Or just ATL. I've spent a lot of time in Greece and have always been fascinated with AEK - the look and the name.
I wouldn't... I'd refer to the team as the Bastards of ATL. We should just go ahead name the team, Atlanta Empire... I guarantee you that you will not come up with a better name without polarizing your audience. Not everyone is going to say it's their favorite... but, what's been the argument against it? So far, I've just heard that it will somehow be a running joke if the team sucks. Well, ya know what "the empire strikes back" sounds pretty awesome as a headline. Point is that the name works. It's specific to Atlanta as it represents how Atlanta is the epicenter of the southeast, sounds soccer-ish, and most importantly, it's clean, not confusing, unique, and strong. Slam dunk in my book... The only argument at this point should the team be called: Atlanta Empire Atlanta Empire SC Atlanta Empire FC
Okay how about: FC Atlanta Atlanta SC Atlanta City Georgia United All boring I know, but light years ahead of naming it any version of another city's name, transportation mode or the bad guys from Star Wars. At this point I hope Blank buys the Silverbacks if just for branding purposes.
That's what Atlanta Empire accomplishes. It's acknowledging the whole south... And that Atlanta is the capital of the empire.
Ideally, what were the things we wanted from a team name: 1. Represent the city of Atlanta 2. Acknowledge that this is the south's team 3. sound soccer-ish without polarizing audiences. 4. Be specific to area 5. Be strong, unique, not confusing, and clean. Atlanta Empire satisfies all four of those. 1. Any team name has to include Atlanta in it. We are kidding ourselves if we think differently. 2. The Empire is in reference to the southern region which Atlanta is the capital city. Pratically, this is similar to bayern Munich in that Munich is the principal city of Bavaria. So people outside of Atlanta can fill like they have been included and are very important to the support of the team. 3. Empire fits in nicely with Galaxy, Crew, Union, etc in the league. FC is very polarizing and your American sports faithful are going to be very repulsed by the name. A mascot name is going to turn off the Euro fan purists... empire follows the mold of naming that Euro clubs follow while still sounding very American. In my book, a name must pass this test because I do not want to polarize the audience. 4. Empire state of south 5. Empire is strong and represents unity. It would be the only team with that name. No one will confuse it with another brand. And the name Empire is very clean and does not sound cumbersome like Silverbacks or Locomotives. 6* Empire fits well with the Terminus Legion theme.
The concept of "empire" in this post imperial age is likely to be a polarizing name. I can almost guarantee - and will take odds - that Empire won't be in the name.
not at all. Empires and imperial expansion and imperialism are all pejoratives. They have negative connotations. Very little good is associated with the idea of Empire.
Well, where are the people who are up in arms about the empire state building? Even after attending a liberal arts school and with perhaps the most liberal profession of all, don't think I have met anyone who would be so offended by the name Atlanta Empire that they wouldn't go to a game. Seriously, that's about as lame as saying that the Kings should change their names because people might be offended because of a reference to the horrors of a monarchy. The only thing people will think of when they hear Empire is that is a team trying to making a reference to that they are the team of the south.
Last point I'll try to make is that, what is going to keep fans away? I really don't see Empire keeping fans away. It may not be everyone's favorite, but I don't see so many people who are upset with the name that they won't come to the games. Now, I see a lot of casual fans not coming to the games if it is given some bogus name like Atlanta City or FC Atlanta. I don't like Dallas for that very reason. I think people on here expect everyone to jump on board with the euro bandwagon, but that is going to leave a sour taste in a lot of mouths. In short, if Empire is not popular... I can deal with it. But I'll be very upset if the team is called Atlanta FC, FC Atlanta, or something along those lines.
I still think that Atlanta Rising SC accomplishes a lot of our goals with a team name as well. 1. It's specific to the city and the south. 2. While not being very strong, it sounds good. 3. We can still market with the phoenix without being called the phoenix. 4. It's not Euro. 5. It makes sense and everyone from ATL would understand what it means.
Empire State building was built in the early part of the 20th century when "empire" was still seen as a geopolitical concept worth pursuing. And no, no one would be so offended that they wouldn't come to games. I'll come if the name of the team is the MARTA Rangers. And the word "King" doesn't have as many negative connotations. I understand wanting to connect the name to Atlanta's history but that would take explaining the whole damn thing every time someone said, why empire? Sort of like Terminus. Not many people realize that Georgia's the Empire of the South, though geopolitically, in light of Georgia's rather dark history, throwing around terms like Empire sounds rather exploitative. Just my opinion. Again, I'll take odds on whether that name is even considered! Put your money down now!
I love it but those who see NYCFC as a significant statement for an expansion team will see Atlanta as mimicking it at best.
Southern Utd. is an interesting idea. I wonder how Blank the nation at large would feel about such a name? We are the South, we are the Gateway to the South, we are the capital of the New South, we are the most prosperous state in Dixie - we represent the South. Our team is meant to capitalize on the idea that it is at the heart of the New South, uniting all of it under one soccer badge.
I'm pretty sure there's no way that's what people would think, unless you actively explained it to them.
Someone on another thread (or a while ago in this thread, I don't remember) suggested the Atlanta Southerners, which accomplishes the same thing while allowing you to keep the Atlanta branding. I can't decide whether that sounds corny or cool though. What did people think about Houston's NFL team name?
I guess I must be blind, def & stupid but how is FC polarizing or even turning people off?! I mean, some people may find it boring, but nobody would ever get upset about it right?
I like Atlanta Firebirds SC. It represents the city and fits MLS. Firebirds vs Quakes, Timbers vs Firebirds etc. No need to over think the room IMO
I don't know about good, but I see 'empire' used a lot in a non-negative way. For instance, as a reference to a huge business. 'MLSE has built a sports empire in Toronto as it owns the Leafs, the Raptors, TFC and a number of other sports properties.' That's not an actual quote but I see it used quite often along those lines. I think the main connotation of the word today is size or power rather than negativity. I think Atlanta Empire is somewhat similar to Galaxy or Giants in that way.