Some people still might question the naming of the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, but they’re being too judgmental. It was understandable that many were upset when it appeared that the “Veterans Memorial” aspect was going to be left out of the new name, but that was addressed in choosing Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center as the permanent designation.

The real problem is that we all got used to saying “Vets” over the decades, a quick and catchy shorthand scrawl of a name. That will fade, and before you know it, Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center will just roll off our tongues.

“Are you going to watch any of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state basketball tournament games at Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center?” one citizen will ask. “Whoa, there, you’re way behind the times,” will come the reply.

“The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state basketball tournament hasn’t been played at Vets, the former name of the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, for years. It’s played at Wells Fargo Arena. Well, gotta go – suddenly I have the urge to complete a financial transaction.”

Public buildings have been renamed at a rapid clip, ever since corporations realized it was a good way to get their name in an often-seen spot and maybe even snag some media mentions.

On the other side of the transaction, when someone offers you millions of dollars, you always take it. That’s just the way you are.

When someone suggests transforming Sec Taylor Stadium into Principal Park, at first you invoke tradition. Then the intoxicating scent of a big check wafts into your nostrils, and you find yourself thinking: “I never knew Sec Taylor, and if I had known him, maybe I wouldn’t have liked him.”

The change was made and now people barely give it a second thought. Oh, once in a while someone wonders: “What’s so great about principals? I knew my high school principal, and I never liked him.” But for the most part, Principal Financial Group Inc. is happy, and the average baseball fan remains focused on drinking quickly so his beer doesn’t get warm.

Old-timers tend to resist such changes, partly because they’re not the ones receiving the checks. On Chicago visits, they have no plans to utter some uppity corporation’s new name for the Sears Tower. Yes, Sears Holdings Corp. is kind of a corporation, too. But it’s best not to argue with old-timers. They can whack you with a buggy whip, knowing that you won’t whack back.

For younger folks, it’s not such a big deal. “Come on, you lovable tykes,” young parents will say to their offspring. “There’s an exhibit at the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center that you should see.”

“You said ‘should,’ which means ‘boring,’” one of the little punks will say. “Is Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center a place of deep unhappiness for kids who are more into having fun than learning about people who once, long ago, had fun?”

“Not at all,” the parent will say, wondering where lovable Gramps put that buggy whip. “Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center is just as much fun as it sounds.”

And off to Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center they’ll go.

Larry Bird and Elvis were among those who entertained us at “Vets,” but those days are gone. Also, from now on, you’re required to refer to them as Larry Joe Bird, presented by McDonald’s Corp.; and Elvis Aaron Presley as seen in “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, now playing on Starz.

Jim Pollock is the managing editor of the Des Moines Business Record. He can be reached by email at jimpollock@bpcdm.com