Naming Rights Starts John Hickenlooper’s Career

The June 12 Atlantic excerpted a section of John Hickenlooper’s book: The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics. In it, Hickenlooper relates the story of how he first came to think about running for the mayor of Denver early in the new century. He won in 2003.

His interest was triggered by a fight he waged to save the name “Mile High Stadium,” which was being sold, as is the fashion, by the stadium authority to a deep-pocket corporation for their marketing purposes.

I conducted a poll for Hickenlooper, which showed that 70 percent of residents in the Denver metro area opposed selling the name. We held a press conference to announce the poll, which made the front page of the Denver Post and the local network stations. Shortly afterward, Mayor Wellington Webb, unfamiliar with Hickenlooper, joined him to oppose the name change. Hickenlooper marveled at the impact his effort had on the issue and his visibility in the community. Shortly, his natural marketing ability, generally good instincts and a lot of luck had him in the mayor’s office, and today, has him in his second term as governor and on a list (long or otherwise) as a vice presidential pick.

President Obama & John Hickenlooper (Photo: The Atlantic)

A very nice run for a beer man.

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The Book: Hickenlooper as vice president
John Hickenlooper retains his metro Denver clout