Should Pro teams be named after the city in which they play or

[cboy4]

is it okay to have names which represent region/state?

My basketball team is:



Golden State?! The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers also play in the Golden State.

I mean, do people in the Boston area believe the Patriots should be named the Boston Patriots, instead of New England?

Of course, there's also the Florida (instead of Miami) Marlins....even though there's another baseball team (Tampa) in Florida -- if you want to call them a baseball team. **snark**

I don't think it's as much of an issue if a team is the only game in town, so to speak.

Colorado (instead of Denver) Rockies & Avalanche
Arizona (instead of Phoenix) Diamondbacks & Cardinals
Minnesota (instead of Minneapolis) Twins & T-Wolves
Indiana (instead of Indianapolis) Pacers

ETC. (I know I'm leaving out teams, especially some in the NHL).

It doesn't really bother me that the Warriors aren't known as the Oakland Warriors (where they play) or better yet, Bay Area Warriors, as opposed to Golden State.

Maybe it matters more to those particular cities. We know Anaheim is beside itself over the renaming of the Angels to L.A.

Just curious what everyone thinks...especially others who root for teams with a regional name.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. The Foxborough Patriots.

The East Rutherford Giants/Jets.
The Irving Cowboys.
etc...

:rofl:

[cboy4]

2. I know!

The Orchard Park Bills
The Landover Redskins
The Glendale Cardinals
The St. Petersburg Devil Rays
The Arlington Rangers.

It goes on and on

[northzax]

5. I like the Japanese model

of naming the teams after the people who own them (only logical)

Tribune Cubs
Disney Angels
Paul Allen Seahawks
AEG Galaxy

I mean really, most of the teams have no loyalty or real connection to the city, anyway!

[Captain Hilts]

19. The Irving Cowboys. nt

[trotsky]

3. I've always preferred that the Minnesota sports teams...

are the STATE's teams, not Minneapolis or St. Paul's. Gives them more widespread appeal, I think.

[TZ]

6. Thats because Minnesota only has a few franchises.....

Think about it, here where I live I don't think the "Maryland Ravens" would go over very well here in the Washington suburbs....
There is a pretty good rivalry between Baltimore and Washington. Quite different cultures, really.
A lot of Washingtonians refer to the people of Baltimore as Baltimorons.....

[BOSSHOG]

4. Should sports teams play in the city they represent?

The NEW YORK Giants!!

I believe the state names etc are for regional appeal in relatively small markets.

It would be a chuckle if the Phillies or the Pirates changed their names to "Pennsylvania." How would the "Pennsylvania Phillies" go over in the western half of the state?

[MaineDem]

7. "be named the Boston Patriots"

Been there already.

Went to games at Fenway Park and Nickerson Field when they were the Boston Patriots.

I think the regional approach is fine.

At least they're not the NY Giants who don't even play in that city or state.

[Poiuyt]

8. I think what's more important is that if a team leaves, the name and colors stay

I'm glad that Cleveland got another "Browns"

[BOSSHOG]

9. Agreed

Whats more silly then the Utah Jazz!?

[madinmaryland]

10. I think they should make New Orleans and Utah swap names.

Utah Hornets (they are the state insect)
New Orleans Jazz (obviously)

[BOSSHOG]

11. That makes way too much sense for that to happen

It could be phased in over one or two seasons to appease marketers.

[madinmaryland]

12. Are the Hornets still playing in Oklahoma some games?

What the hell would they call them in Oklahoma City?

The Sooners is already taken, and there is nothing else there. :hide:

[BOSSHOG]

13. They are scheduled to play all home games in NOLA this year

I hear the Charlotte team may be moving to Oklahoma City. The most out of place name I know of is the Tulsa HURRICANE.

[cboy4]

14. I thought Seattle might be moving to OKC?

And if it is Charlotte, how many times is the NBA planning on allowing this to happen? :wtf:

[KamaAina]

17. Alas, the Utah state insect is the honeybee.

no, it isn't Mitt Romney, silly. :P

Then again, when I lived in NOLA while it was between NBA teams, I hatched a plan with a fellow hoops fan to get an expansion team and name it the "New Orleans Tabernacle Choir".

[leeman67]

15. or the Arizona Cardinals

at least change their name to the Firebirds or something.

[dbackjon]

16. There ARE real Cardinals in Arizona, including the Phoenix Area

[leeman67]

18. Well, ok.

but that's like saying that "Laker" is an appropriate nickname for an LA team because there's a couple of lakes within 50 miles of downtown Los Angeles. :)

Then again, I guess my point was rather silly. Afterall, there are no actual bears roaming the streets of Chicago either so it doesn't really matter.

[dbackjon]

20. And no Tigers in Detroit, REAL Cowboys in Dallas

Giants in New York, Trollies to Dodge in LA, etc. :D

[davidinalameda]

21. never mind

I just found the answer to my question