.jpg)
It's going to be hard for the UFL to get great fan support, but it'll be even harder if the league goes ahead with some of the ideas floated out by Frank Vuono, the league's Chief Operating Officer in a recent email to UFLAccess.com.
In part of his email, Vuono stated, "We may go so far as to have corporate identity on our uniforms and/or equipment, and further still, we would consider the ultimate vertical model of having our team name incorporate the sponsors name (i.e., The Red Bull MLS team)."
There's no problem with corporate sponsorship on team uniforms, but to have a league filled with teams that are nothing more than sponsor names doesn't work. For example, what happens when the sponsor goes out of business or no longer wants the deal? Does the team name change like stadium names around the country have changed too often to name?
Vuono also added "We may not have actual team names this season. Teams could play under the banner UFL East, West, North and South, for instance. Our team names will ultimately be carefully selected (hopefully picked by a fan on our website) to reflect the areas within which our teams will compete."
Allowing fans to vote on team names on the league's Web site is a great idea, but if the ones the fans vote for aren't the ones that eventually are used, what was the purpose of telling fans they can vote for team names?
What kind of marketing efforts to sell merchandise will be used to get people to purchase a jersey for team UFL South? And why would someone spend money on that if the team name wouldn't be the same the following season?
There are definitely aspects of the UFL that make one think the league can succeed -- the talent level should be very good and a TV deal is rumored to be close to done. However, fans won't latch on to teams named after directions on a compass or those that simply have sponsors as names.
Yes, the New York MLS franchise (which plays all its home games in New Jersey) does have a sponsor as a team name, but is the MLS model really one to follow? David Beckham, the league's savior, has been looking to bend it somewhere else after just two years in the U.S.
Comments
I say they should actually do this plan. Few reasons.
1. $$$ makes the league live
2. Some corporate logos could be incorporated into a uniform and end up looking very cool. Think of team Dockers where part of the uniform is kackie color pants.
3. Remember the Green Bay Packers were originally the A.C.M.E. Packersm, and where the Steelers Logo comes from, so its not unheard of.
4. Fans will still come up with names based on sponsors or other things about the team. I mean a team in vegas will probably end up sponsored by a Casino so you could nick name them after any gambling thing.
the las vegas team should be either the coyotes, outlaws, bandits, or aces (like on card games in casino's).
Personally, I think in order for this league to succeed they need a great deal of fan support. How can they obtain a large amount of that? By getting the fans involved. Letting them have a say in the names and colors. Letting them design a logo. None of these have to be set in stone but maybe one of the four original teams would use a logo created by a fan. This league needs the support of many with the NFL right over its shoulder. They should also use names of teams that are new. Something like "Harriers" or "Crash" or "Pharaohs." They must be original in order to draw in fan support.
I have a few ideas:
Las Vegas Rollers or Las Vegas Cardsharks (duh)
New York Skyliners (famous skyline)
San Francisco Ironmen (their motto says "Gold in peace, Iron In war")
Orlando Pilots (the Kennedy Space Center is not far away, could be a reference to a shuttle pilot)
I feel like Euro style names with the corporate sponsor just won't fly in America, stick to names like we have, and make sure they make sense to the region, not just named that becase they sound cool.
1.San Francisco (REDHAWKS)
2.Las Vegas (COBRAS)
3.New York (HITMEN)
4.Orlando (SABRECATS)
5.L.A. (Outlaws)
6.Hartford (WARRIORS)
Las Vegas(team name) Big horns
I like Hartford Warriors, but I also like Hartford Hellcats.
The rest look very nice, and *IF* the NFL did an expansion (absorption), the UFL names would blend with the NFL names.
Eagles vs Cobras
Warriors vs Titans / Giants / Redskins
las vegas vipers ,new york hawks,los angeles cobras,orlando gators
Las Vegas best UFL team names :
1. SCORPIONS
2. BLACKJACKS (CARD LOGO ACE&JACK)
3. 21S (CARD LOGO ACE&KING)
4. VENUM (SCORPION LOGO)
5. CARDS (ROYALFLUSH CARDS FANNED-OUT LOGO)
1.San Francisco (Brigadiers)
2.Las Vegas (Blackjacks)
3.New York (Sonics)
4.Orlando (Pythons)
5.L.A. (Bullets)
6.Hartford (Rebels)
2009 TEAMS LAS VEGAS SPARTONS , NEW YORK THUNDERBIRDS , ORLANDO SUNS , SAN FRANCISCO COUGARS 2010 TEAMS HARTFORD ENERGY , LOS ANGELES COMETS
If the UFL officially names the Las Vegas team the Locomotives, you can forget my support. What a stupid name ! maybe they can have Thomas the Train as the logo.
Las Vegas Armor , New York Nightmare , San Francisco Huskies , Florida Cyclones
I love football and I was looking forward to the new league, but the names...Really? They all are really bad...The colors and Uniforms....Awful
I say FUMBLE!!!!!!
Orlando Sharks.
Keep NY.
Redwood kinda growing on me but i think i just like the idea and uniform awesome green color.
nv not sure yet just not loco
we need teams we can cheer for such as go bears or maybe go sharks not go locomotives
P.S Bring a ufl team to Lafayette,LA and call them the Gators
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!