Filed under: Apple Corporate
Huge Apple ads ruffle feathers in Boston
Last week I was in Boston and drove past the ad pictured at right, as I have done many times. Even though it first went up in 2007, I still think, "Man, that is a big ad."Boston's Outdoor Advertising Board agrees.
Two years ago, they declared the 13,750 square-foot monstrosity illegal because of its size. Yet it's still in place. Last June, the groups behind the advertising agreed to pay the state $110,000 as a settlement, according to The Boston Globe.
Now, according to the Globe, there's a political backlash. It seems that the settlement was reached with some "help" given to a business person from a campaign aide from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's office. The same acquaintance reportedly has made annual donations to the Mayor's office since 2005.
The owners argue that the ad promotes sales inside the self-storage business just behind the huge wall, where customers can buy iTunes gift cards.
The ad space first went into use 6 months before Apple opened the flagship retail store on Boylston Street.
[Via iPodNN]
Photo: Yoon S. Byun, The Boston Globe
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RestaurantShareApp said 2:58PM on 10-23-2009
That is a huge distraction. Now I wish I could have my app pictured up there :))
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colouroflight said 3:00PM on 10-23-2009
Screw the "Outdoor Advertising Board." This is strictly the business of the owner of the self-storage warehouse. It's on HIS building.
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TJ Luoma said 3:08PM on 10-23-2009
What?! Someone in a politician's office in Boston may have pulled some strings after some palms were greased?!?
SURELY YOU JEST.
p.s. I can make fun, I'm a Massh… err, I mean, I was born and raised (and learned how to drive!) in Massachusetts…
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Randy said 3:17PM on 10-23-2009
Ive lived in Boston now for several years, but have yet to see the ad... where is it?
And shady back-room deals with Politicians? In Boston? NEVER!!
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Matt said 3:58PM on 10-23-2009
You can see it from the Southeast Expressway. It's near the Boston Herald.
JKT said 3:33PM on 10-23-2009
I think the ad is cool. I don't know what the building looked like before the ad was on it, but strongly suspect it's an improvement.
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Mark said 4:11PM on 10-23-2009
You are missing the point... The Apple ad is covering a giant whale mural that was somewhat of a Boston landmark. That is the reason a lot of people are pissed off about it, not the size (although it is ridiculously large).
Here is what the building looked like before the advertisement was put up:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=boston,+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.106236,73.564453&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Boston,+Suffolk,+Massachusetts&ll=42.34378,-71.061823&spn=0.011038,0.01796&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.344024,-71.061716&panoid=bxrpJsmqHoNNQarIpEZgGg&cbp=12,266.16,,0,8.87
@Randy I don't know how you can live in boston and never have seen this... It's right off rt. 93 on the south side of the tunnel.
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Jordan said 4:21PM on 10-23-2009
The ad needs to be proclaimed illegal. Not because it's Apple, not because it's ipod, but because of its size. Think of what the world would look like if this started a trend. Advertising is already everywhere, I don't want to see it this big.
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colouroflight said 6:03PM on 10-23-2009
Oh yes, more laws and bans are EXACTLY what we need.
Scotty2shots said 10:01PM on 10-23-2009
Never been to Boston, but drive down sunset or Santa Monica in LA and you'll see that advertising already is this big.
evilkid500 said 4:57PM on 11-03-2009
BRING BACK THE WHALES!!!!!
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Steven Sokulski said 4:48PM on 10-24-2009
As far as I can tell, the whale mural was on the side of a storage building. The owner of the building decided that instead of a picture of some whales he would rather have a big fat check. As funny as a "Save The Whale's Mural" tee shirt would be, this isn't anybody's business and its likely that any "rulings" will have no effect.
That aside, any argument that advertising shouldn't be this large is purely subjective and unfortunately, already being trumped by massive ads all over the place. You should see the building wraps that occupy some of the hotels here in Vegas.
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Daniel Murray said 5:37PM on 10-24-2009
Local jurisdictions should regulate the size of outdoor displays just as they regulate building heights through zoning. There are limits. Everywhere.
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Actionable Mango said 3:13PM on 10-26-2009
If I use binoculars, I can just barely see that Boston ad from here in Seattle. It looks small to me; I don't know what the problem is.
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