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Parks & Public Spaces
APPLICATION FROM PEPSICO, INC. FOR “PEPSI SUPER BOWL 48 ACTIVATION,” A SPECIAL EVENT IN BRYANT PARK FROM JANUARY 29 UNTIL FEBRUARY 1, 2014
At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, January 16, 2014, the following resolution passed with a unanimous vote of 26 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining; 1 present not entitled to vote:
WHEREAS, PepsiCo, Inc. ("Applicant") has submitted a permit application to hold "Pepsi Super Bowl 48 Activation," a special event in Bryant Park conceived to celebrate and coincide with the Super Bowl, with set-up to commence on January 23, and breakdown to be completed on February 4, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The event will consist of a giant domed tent located on the eastern edge of Bryant Park and on the Upper Terrace, whose exterior is to be covered in large, bright colorful video projections, to include images of New York City, as well as multiple logos of the many subsidiary brands of PepsiCo, including Tostitos; and
WHEREAS, The interior of the domed tent would also include these projections; as well as sampling of PepsiCo products; and
WHEREAS, Signage would consist of enormous, illuminated logos of PepsiCo and subsidiary brands, with bright, multi-color signs and logos covering the tent exterior; and
WHEREAS, Amplified sound would be employed, with occasional live music concerts taking place inside the domed tent and broadcast to speakers outside the tent and even onto the ice skating rink; and
WHEREAS, Applicant did not attend the public hearing, nor provide materials for review, but Bryant Park Corporation presented limited materials on their behalf, making it clear that the programming was mostly about PepsiCo products; and
WHEREAS, Applicant did not state whether they have plans to solicit business in any way from visitors, but product placement and product promotion would be a fundamental feature of the event; and
WHEREAS, The event is overtly commercial, involves unacceptably large, illuminated corporate logos, employs amplified sound, and serves as a giant marketing opportunity for a wide range of unhealthy beverage and snack products, with no redeeming public benefit; and
WHEREAS, Applicant failed to attend the public hearing and fully cooperate in the public review process; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application from PepsiCo, Inc. for "Pepsi Super Bowl 48 Activation," a special event in Bryant Park from January 29 until February 1, 2014.