is the only place named for him which honors his important impact on Ojai.
Mayor Joe Devito spoke to this concept of preserving our history and heritage at the most recent council meeting. He reminded us that years ago a large corporation wanted to fund the Ojai Tennis Tournament if they could only rename it the ____Corporation Tournament. You see where this is going. Thankfully, the tournament turned down such crass materialism. I would hope that any donor to the renovation would do so because they love Ojai, not so their name could be emblazoned on Libbey Bowl. So, as much fun as it is to suggest tongue-in-cheek names, let’s get serious about refusing to erase our local history one place-name at a time. Don’t sell out Ojai.
Pat Hartmann
13 Nov 09 at 4:28 pm
Jeff Spicoli- How about Smoke-A-Bowl!
Cheech
13 Nov 09 at 5:06 pm
Pat,
Your sound reasoning gives me a headache. I prefer silly games where I can suggest solutions to non-existent problems. Quit spoiling my fun.
Ret. Lieut. John Doe
Town Benefactor
John Doe
13 Nov 09 at 11:43 pm
Pat Hartman’s historical perspective has validity and Edward Libbey’s contributions to Ojai were significant, but Edward Libbey is dead, and the bowl needs money. In my opinion if an individual or corporation is willing to pony up a million dollars to upgrade this beautiful venue so be it. If Mc Donald were to name it the “mc rib is back” bowl would the acoustics be any worse? Or if Phizer called it the “if your erection lasts more than 4 hours bowl” would the majestic surrounding feel dull. Of course not. Ojaians need to get over themselves and accept the world for
what it is.
Juan Carlos DeJesus
14 Nov 09 at 12:42 am
Why don’t they allow Ojains to contribute sizeable chunks of money and have a plack with all the names on it of the contibutees, kind of like the big stretch of coastline that Carpenterian bought for their community so that hotels wouldnt be built destroying the enjoyable ecosystem.
K.A.
14 Nov 09 at 9:41 am
Maybe we should organize a fund drive to insure the name would NOT be changed and let those opposed to a name change contribute. Everybody wins!
Alternate Idea
14 Nov 09 at 1:00 pm
How about a campaign called $1000 Makes A Million.
It works like this: 1000 people give $1000 each (a couple can also give $1000) and that would equal the $1,000,000 needed.
Do it and we’ll do it.
BB
14 Nov 09 at 5:15 pm
So much worry about what would happen if the Bowl gets renamed; we sure have a distorted view of ourselves! No one person/family would give a million bucks for ANYTHING in this valley. So there is no danger of the Bowl becoming the [famous person with big ego] Bowl. That’s a fantasy!
Seriously, those that could give a million give NOTHING in this valley. They simply hide-out here. Especially true of the Hollywood types who could do so much good with so little effort, if they would only get involved.
Kudos to the Hagmans, who have at least hosted countless fundraisers at their home.
I’m average Ojai and I’ll contribute. And if a few thousands others give, too, we’ll get a beautiful new Bowl… and if someone wants to give a cool million, great, let’s rename it. But it ain’t gonna happen!
Hey Brad
16 Nov 09 at 9:25 pm
Attend any number of annual fundraisers in this town and you will see, 9:25 pm, that you are dead WRONG! There are several philanthropists in this valley keeping the hospital, theaters, Help of Ojai, the museum, the library, the schools, the skate park, and any and everything asking for a hand-out afloat! Someone(s) with money and a heart will surely step up, because folks like you aren’t.
you have no clue
17 Nov 09 at 9:55 am
This valley’s non-profits are not funded by “several philanthropists,” but rather by hundreds of residents who give what they can. It’s a community effort of small donations. To think that someone is going to step up and write a $1,000,000 check is pure fantasy.
In this thread, the names of Hollywood types and the super rich have been mentioned. These are folks that, for the most part, do not participate in Ojai life, including the fundraisers. They simply retreat here. They do not make things happen. You do.
Hey Brad
17 Nov 09 at 11:33 am