Politics could block name: Rampton Salt Palace?

Party politics could block a move to rename the Salt Palace to honor former Gov. Calvin L. Rampton.

Democrats on the Salt Lake County Council and Mayor Peter Corroon are all on board with a plan to rename the convention center in the former Democratic governor's honor, but the Republicans aren't so sure.

"We've spent a lot of money branding the convention center," said County Council Chairman Mark Crockett, one of the five Republicans who hold the majority on the council. "I'm not sure this is the right change to make, but by all means let's find another way to recognize a great man."

Corroon can't think of a better way to honor the three-term governor, who died Sunday. And Corroon doesn't see the correlation changing the name would have on the convention center's marketing.

"You're telling me by adding somebody's name to a convention center that somehow you'll lose business," Corroon said. "That's absurd."

The name change would likely just be ceremonial, and the name Salt Palace would still be used in marketing information, said Councilman Randy Horiuchi, a Democrat.

Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau executives are cautious about the name change. In July, the bureau's executive committee unanimously passed a motion saying, "The name Salt Palace Convention Center should remain the same unless for business reasons and branding, there is a compelling reason to change it."

"The Salt Palace does have great brand equity," said Scott Beck, president of the bureau. "I don't want to do anything that would make it less recognizable, that's important."

But renaming the convention center in Rampton's name could also provide an "opportunity to tell a great story," Beck said.

"If we can balance that with maintaining the brand equity we have a real win-win on our hands," Beck said.

The battle over the name of the Salt Palace is not about party politics, Crockett said.

He said he wouldn't rename the building for anyone, even a prominent Republican.

"I don't think it makes a difference what the person's name is," Crockett said. "I just don't think it should have anybody's name on it. We're a small player in a very large market, and we need to have a focused message."

Other government facilities already bear Rampton's name: the Calvin L. Rampton Complex in Taylorsville houses the Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The renovated Capitol will also have a boardroom in his name.

Horiuchi said the name change will take some negotiating, but he believes his "political ideal" will eventually end up with his name on the Salt Palace.

"There is going to be happy medium we can draw between the two," Horiuchi said. "I'll be shocked if we can't. We'll honor him in some form, but it's something I don't think is going to happen tomorrow."

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com