The Value of North America’s Old Soccer Brands

I think even that's a euphemism. How about "Clap Bowl"?

he he he

Great idea. With the wave of recent interest in the history of US soccer (the new book, the retro logo companies, etc.), the time seems ripe to bring some of those storied names back to life. Not sure which potential MLS or NASL markets would be able to grab onto this history, but it wouldn't be any faker IMO than appropriating the history of some NASL team that existed for 4 years in the 70s. Way better names, too...the bad 70s puns that seem to dominate NASL names are just painful.

I thought I knew about every book on American soccer history, and I don't know of a new one since "Distant Corners" and "Soccer Made in St. Louis" last year. It sounds like I've missed one. Can you fill me in?

Quoting your post as well: Like Roger, if there's a new book, I'd like to hear of it.

Thanks Roger, by the way. I just ordered Soccer Made in St. Louis for a friend of mine from college after his wife got back to me saying, no, he does not have that book, and that it would be a better present to give him when we go out to visit them than the usual case of beer, since he quit drinking this year.

I was thinking of Distant Corners...in academic writing things from 2005 are still "recent," so 2011 is practically brand new.

I never really understood why so many American clubs had the name of intangible ideas or emotions that were words that weren't quite nouns but more adjectives or even closer to prepositional phrases almost at times. This always bothered me. Like MISL's Pittsburgh Spirit, Cleveland Force, Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Chicago Sting, Baltimore Blast and seriously St. Louis Steamers is the WORST name EVER!!! That's what a bear does in the cold woods. Anybody want to clue me in to why this was/is so prevalent in North America still to this very day (Houston Dynamo)? At least "New England Revolution" makes some type of historical sense. I like a name you can sink your brain into... Ft. Lauderdale STRIKERS or Portland TIMBERS or Tampa Bay Rowdies... strong names! Tangible things...not as obvious as college mascots named after animals (Panthers, Tigers etc) but you know something more clever... Why? <shakes head muttering>

I agree that some of them make no sense whatsoever. But, some actually do.

St. Louis Steamers, for instance, is in reference to steamboats (Steamers) that used to travel up and down the Mississippi River and dock in St. Louis. Now Cleveland Steamers, that's something ENTIRELY different....

But I agree with you on others. One fo my least favorite names for ANY sports team EVER has always been FURY. What are you so mad about? Geez...

That's yet another name from the era when soccer was trying to impress Americans with how tough it was. It falls in the same category as Stompers, Force, Blast and others.

No, it's not even close, Mr. Just Got Here Yesterday.

Well of course I got the Mississippi River Steamboat reference but why not say, The Riverboat Gamblers or Steampilots, or Paddlewheelers or I dunno, some word that isn't a slang synonym for feces? Like Chicago Fire is ya know, close to being wierd but is historic at least as well as an actual noun. Just sayin... I wish it would stop.

Anyway there is value in the old brands. I have been looking to buy a Rowdies shirt. Very cool name, history, logo and unique jerseys that scream late 70's. I think to get back to the point of the post, we should definitely be embracing our American soccer/football heritage and not trying to pretend the awkward teenage pimple years didn't happen. NASL in it's peak had some cool names and logos and some really awesome new clubs are coming up too. Maybe someday we can have relegation/promotion and teams can bounce between MLS, NASL and USL tiers. Someday...

...and?

I get the steamboat reference, but it's still not a good name...it stinks of the bad side of the 1970s, like a lot of NASL names. Lots of other good StL names with history to choose from.

Interesting article. I wonder about some of his choices, especially suggesting names heavily associated with indoor soccer for new outdoor soccer teams. You might as well be suggesting Quebec Nordiques FC.

(sorta) off topic but there is value of some new brands too. Cool stuff (in my opinion). Some of these guys should've been in NASL/MISL marketing back in the day.
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Let's hear it for National Slug Rejectors.

Frankly, beats the Steamers IMO.

And there are other, better names to choose from, besides. Let's go, Saint Louis Raiders (aka Kutis). If invoking NASL is the goal, St. Louis Stars is much less dated and sounds better than Steamers.

Being from New Orleans, I can shed some light on this,... I cannot believe Utah still uses the name "Jazz." For the longest time, they kept the "Mardi Gras" colors of Purple, Green and Gold. I am glad to see they are finally phased it out altogether.

Anyway, since Tom Benson (owner of the NO Saints) bought the Hornets this year, he has launch a campaign to re-brand the team to reflect the city and its culture. I believe once the team is re-branded, the team in Charlotte will rename themselves the Hornets.

BTW, I do not follow basketball, but my cousin does. This information was relayed to me by him.
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I've always thought New Orleans should trade "Hornets" to Utah to get "Jazz" back. It makes some sense for Utah to be the Hornets as they are "The Beehive State." Speaking of Utah, when did the King of Spain give his imprimatur to make their MLS team "Real"?
I'll guess that some of the dumb names are a result of jerks buying up the rights to cool names. I'd hope this sort of desparation led to the birth of Tampa Bay Mutiny (nothing says success like a mutiny) instead of the rebirth of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. I played for a Rowdies team in high school. It was a great name for us to love and our opponents to hate.