The Washington DC soccer team officially announced that a new name will accompany the burgundy and gold color on February 2. In less than a month, a new soccer identity will be forged in the nation’s capital.
But when WFT reveals its new name, it won’t be the first professional sports team to do so without changing venues. It won’t even be the first DC sports team to do so.
Several teams from the major North American sports leagues have decided to take different paths with their mascots for various reasons. Recently, the Cleveland MLB team changed its name from the Indians to the Guardians. The new name was made official on November 19, 2021, so your first game as Guardians will take place on the opening day of 2022.
Here are other franchises that have changed names in the past, but have remained in their home cities:
1997: Washington Bullets -> Washington Wizards
Bullets / Wizards owner Abe Pollin decided to change his team’s name in 1995 after the name became associated with violent overtones amid the rise in crime in Washington DC at the time.
Pollin organized a contest for fans to choose the new team name. The options were Wizards, Express, Stallions, Sea Dogs, and Dragons. Wizards finally won and the rest is history.
1999: Tennessee Oilers -> Tennessee Titans
When the Oilers moved to Tennessee after nearly 40 years in Houston, Texas, they kept the Oilers name. However, they quickly traded to the Titans after two seasons and have been ever since. In the first year they used the Titans name, Tennessee made it to the Super Bowl.
2006: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim -> Anaheim Ducks
It’s not a big change, but the Anaheim Ducks completely changed their image and won a Stanley Cup right after. Not bad, although we all miss the iconic Mighty Ducks look.
2008: Tampa Bay Devil Rays -> Tampa Bay Rays
In an attempt to reinvent themselves, the Rays removed the “Devil” part of their name and immediately won a pennant. The late 2000s wasn’t a bad time to do a rebrand.
2013: New Orleans Hornets -> New Orleans Pelicans
Under new ownership, the Hornets changed their name to the Pelicans as they embarked on a new era led by Anthony Davis. Our next franchisee was also released to reclaim its rightful name.
2014: Charlotte Bobcats -> Charlotte Hornets
When the Hornets moved to New Orleans and Charlotte started another team called the Bobcats, it didn’t feel right to me. So when the Pelicans rebranded, the Hornets’ name was on the line and Charlotte wasted no time getting it back.
2020: Washington Redskins -> Washington Football Team
The Burgundy and Golds officially dropped the controversial “Redskins” name in July 2020 following widespread pressure from activists and backers. After 88 years with a single name, football in DC changed forever. However, his first season under the new name was a good one, as Ron Rivera led the team to an NFC East title.
2021: Cleveland Indians -> Cleveland Guardians
After more than a century as the Indians, the Cleveland MLB team dropped the name in December 2020. When the professional baseball season begins in 2022, the Guardians will take to the field in Ohio. The last game the team played as the Indians was good. They defeated the Texas Rangers 6-0 on October 3, 2021.
2022: Washington Football Team -> ???
And here we are. The organization will announce its new name on February 2 of this year. While we don’t know what the new name will be, we do know for sure that one of the fan favorites, the Wolves / Redwolves, is officially phased out. Other nicknames, such as Redtails and Commanders, have been suggested as possibilities, but we won’t know for sure until the day comes. No definitive list has been announced. Whatever the new name, the only thing that will probably convince the fan base is winning games.
East artÃculo was originally published in English by Bijan todd Y Mike deprisco for NBCSports.com For more from NBC Sports enter here.
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One by one: sports teams that changed names without changing cities