Vancouver Whitecaps now an MLS team!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by troutman

It's much better than calling teams The Rowdies, The Boomers, The Tea Men etc




http://www.logoserver.com/NASL.html

North American pro sport teams are prone to some really stupid team names. Even many NHL team names are fairly lame and sound bush league. European names are almost always simply the location, or something to differentiate from another team in the city. Since a lot are in another language, people get the wrong idea. Often teams are called "United" because its a merger of two previous clubs, but this is not always the case.

Ex:

Real Madrid FC = Royal Madrid Football Club (there's also Atletico Madrid) (Madrid Athletic Club) )
Juventus Torino FC = Torino Youth Football Club (there's also Torino FC)
BVB Borussia Dortmund = Dortmund Prussia Football Club (there's also Eintracht Dortmund (Dortmund United, a blend of two previous teams))

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by C.F

Yep. The renderings are on the MLS Vancouver website. It actually looks very nice.

Still though, the plan is to eventually be playing in a soccer-specific stadium on the waterfront.

Agreed, I think the lay out will be perfect there. I wasn't looking forward to being in a 60,000 seater with only 20,000 fans.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Watch the Whitecaps win an MLS championship before the Canucks win a cup.

The Giants won the Memorial Cup before the Canucks won the cup.

I wouldn't be super shocked if the 'Caps did it, either. They have one of the best developmental programs in North America.

[Scrambler]

Update: First of wave of pre-sale for season tickets already sold out!

[604flames]

Vancouver will have one more West Coast rival in 2011 as the Portland Timbers will also be joining MLS.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by 604flames

Vancouver will have one more West Coast rival in 2011 as the Portland Timbers will also be joining MLS.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Agreed. The Timbers have some seriously awesome fans. Good to see that Vancouver, Seattle and Portland won't be separated for more than 2 full seasons. Great rivalries all ways with those guys.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

North American pro sport teams are prone to some really stupid team names. Even many NHL team names are fairly lame and sound bush league. European names are almost always simply the location, or something to differentiate from another team in the city. Since a lot are in another language, people get the wrong idea. Often teams are called "United" because its a merger of two previous clubs, but this is not always the case.

Ex:

Real Madrid FC = Royal Madrid Football Club (there's also Atletico Madrid) (Madrid Athletic Club) )
Juventus Torino FC = Torino Youth Football Club (there's also Torino FC)
BVB Borussia Dortmund = Dortmund Prussia Football Club (there's also Eintracht Dortmund (Dortmund United, a blend of two previous teams))

You are aware that most of the European teams have nicknames as well right? They may not be used all that much, but there are plenty of stupid team names in Europe as well.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by valo403

You are aware that most of the European teams have nicknames as well right? They may not be used all that much, but there are plenty of stupid team names in Europe as well.

And some even have 2 or 3 nicknames. But so do many North American franchises. Typically, the only marketed nickname is one reflecting their colors, ie: The Reds, The Blues, The Bianconeri, The Rossoneri, The Nerazzurri, etc. Anything else is just what fans/rivals call them. Essentially, it would be like saying the Calgary Flames use the term "Flamers" as an official nickname, just because its used a lot by rival fans.

Do some European team names/nicknames seem lame? You bet. Lame to the level of North American sports? With few exceptions, no. Come on, San Diego Sockers, Edmonton Cracker Cats, Two teams named Roughriders, Minnesota Wild, etc.

[goodyear]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

And some even have 2 or 3 nicknames. But so do many North American franchises. Typically, the only marketed nickname is one reflecting their colors, ie: The Reds, The Blues, The Bianconeri, The Rossoneri, The Nerazzurri, etc. Anything else is just what fans/rivals call them. Essentially, it would be like saying the Calgary Flames use the term "Flamers" as an official nickname, just because its used a lot by rival fans.

Do some European team names/nicknames seem lame? You bet. Lame to the level of North American sports? With few exceptions, no. Come on, San Diego Sockers, Edmonton Cracker Cats, Two teams named Roughriders, Minnesota Wild, etc.

IJust a little rant on team names....I've seen some minor league (ECHL and lower) teams with just as lame names...usually "Ice" plus something... ex Austin Ice Bats...but I guess those are acceptable because its minor league. It took me a long time to get use to the Wild, which at first, sounded more like a women soccer team.

I still hink Real Salt Lake is the most outrageous one of all. The Whitecaps on the other hand, is one of the better team names in North America professional sports.

[troutman]

There are some strange team names in South America:

ex. The Strongest - Bolivia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strongest

Newell's Old Boys - Argentina

Barcelona - Guayaquil Ecuador - I thought I was seeing the real Barcelona in a friendly vs. Quito, but it was this Barcelona