12 marca 2006
A Short History of Corporate Team Names
I was thinking back to the comments of Soccer Sam, the radio host who was dissing the new name of MLS's New York franchise. He stated that even his rec league doesn't allow sponsors to change the team's names to a corporate name.
It took me a while before I realized that my rec league team's name is Bethlehem Steel. We aren't named for the defunct corporation, but we are named for a team that was.
The old American Soccer League of the 20's and 30's had several teams named for corporate sponsors, including Bethlehem Steel, J&P Coats, Indiana Flooring (who played in New York!) and Fleischer Yarn. As silly as the name "Red Bull New York" is, the move isn't unprecedented.
Also, the NFL's history isn't free of this sort of thing. The early NFL featured a team called the Decatur Staleys, owned by A. E. Staley Company. This team had become the Chicago Bears by the time of the heyday of Bethlehem Steel.
The Pittsburgh Steelers adopted the logo of the US Steel corporation in the 1960's.
English Team Newcastle United had as a corporate sponsor Newcastle Brown Ale. Of course, they have been called Newcastle United since the 19th century.
I have this ongoing fantasy of becoming a rich bastard and buying an embarassing product line just so I can sponsor a team. I'd love to force some wanna-be-badass athlete to have the name "Huggies" across his chest.
Of course, they are more than willing to do ads for Viagra and Cialis, so I guess I wouldn't have to.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
It took me a while before I realized that my rec league team's name is Bethlehem Steel. We aren't named for the defunct corporation, but we are named for a team that was.The old American Soccer League of the 20's and 30's had several teams named for corporate sponsors, including Bethlehem Steel, J&P Coats, Indiana Flooring (who played in New York!) and Fleischer Yarn. As silly as the name "Red Bull New York" is, the move isn't unprecedented.
Also, the NFL's history isn't free of this sort of thing. The early NFL featured a team called the Decatur Staleys, owned by A. E. Staley Company. This team had become the Chicago Bears by the time of the heyday of Bethlehem Steel.
The Pittsburgh Steelers adopted the logo of the US Steel corporation in the 1960's.
English Team Newcastle United had as a corporate sponsor Newcastle Brown Ale. Of course, they have been called Newcastle United since the 19th century.
I have this ongoing fantasy of becoming a rich bastard and buying an embarassing product line just so I can sponsor a team. I'd love to force some wanna-be-badass athlete to have the name "Huggies" across his chest.
Of course, they are more than willing to do ads for Viagra and Cialis, so I guess I wouldn't have to.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
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Let's not forget the entire Japanese baseball league, led by teams like Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, and Nippon Ham Fighters. DaMarcus Beasley's employed by the same company that made my coffee maker, and products from Bayer Leverkusen's owners are on pharmacy shelves worldwide. And where did that Ducks team in the NHL come from?
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: niedziela, marca 12, 2006 10:29:00 AM
: niedziela, marca 12, 2006 10:29:00 AM << Home
