Mar 12, 2009 6:47 pm US/Central
Viewer Comments: Sears Tower Name Change
We asked what you thought about the Sears Tower changing names to the Willis Tower. Here are your responses:
The Sears Tower will always be the "Sears Tower!" I do not like the name Willis Tower; I do not like the idea of changing the name to "Willis Tower." The Sears Tower is a landmark of Chicago and I only think it's fair to keep the name as it always was. -- Nini
Well, since wild onions (which Chicago was named for) do not grow in the city anymore, let's change (the city's) name too! We'll call it Conversion City!! -- John
I'm always going to call it the Sears Tower, no matter what the official name is, due to force of habit of saying it all the time. I think it'll be a generation or two before people actually start saying "Willis Tower." I'm not sure I like the name because it makes me think of Bruce Willis in Die Hard, which would be more of a Los Angeles thing. Alex Lindquist
I think the name should stay Sears Tower. It has been that name for years and should stay. J.J. Juber
I think they should change the name because the name Sears Tower is old. I also think they should name it Genesis Tower. -- carazag
It should remain Sears no matter who the current owner may be. Brian Holliday
Would New York change the name of the Chrysler Building or the Empire State Building? It's just as ridiculous to change the name of the Sears Tower. Tom Best
I think it's wrong. Why would you change the name just because you brought the 36 year old building? It's the Sears Tower in my eyes always will be. What the bleep is Willis Tower. Did Bruce Willis purchase the place or what? It's just a crappy thing to do. I'm 23 years old. I grew up on the Sears Tower not a Willis Tower. Darius Miller
I think it's a terrible thing to change the name. Can't the city and the community have any say in this? I mean this is a Chicago landmark. What's next ... Navy Pier? Mollie
It is,was, and will always be the sears tower!!!!!!!!!! --Bobby
Marshall Field's need I say more? Outsiders need to stop taking history away from Chicago. It's just not right we don't go to there cities and ruin history. Leave the name alone PERIOD. --K. Mallory
I think that the government passes bills and laws for stupid things, they should pass a bill stating any Property/RealEstate that has any historic value in any city shall not be renamed. Call it what you want it will always be the Sears Tower to Chicago. Derek
IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE "SEARS TOWER" NO MATTER WHAT. THE "WILLIS" TOWER SOUNDS RIDICULOUS! --SMISKAWITZ
Boooooooooo! It will always be the Sears Tower. It's just like Comiskey Park - it will always be called that. I just never got into "the Cell" thing. Dumb! --Larry
I think it's stupid. Since it was built, it's always been a tourist attraction, and everybody knows it as the Sears Tower. If you change the name, people aren't going to know what it is, and this new company will lose thousands in tourist money. DON"T CHANGE THE NAME!!!!!!!!!!! --Josh
I think renaming the Sears Tower "Willis Tower" more than stinks!! These London folk don't know Chicagoans and how we feel about our hometown icons. Just ask Macy's how well it is going for them on State Street? Not so good!
--RJ
Save the Sears Tower!!! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=55681793126. --Brian
Sears Tower is 36 years old. Can you imagine renaming your 36-year-old son or daughter? Dan Derdzinski
What you talkin' bout Willis? Ron Jeka
Chicago keeps losing its identity, from Comiskey Park, Marshall Field's, LaSalle Bank, and now Sears Tower. Yet the mayor is doing not about it, being mayor isn't only about running your city, but protecting your city's identity as well. What's left to distinguish Chicago from other cities? --Ashour
IT'S A SHAME. IT SEEMS LIKE WE (CHGO AND U.S) CAN'T SEEM TO HOLD ON TO ANYTHING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE EUROS ARE TRYING TO TAKE OVER. COME ON THE "WILLIS TOWERS"??!!..."WHATCHU TALKIN BOUT WILLS!? --HDS
TOTALLY RIDICULOUS! What a name! Willis Tower? Let the Sears Tower BE Sears Tower PERIOD. Rose G.
Not only is changing the name a dumb idea but doing so will result in the extra expense of changing signs, employee uniforms, souvenirs, maps....etc. Such a shame. Rachelle A.
I used to live in Houston and they changed the name of Transco Tower to Williams Tower (or something) but it stays Transco to many of us from there. Oh well, Chicago isn't itself anymore. Sad thing and I will always call it Sears Tower. --Gilbert
It's a terrible idea....why is the name being changed. Sears is a Chicago name!! First we lost the Marshall Field name, now this!! --Barbara McIntosh-Weir
I do not like it because it is taking every thing that defines Chicago away. first Marshall Field's to Macy's now the Sears Tower to Willis, it looks like a Sears Tower. Let Chicago be Chicago, not New York or London. --Clara Atkins
I think it is a ridiculous idea. --Diane Horning
I feel as if they should not rename the Sears Tower for the simple fact that it is an icon to those individuals who were raised during the time it was created and now to the new generation.Several people will probably tell there children that it's the "SEARS TOWER" not the Willis tower. --Maria Delgado
Horrible. Totally without merit. --Fred Berg
IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE SEARS TOWER TO ME --Ed
I think that is ridiculous. You don't change the names of landmarks! --Karen
I do not mine the new name Willis Tower However it will always be Sears Tower in My Heart. --Dan Rakow CBS2Chicago Fan
P.S. My favorite Skyscraper in Chicago is the CBS Broadcast Center on Washington and Dearborn and You Folks have the most beauitful modern Building of all in The Windy City.
it's dumb, we all know the tower of chicago is the sears tower. no sense changing the name, cause everyone will still call it the sears tower! --Rach
It's the Sears tower! Why do they always have to change the names of everything ? The Sears tower is historical for this city. It will always be called that. --Kate
Call it what you want. It will always be the Sears Tower. Its like trying to rename Chicago. --Jeff
WHATCHU TALKIN ABOUT WILLIS?????? --Rosa
WHAT? How stupid is this Willis group? It will always be the Sears Tower to me. --Kristine
I don't like the renaming of area landmarks. --Drew
I think the name should not change. It has been a staple of Chicago History since 1973 and people around the world will only know it as Sears Tower. I will always think of it as Sears Tower even though the name will change. --Shawn Collazo
Yuck!!! --Jeannie
Hmmmm, I don't like it! It stinks! --KP
I think it's terrible! Why change the name of the Sears Tower now after so many years. This building is synonymous with Chicago and so many people connect the Sears Tower as one of the city's highlights. Sears made the tower what it is today not Willis! --Nellie Hernandez
Oh boo!!! This is as bad as Macy's taking over Marshall Fields!!! Why do new owners of Chicago "landmarks" have such a need to "Donald Trump" everything, emblazoning their names where the "old" one was??? And will this ever end??? --Chris Gerulat
I'm very saddened about the name change. It will always be the Sears Tower to me and I'll forever call it that whether the name is changed or not. I'm sure I'm not alone on this!! --Margie Poljewski
silly, just plain silly...... --Daniel
They changed Field's to Macys. What the hell ... Chicago isn't Chicago anymore. --William
This has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I don't care what they name it, we Chicagoans will always know it as the Sears Tower! --Lisa
My classroom disagrees and is disappointed with the name change. We feel it is not representative of Chicagoans' spirit! --Strassburg Classroom Rm. 17
I think that the Sears Tower is iconic, and so is its name. By renaming it, we are losing a piece of history, and with it a piece of Chicago. --Kathryn
This is as dumb as the discussion to rename Wrigley field. These are Chicago landmarks and need to keep the names that they are known by. No one is going to call it the Willis Tower anyway. --Jess
In a word - stupid --Michelle
I hate it, I mean you don't change an icon. First the spindle and now this, whats next?? --Donna
? don't think so ?? change new name ?? way..? want same name Sear Towers.... --Chariss Marie Washington
I will never be able to call it anything but the Sears Tower. I think it is sad that many buildings are being renamed for the sake of "naming rights". --Kendra Neal
This is disgraceful!!! How can this happen? This is a part of Chicago history. Everyone in Chicago will always refer to it as Sears Tower. --Debbie
This stinks, really stinks. What's next? The Wrigley Building? The Hancock Center, Marina City? Tribune Tower? Navy Pier? Grant Park? --Doug Dahlgren
This is ridiculous. The country has no concept of tradition or honor, it's all about money. --AG Chicago
I'm not even a native resident of Chicago and this is insulting. Who cares about the Willis Group? No one. --Ben
I cannot say, what i want to say since it will not be the nicest language. i can say one thing it aint {bleeping} Golden. --Charles
Terrible!!! It will continue to be Sears Tower in my mind and vocabulary. Couldn't they think of a name less common? --Theresa Ebster
Even with its new name, EVERYONE will still call it Sears Tower. --Sam Dalche
I can't wait to buy my Willis Building souvenirs. It's just wrong. --C Lee
IT IS A SHAME!!! JUST LEAVE THE NAME ALONE!!! --Geri
I think it's stupid. The Sears Tower should always be named the Sears Tower. It is a landmark building; I don't care who names it; I will always call it the Sears Tower. Just like "the Cell" will always be Comisky to me. Leave it alone!! --Michelle
About as well recieved as changing Marshall Fields to Macy's! Change the names all you want, it's still Sox Park, not Cellular Field, Chicagoans have a long memory and are resistant to change. That's the fact. --Kris
Personally I think it stinks how many more Chicago icons are going to have their names changed. Why not go and just rename Chicago while we are at it - really confuse everybody that comes here. --Hal Bowles
The Sears Tower is a Chicago icon and I can't believe anyone would even think of changing its name. It sounds like they are renaming the tower after Bruce Willis, even though they aren't. Please don't change the name! I'm still calling it the Sears Tower no matter what. --Mary
I think it stinks! First we lose Marshall Fields, now the Sears Tower. Maybe the Chicago Skyway should be re-named after it's new owner (or has it?) When I go downtown, I'll visit "Marshall Fields" and continue to see the "Sears Tower." --Bill
It will always be the Sears Towers... Why not name it The Sears Tower at the Willis Center? --Heath
I think it is sad in our time that history has no meaning. When I think of the Sears Tower I recall what a wonder it was when it was built. Another great architecture achievement for Chicago. Now it's not about anything but the ego that follows the money. Maybe they ought to sell the credit for the telephone from Bell to anyone who can pay. --Gail Brodie
It will always be the Sears Tower to me. --Cheryl
Anybody remember the Willis Wagons? --Neal
Going to take some getting use to. --Grzanich
In England "willie" refers to a certain male appendage so will we call the former Sears Tower the "Big Willie"? --J Conroy
They can change it all they want, people will still refer to it as Sears Tower. --Pam Pitts.
Well it shows me you can buy anything in this crooked town? Tore down Comiskey Park, tore down Soldier Field, tore down Meigs Field, now change the name of Sears Tower probably the best symbol of Chicagoland. Now we should change Chicago's name to Daley Land. Just like in the movie with James Stewart "It's A Wonderful Life." The town name was changed to Pottersvill. We are slowly becoming a sad story. --Jerry Clarke
If you build it, they will come. Sears built it, and they came. Who ever heard of Willis before today? Let's rename all the buildings just to keep all Chicagoans on their toes when a tourist ask's where something is. Corporate Egos run a muck! --Pat Hamann
That's the dumbest name I've ever heard. Why would you change it, it is a Chicago icon. Oh, and my family hates the name US Cellular Field and I'm only 8. --N. Medina
We've got a "Big John" Now we have a "Big Willie" --Steve Thoene
Why not just call the big Wills!!!!!!!!! Or Willy --Jerry Mcvey
Here is a copy of the email I sent to Will Thoretz at the Willis Co. in regards to the name change. Mr. Thoretz, I am writing in response to the name change of the Sears Tower. As a Chicagoan I greatly appreciate the business that your company brings to our town. That being said I would like to ask that your company will take our opinions into consideration in regards to the name change of the Sears Tower. This iconic building has been around as long as I have and I do not know it by any other name. I will not be calling this building by the name of The Willis Tower. I will refer to it as The Sears Tower for the rest of my life. Please reconsider this PR nightmare that you are about to embark upon. I will encourage others to write to you and air their opinions. I would like to thank you for taking this suggestion under consideration. --Jeff Snider
Why does Chicago always change the name of the landmarks? Comisky Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field, and now the Sears tower? Why don't we make a BIG name change and call Chicago "Advertisment City" --Paul
What'choo talkin bout, Willis?? That's the dumbest thing I've heard considering this is our city's most well-known tourist attraction. All of the vendors in Chicago sell Sears Tower trinkets, t-shirts, and other things. Are they going to have to get new ones every time a new company moves into this building and the name gets changed again?? Great thing to make these small businesses have to do during an economic crisis. The other big companies that were in there respected the building's history and Willis should be ashamed of making such a request IMO. --Arnold Drummond
Well this is gonna be awkward. --Wesley
I think it's a HORRIBLE idea! Reminds me of someone I used to know! --GailMarie Ward
The first thing that came to mind when I heard the name was the Willis Family who lost 6 beloved children in an accident that was tied to and began the investigation into the license for bribe scandal that happened while George Ryan was Secretary of State in Illinois. I can't see an insurance company wanting their name, (even if it is only because they have the same name) connected to that tragedy on such a large and prominent building in this State, but that is what I will always think of when I hear that name. --Kathy Taube
"What you talkin bout.. Willis?" --Andre Gearring
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