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.