Renaming airport closer to becoming reality
Tim Willert
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport could be renamed for Bob Hope
before the end of the year, a change that could cost $250,000 to
implement, airport officials said Thursday.
“Between now and the end of the year is a very realistic time
frame,” Airport Authority Executive Director Dios Marrero said. “I
think it’s clear that there is a lot of support for the renaming of
the airport.”
Marrero and Airport Authority President Charlie Lombardo were
among those who toured the airport Thursday with members of Hope’s
family, who have given the Authority permission to use his name.
The primary purpose of the tour was to identify areas where Hope’s
memorabilia could be displayed to the public, Marrero said.
“It clearly indicated a mutual interest by both the Hope family
and airport representatives to embark on a process that would lead to
the commemoration of the Bob Hope name at our airport,” he said.
At Tuesday’s Airport Authority meeting, the ad hoc committee
charged with researching the name change gave a preliminary cost
estimate of $250,000 for replacing airport signs, stationery,
business cards and uniforms.
Burbank Airport Authority Commissioner Don Brown, a member of the
committee, said changing the name to Bob Hope Regional Airport seems
to make the most sense.
“The committee has thought about it, and we will probably suggest
it to the full Authority,” Brown said.
About the only detail that remains to be ironed out is whether the
Authority absorbs all or some of the cost for renaming the terminal
facility.
“Sure we’ve got the money,” Brown said. “But whether we pick up
the full tab, I really don’t know.”
Former Burbank mayor Michael Hastings, whose marketing and
communications firm represents the Hope family, approached the
Burbank City Council with the idea of renaming the airport after Hope
on July 30, just three days after the entertainer died at the age of
100.
“We have said all along that if there are costs involved that we
would work hand in hand with [the Authority] in fund-raising,”
Hastings said. “We’ll do whatever the Authority deems necessary.”
Said Marrero: “I think having available funding from multiple
sources will help us complete this process quicker.”
Airport commissioners, meanwhile, will make their recommendations
to the Joint Powers Authority for their approval.