Hampton Roads To Change Name
Let’s face it, the name Hampton Roads is just plain confusing. Try telling someone on a flight from Denver to Boston that you’re from Hampton Roads and rarely will they know where you’re talking about. But if you said “Milwaukee” or “Miami” they’d know exactly where you’re from. Friday, in an effort to brand the region better nationally and internationally, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and all member cities agreed to formally change the region’s name. That new name: The Seven Tidewater Cities of Hampton Roads plus York County and Poquoson. Sure, it may sound a bit long, but it abbreviates nicely as “TSTCOHRPYCAP” (pronounced “tist corpy cap”). “It’s easy to remember!” states Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim. “If this move doesn’t land us an NBA team, I don’t know what will”, he added.
Poquoson Mayor, Gordon C. Helsel stated: “It’s just an honor to be mentioned in the regon’s new name. As a small city, we’ve grown so much and its good to see Poquoson is finally deserving of recognition. Look, we have a Taco-KFC-Hut now!”.
Bgining next week, the new TSTCOHRPYCAP name will begin appearing in national ad campaigns aimed at drawing national conventions and tradeshows to the region as well as seasonal tourism. “Now that people will know exactly who we are, things are going to change… I’d venture to say that lightrail will soon stretch beyond the limits of Newtown Road by 2015. This aught to get Virginia Beach’s attention so that they start taking concern with the region they’re in”, said Michelle Parker, Vice Chairman of the Hampton Roads COC.
Hampton Roads Transit is already approved for a $2.7 million overhaul that will rebrand the transit lines to the improved TSTCOHRPYCAP-RT name. Portsmouth is one city that stands to gain a lot from the new name. They are offering new tax incentives to draw corporations into the waterfront city. Portmouth Mayor, James Holly was unavailable for comment due to a prior engagement at a Players Ball, but the Portsmouth City Manager did tell us that the fact TSTCOHRPYCAP has the sound of “Corp” right smack in the middle of the name will undoubtedly help their cause. Read more about the region’s new name in Sunday’s Virginian Pilot.
