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More on the Wizards’ Name Change
By Chad Gramling | June 19, 2008
Since the official announcement, I have heard many people in favor of the Wizards’ possible name change — and I have probably heard just as many who are against it.
- Indiana News Center’s Dean Pantazi reminds us that “General manager Mike Nutter, who dropped the hint of a possible name change with the move to Harrison Square as early as last August.”
- Ben Smith takes and interesting twist on looking to history for a new name.
- Neil Kelty at Political Equinox cites the success of the organization to favor keeping the name – you’ll have to read the whole article to understand how it applies to politics.
- The New-Sentinel’s Reggie Hayes doesn’t seem to favor changing the name – OF ANYTHING!
In my humble opinion, a name change is something that the Wizards must consider. It doesn’t mean they have to change the name. However, opportunities for repositioning a brand or rebranding only come along every so often, and now is the perfect opportunity.
I have my own ideas for team names, and they are not the Kekiongas, the Generals, or even the City Lights. For that matter, we might as well consider the Lady Wayne Chocolates, the Dairymen or even Capeharts. All good names that did well to characterize teams in their respective days.
This is a new era. It needs to be new and forward thinking. It irks me when people instead take it as an apportunity to get their digs in about their distaste for Harrison Square. Okay, we get it. You’re mad and don’t approve. We hear you. It’s all well and good, but let’s support the project and hope it’s successful. Otherwise, the only fitting name might be the Summit City Apathy. Not sure what the mascot would look like, but visions of Oscar the Grouch come to mind.
But even it that were the case, as long as you can use the ticket toget a discounted Billy Idol ticket, I’ll take it. REBEL YELL!!!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Glad you enjoyed my take on things, but yes I totally agree that taking shots at Harrison Square is bush league. I happen to have been in favor of the project because something has to give in Fort Wayne otherwise young folks like me will jet and it will be Fort Wayne: Home of the Largest Northern Senior Citizen Community.
Also, the thought that the Wizards are letting the community pick the name is a joke. The team selects the submission that they like the most and picks four other horrible names that the community will most definitely not vote for, then their choice is in. The franchise rigs the contest – it’s standard practice in the sports world. Both the Freedom and the Mad Ants have done this. (Or in the case of the freedom, you lease the team name to Ford in promotion of the new Ford Fusion.)
June 20th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Welcome to Baseball in Fort Wayne Neil and thanks for commenting. I suspect that any team naming contest has some degree of “fixing” but let’s not confuse the Wizards with other sports organizations in the city – (and personally, I love the Mad Ants name). Anywho, that’s their right. They have to make sure the name and brand the choose will not be detrimental to their success. Branding is no easy task and a lot goes into developing a successful one. Sometimes, even more goes into nurturing an established brand. I suspect that the Wizards will retain their name when all is said and done, but this is an oopportunity they have to at least look into.