Since it is just a bunch of fabric I would like to come over and swap some of the fabric from my closet (Stokes jersey's) for some of the fabric in your closet (Harkes jersey's).
This is the first time a big company has come in and rebranded a team. Yes there have been contractions and moves. Now someone says I got $50 million but I get to change the team name and colors. I think Yes was the proper answer for MLS. If it is highly successful then maybe it happens again but the league will have more owners next year and maybe they vote NO the next time an offer comes in.
Of course corporations have named teams before - Carl Zeiss Jena is another example. The difference with Red Bull is that they have come in and cleaned shop so to speak. They change the colors, they change the jerseys, they change the logo, and at least in Salzburg they changed the foundation date for the team. That is why it is so disturbing. And JH6, your dismissal of my ideas as "idealistic" is a cop out for actually addressing real issues that I believe are not as clear cut as you seem to think. When people stop standing up for "ideals" then we might as well give in to the basest desires and instincts of humankind. I refuse to do so and believe there are alternatives to the current money-grubbing society.
There's Parma meat company, but I don't think they have anything to do with city club. Their sponsor has been Parmalat (long after club name was Parma) which i suppose is named after Parma itself Even if it was true it's still be local company whose workers started the club (like PSV, Bayer, etc) I'd have no problem if Red Bull workers went to Dr Evil vulcano base and said sir overlord Mateschitz can we have some money to start a club in regional Austrian league and advance on? It would still be a funny name but no big deal. Or in US if they started a new club, not possesed exisitng one.
Indian Packing Company, yet again same situation as Bayer and PSV... guys went to employer and asked if they can start a company team.
Maybe I'm splitting hairs, and not to discount the history of the packers, but I think there is a big difference between naming your team a generic term like packers and naming it Indian Packing Company football team. Same with Arsenal - it's not Woolwich Armaments Factory FC. Anyway, the fact that it has apparently been done alot doesn't make it any more palatable. One thing is for sure - moves like this will either be the death or guarantee the success of MLS.
Fcuk, I forgot about them. And wasn't there a Red Diamonds or Three Diamonds soccer team in the J-League that was sponsored by Mitsubishi?