[News] Utah to name its NHL team via fan vote bracket- Mammoth is the winner

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by troutman

In the language of the native Ute people, Wasatch means "mountain pass" or "low pass over high range." [wiki]

There must be other Ute words that are better.

Sinawava = Coyote

http://www.native-languages.org/more...s/sinawava.htm

Great find. That's a clever way to maintain a throughline, but maybe they want to try to break from the stank of Arizona's memory?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Coach

I don't mind Wasatch. At least it's unique and tied to the area.

HC or Wasatch for me. If they wanted something like Mammoth, Mastodon would have been cooler.

To me 'Wasatch' just sounds odd for a Sports team and I had no idea what it even was or meant, now the positive element there is that I found out and now I know so it could bring an element of understanding.

The negative element for a sports team is that might be a tough sell.

"The Utah Wasatch are coming to town!" It just doesnt have much of a ring to it.

[troutman]

Would you like Calgary HC? You would not.

The lamest, laziest name possible.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by troutman

Would you like Calgary HC? You would not.

The lamest, laziest name possible.

I am also a soccer fan and this is quite normal in that realm, so it wouldn't bother me if we were originally Calgary HC.

However, we have been "Flames" for 50 years so getting rid of that now would be dumb.

Some soccer clubs also have natural nicknames like Tottenham Hotspur.

[FBI]

Better be Mammoth of those remaining.. Wasatch? Yikes

[PepsiFree]

I just want them to pick a name and get a proper logo already. HC, Mammoth, Wasatch. All three are fine. HC is a classic and allows for a fan-driven nickname, Mammoth is an animal I guess so points for that, and Wasatch is entirely unconventional so I like it too.

But just pick one and get a proper logo already.

The other nice thing about HC is that they can do whatever they want with the logo. If they really want to be the Yeti then pick HC and make the logo and mascot a Yeti. Easy.

[VilleN]

I'm just not a fan of HC for hockey teams. It makes sense for soccer as it seems to be in that tradition. It isn't and hasn't been for hockey, and to me it's pretty boring.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I don't think dragging it out is very good for marketing either. I'm not on the ground in Salt Lake, but I imagine the locals could start tuning out.

[Locke]

I actually dont mind HC. I know it sounds a bit boring, but its odd...

Soccer teams in North America adopted ridiculous European names, but dont European Hockey teams use HC regularly?

Its an interesting role reversal.

Besides, staying as a neutral 'HC' allows for a lot of marketing flexibility and, for whatever reason the owner was adamant that it be 'Utah' rather than 'Salt Lake City' so it brings a lot more attention to the fact that it's 'Utah' as opposed to the name of the team.

For instance, on away games 'the Flames are in town' in a case like this it would be 'Utah is in town.'

I dont know if theres any value in that, it is what it is.

[Coach]

The reason soccer teams have names like that is they were originally community clubs that became big enough and good enough to be professional. It'd be like if the Bowness Hockey Association somehow grew into a global brand juggxrnaught. Most of the clubs do have "nicknames" like NA sports teams, they just don't really use them. I think Liverpool is the Reds, ManU is Red Devils, etc...

Anyways I feel like HC brings that sort of timeless vibe with it, things like Mammoth and Yeti (and Kraken and Golden Knights) etc... sound like exactly what they are....expansion teams at best. Really they sound like roller hockey names or (literally) lacrosse teams. Like something a bunch of 13 year olds would name their PeeWee team.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Coach

The reason soccer teams have names like that is they were originally community clubs that became big enough and good enough to be professional. It'd be like if the Bowness Hockey Association somehow grew into a global brand juggxrnaught. Most of the clubs do have "nicknames" like NA sports teams, they just don't really use them. I think Liverpool is the Reds, ManU is Red Devils, etc...

Anyways I feel like HC brings that sort of timeless vibe with it, things like Mammoth and Yeti (and Kraken and Golden Knights) etc... sound like exactly what they are....expansion teams at best. Really they sound like roller hockey names or (literally) lacrosse teams. Like something a bunch of 13 year olds would name their PeeWee team.

I mean, majority of your initial marketing should be aimed at 13 year olds anyways.

People always seem to forget they're selling a kids game. Not a grown up game. It's kids playing it, following their heroes and growing up wanting to be a part of it.

So what if the name is childish, it should be.

[Locke]

Or they could just drop all pretext and just call it 'Brigham Young HC'

[Reggie Dunlop]

Perhaps it was going to be Utah HC after all, and the "contest" was a means to throw out lame or ridiculous names.

[Ba'alzamon]

Nothing says "I refuse to put any thought into this at all" like naming your hockey club "Hockey Club". It's like naming a restaurant "Restaurant".

[CroFlames]

Are there any prominent Mormons in the NHL? Just like how Montreal loves their Francophone players, I'm sure Utah would love a couple Mormons on their club.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I mean, majority of your initial marketing should be aimed at 13 year olds anyways.

People always seem to forget they're selling a kids game. Not a grown up game. It's kids playing it, following their heroes and growing up wanting to be a part of it.

So what if the name is childish, it should be.

Sure but there's something to having a name and design that won't always sound/look like it was from the decade it was made. And you also want to appeal to people with money (adults) who will feel cool wearing a hat with your logo or a shirt or a sweater.

Names become what you make of them and design alters over time so we'll see what happens.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Nothing says "I refuse to put any thought into this at all" like naming your hockey club "Hockey Club". It's like naming a restaurant "Restaurant".

I dont know. I kind of disagree...better a generic name than a bad one?

I still think 'Shakers' would have been great. It has all of the classic elements of a new team. Angry cartoon wielding a hockey stick!

That marketing practically writes itself.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Are there any prominent Mormons in the NHL? Just like how Montreal loves their Francophone players, I'm sure Utah would love a couple Mormons on their club.

Isn't Derek Ryan? I know you said prominent but uhhh.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know. I kind of disagree...better a generic name than a bad one?

Generic = boring = bad

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Are there any prominent Mormons in the NHL? Just like how Montreal loves their Francophone players, I'm sure Utah would love a couple Mormons on their club.

It's Salt Lake City, not Provo.