lol, although it does fit in with South Florida teams in that it is a local reference. Heat, Dolphins, Marlins, Panthers and Hurricanes can all be found here. Not many places have 4 major pro teams and one major college all with rock solid, locally relevant identities.
Montreal and Vancouver have healthy CFL franchises, and from what I understand, the NFL is only going to ever consider Toronto for an American Football team.
OK, time to step up for Atlanta. First of all, get off the whole Braves attendance thing. They drew huge numbers in the 1990s. This decade, they have pretty much either just made the Division Series or stunk it up (see last couple of years). People from cities who see playoff games maybe once every 5 years get up in arms about 10 empty seats at a Division Series game. Geez. It's not like they're the Expos or Marlins. Next, I don't think anybody has a clue about the Atlanta bid. From what I hear, the two most likely places a stadium would be built are at least 20 miles north of any of the other major league franchises. The team would NOT be in the Atlanta city limits (or even have an Atlanta mailing address). If it's in Gwinnett County, it'll be in an area that is supporting minor league hockey (yes, MINOR league hockey) and will soon have a the Braves' AAA team. If it's in Cobb, it will be the big to-do of the county. Both counties are similar in size and demographics (Gwinnett is nearing 800,000 residents, Cobb isn't far behind). If you knock the Silverbacks in comparison to MLS, please see the Toronto Lynx. The Silverbacks didn't do crap for advertising and did a very poor job with the new stadium. Unveiling a new stadium with portable restrooms and concessions for 2 years isn't going to impress fans (as well as a gravel parking lot). They kept doing almost nothing to promote the team and, shock, they fold. Arthur Blank will *NOT* have those problems. I doubt Atlanta will win a bid for the next two spots (I'm wagering on St. Louis and Montreal or Vancouver). But at least get yer facts right before going all slam ball on the city.
-AC Philadelphia (very recognizable football name world wide and allows the fans to just call them the athletics without any copyright problems) -Barca Miami (Barça's involvement in this exercise in branding pretty much assures it) -Portland Timbers (classic NASL+USL name) -Vancouver Whitecaps (Same as above) -Montréal Impact (USL name) -St. Louis Steamers (old NASL team....American sounding name {nothing to be ashamed of} double reference to the boats and the heat) -Atlanta FC (couldn't think of anything better) -Ottawa - drop the Ottawa name and call them Capital City FC (brings the "City" football name to North America and calling them Capital City means the whole Capital region (including Hull) has an interest) )
No, that was the old MISL team. I don't think any of us here want to bring up images of indoor soccer when selling this new team to the fans.
Sorry ..... I just like the name.....as a wee lad in Glasgow, a Steamer was also a drunk ("look at him he is steaming drunk!") which a third reason I like the name!
Atlanta FC: Already taken by our NPSL team. Ottawa should be called the Nationals, and have a logo based on the old WHA team.
Ok then AFC Atlanta FC....they could be AFC AFC! As for Ottawa, I doubt if you would find much support for bringing back a name from a 1 season hockey team in a league no one wanted that ended up in Toronto! I am sticking with Capital City FC!
People love to harp on this as if Atlanta is the only franchise with such issues. Fact is Atlanta has an oversized stadium due to the Olympics that ranks #6 in capacity with 50k seats. It will be #5 after Mets move next season to 45k Citi Park. But since 2001 the Braves have drawn between 29k and 34k for average attendance, good for about 13th in the league. Considering the transients in the city and the history of pro franchises in Atl, I'd say they're doing just fine.
i've always thought the typically "american" sounding names sounded childish. like a high school football team. give the team a name like AC Philadelphia and let the fans tack on a nickname. no cheesy mascots.
^Exactly. MLS is partially damaged with it's credibility internationally with "northern North American" styled nicknames. Is it not international appeal that MLS strives for? So far I think Toronto is the only club that has gone the right route. Name the club after your city and then let the fans decide the "unofficial" nickname after. See Toronto FC(the Reds). The club then uses the fan chosen nickname for marketing. This is how it's been done in the rest of the world for decades. Or even in hockey for example. Montreal Canadiens - "the Habs".
i've always thought the typically "european" sounding names sound poserish and boring. to each their own, i guess. ...Toronto FC "The Reds" wow that's original. All that is saying, im pulling for a liverpool fc jr. why are you people happy settling for the scraps from europe? what's wrong with having a team name that's original and has some sort of history with the team. For example, Sounders/Puget Sound, SJ Earthquakes/all the earthquakes in SJ, NE Revolution/after the american revolution....but nooo let's just go with FC for everyone and nickname the team with what color their uniform is because that's what they do in europe. ...and for what it's worth, if the name has no tie to the area than yes, it's stupid. Atlanta Yankees is about the worst possible name for a team, but Atlanta Southerners would give fans something to be proud of... Saint Louis Surfers is dumb but Saint Louis Kings after King Louis would be a good name. but go ahead let's see how many FC Barcelona/Miami, Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Ajax Orlando, etc...because we are ok with being inferior to the rest of the world. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be unique.
Of course not. If MLS names its teams after European teams, all the European fans will suddenly respect MLS. I mean on-field products don't matter. What matters is that your team is FC, Real or United. Nobody wants to be Bolton Wanderers. I mean the North American names have been a complete disaster for Baseball, Basketball and Hockey. Nobody respects those leagues in europe or Asia.
i think there may be some miscommunication here. i don't have a hard-on for euro sounding names. i just can't stand teams that are names after a scary animal or something of that nature. something with local significance is cool. i like: chicago fire, dcu, houston dynamo, tfc, seattle sounders fc, fc dallas neutral on: columbus crew, ne revolution hate: chivas usa, kc wizards, colorado rapids, sj earthquakes, ny red bulls (RBNY is ok, red bulls sounds lame IMO) new team names: Philadelphia Independent, AC Philadelphia, Philadelphia Athletic - all good St. Louis Kings/Crusaders - sounds sophomoric to me FCB Miami would be horrible. i've always hated Fusion FC as it sounded like some lame 90's attempt at being hip and modern, but (as a previous poster has stated) it seems pretty relevant considering the fusion of miami and barcelona Vancouver Whitecaps - not my cup of tea, but there is history to it Portland Timbers - same as whitecaps
I don't see how Dynamo has much to do with Houston? I agree that Chivas sucks, only because it makes MLS sound like a farm league. The Rapids name actually has more significance locally than most others. The Denver teams all have similar sounding names that represent the outdoors, local history and nature. Rockies, Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets.
i didn't say they all have to have significance. i just like the way houston dynamo sounds. and i don't like the way CO Rapids sounds. no reason for it really. that one is just personal preference.
Houston had a team called the Dynamos in the 80s and 90s, and I guess it was a way to remember them and still appease the Europosers.
Forget it. Philadelphia once had a team called "The Philadelphia Athletic Club" Just because it has a ring doesn't mean it will happen. Any names for new teams are going to appease 30% of a fanbase, excite 30%, and piss off 40%. Worry about the top 60, and frak the other 40
Learn something new everyday. I think it's a decent name. I'm not much of a fan of the FC's and United's anyway. Doesn't have any originality to it.