Dateline question: Is Stanford a city?

There is no difference between Speedway, Ind., and Elmont, N.Y.
They are the legitimate datelines for the Indy 500 and the Belmont Stakes.
Speedway is not a part of the city of INdianapolis and Elmont in not a part of New York City.

 

Saturday marks the beginning of the countdown to someone suggesting I add a "B" to an Elmont, N.Y. dateline.

 

And games from Auburn University's campus be dateline Opelika, Ala.

 

Not sure what you're trying to say there, but Auburn University is in Auburn, Ala.

 

I know the point of this thread is come up with a definitive answer, but I would say that the right answer is what your company's style guide says.

For example, when I worked in SoCal, our paper would use WESTWOOD for UCLA events from the campus instead of LOS ANGELES. Out of towners would usually use LA I noticed.

Again, Im not sure what is correct about NOTRE DAME vs. SOUTH BEND or STANFORD vs. PALO ALTO, but I would say the way to go is to look on the address on the press release. That would be the official address.

 

Ogre, that's a good general rule, but it doesn't always hold.

 

True.

You can always ask a local if you are curious or not sure. This really doesnt help when you're on desk though. So it's up to the writer to get it right, just like the rest of the story.

 

I'm in the University Park-Notre Dame-Stanford camp. Speedway, too, and am surprised that AP ever got that one right. It's been Indianapolis on AP stories as far back as I remember.
But be aware that sometimes a place arranges a dateline to make itself seem more posh. A golf course, for instance, suddenly IDing itself as in the cool tourist trap five miles away rather than not-so-cool the town next door, all the better to fool out of town writers. One did this because it made a deal with the tourist trap's chamber of commerce.
When in doubt, check a map. Still in doubt? Look at a vending machine for the annual license sticker. Or ask a cop what the real jurisdiction is.

 

Is there industry based in University Park, Notre Dame or Stanford other than education?

No.

They are not communities. There is no main drag full of shops and stores in a place called University Park. State College, yes. Not University Park.