The Future of the Cleveland Indians

[bigfoot5415]

Names like Naps or Bass will make us the but of jokes for years to come. Not to mention we used Naps for years.

I'm OK with Spiders (weren't they really bad?). Id live with Guardians if the logo was done right.

I just really wish there was something we could do to incorporate our pre-ww2 or league park history without being a retread.

 

[Benway]

The Spiders were legendarily bad. Phenomenally, Unsurpassingly, Archetypically terrible.

We can redeem their legacy.

 

[Tonedef75]

The Cleveland Tribe is probably the most basic name change they could do, but also the easiest to transition to without turning off any of the fan base as it is already a nickname for the team. For those fans that are extremely against a name change, this would satisfy them the most. However, unless the team colors are changed, there most likely won’t be a massive revenue spike in merchandise sales since fans with less money could simply wear there old Indians attire.

 

[Benway]

Here's a thought: every MLB team nickname that exists is either bland, hackneyed, abstruse, or utterly random.
(I give you the New York Mets.)
Instead of meaning, significance, importance, history, or relevance, I suggest an ephemeral and lightweight, but fun moniker.
Whatever is chosen will take on the weight of history and become beloved in inverse proportion to its present-day meaningfulness.
You can literally name this baseball club "The Bubbles" and it will acquire as much gravitas as "The Indians" in short order.
Instead of looking to the past, I suggest looking to the very shallow and insignificant present, given that looking to the future is simply and practically out of the question.
It will be fine. To quote Miles Davis: "Call it Anything".

 

[DownTownTribeFan]

Cleveland Outlaws or Gunslingers

 

[Benway]

The Cleveland Spammers!

 

[Peachtree]

Names like Naps or Bass will make us the but of jokes for years to come. Not to mention we used Naps for years.

I'm OK with Spiders (weren't they really bad?). Id live with Guardians if the logo was done right.

I just really wish there was something we could do to incorporate our pre-ww2 or league park history without being a retread.

I saw Bulldogs as a suggestion and actually kind of liked it. Did some digging and the Cleveland Bulldogs won the 1924 NFL Championship with League Park as their home stadium.

 

[Steve_424]

The Cleveland Tribe is probably the most basic name change they could do, but also the easiest to transition to without turning off any of the fan base as it is already a nickname for the team. For those fans that are extremely against a name change, this would satisfy them the most. However, unless the team colors are changed, there most likely won’t be a massive revenue spike in merchandise sales since fans with less money could simply wear there old Indians attire.

FWIW, and maybe it was planned long ago and has nothing to do with the future, but the Indians' slogan this year:

"Our Tribe"

 

[Derek]

I'm not being condescending towards any person. None of that "do better", or "up your game" or "try reading for a bit before posting next time", or any of the other "attack the person not the post" type of comments that violates forum rules. -- I was commenting on the substance of "Naps" allegedly being the frontrunner. And I think it would be a terrible choice.

The "Browns" name is actually a great contrast The Browns team name was picked by fans back in 1946, when Paul Brown was still an up and coming coach in Ohio. He wasn't a historical figure when that name was selected -- he was a contemporary, very well known coach in the state. In the decades since then, fans have become attached to the name because that was the name of the team they grew up with. But at the time it was chosen, it was about as up to date and modern as you could get.

Nobody has grown up with the "Naps". And rather than naming the team after a very well known contemporary coach -- as we did with Paul Brown back in 1946 -- we'd be naming the team after someone who hasn't played in the sport for more than 100 years, and who even in his own sport, doesn't occupy anything close to the status Paul Brown has in football.

You were being condescending directly toward me, but don’t worry, I don’t hold grudges. Moving along.

I still think the Naps would be a good name. It has historical significance, and I’m not sure why it matters if anyone has seen him play.

I just don’t think what the actual name is will matter from a marketing/ticket sales aspect. Most baseball logos are just the team name in a script font with a baseball involved anyways

Nobody seems to care that there are no lakes in LA or music in Utah.

You could name a team the Dirty Diapers and people would show up in bunches if they made the playoffs.

I just haven’t seen any evidence that the name of the team has any tangible impact.

 

[LL3]

The Spiders were legendarily bad. Phenomenally, Unsurpassingly, Archetypically terrible.

We can redeem their legacy.

All true, but I doubt very many would care much about results from 100 years ago.

 

[LL3]

You were being condescending directly toward me, but don’t worry, I don’t hold grudges. Moving along.

I still think the Naps would be a good name. It has historical significance, and I’m not sure why it matters if anyone has seen him play.

I just don’t think what the actual name is will matter from a marketing/ticket sales aspect. Most baseball logos are just the team name in a script font with a baseball involved anyways

Nobody seems to care that there are no lakes in LA or music in Utah.

You could name a team the Dirty Diapers and people would show up in bunches if they made the playoffs.

I just haven’t seen any evidence that the name of the team has any tangible impact.

I went to school with Nap Lajoiie (he was in 8th grade and I was in 6th) -- he was a swell guy and tremendous player, so i am partial to him, but I think even he would say that time is up on using that name. Though I agree that the name is not of tremendous importance in selling tickets, etc, I think we could do better.

 

[Urban]

Any relation to Jon Lajoie of Youtube fame in the early 2010s and FX hit comedy, The League ?

 

[LL3]

Nobody seems to care that there are no lakes in LA or music in Utah.

Obviously the Lakers are the Lakers (and in LA) and do really well in merchandising...but without looking it up, would you not guess that the Jazz is among the lowest in merchandise sales? Yeah they are in Salt Lake, but also have a horrible name for their situation. Maybe they are boosted by fans of odd pairings?!?

 

[sportscoach]

They better stay the heck away from our Cleveland Ind.....from our Cleveland Name to be Determined Laters

Gonna be kinda nervous if they do change the name to The Commodores as that makes even more sense for a Nashville team than a Cleveland team.

I'll be honest, I really don't believe the Dolans want the Indians to leave Cleveland at all. So I dont think the Indians will leave Cleveland as long as they own them and a good probability if they do sell, there will be some type of agreement not to move the Indians.

Now if any teams will move, it will be Oakland or Tampa. Also there is a rumor of a place like Portland trying to get a team. Its very possible MLB could expand or move both teams into a new area.

 

[LL3]

I'll be honest, I really don't believe the Dolans want the Indians to leave Cleveland at all. So I dont think the Indians will leave Cleveland as long as they own them and a good probability if they do sell, there will be some type of agreement not to move the Indians.

Now if any teams will move, it will be Oakland or Tampa. Also there is a rumor of a place like Portland trying to get a team. Its very possible MLB could expand or move both teams into a new area.

I know many dislike the Dolans, but I have always counted on the fact that they stay out of the way of their baseball people, they create a positive environment in which their baseball people thrive, and that they would keep the ball club in Cleveland. That last item is one that many overlook.

MLB may well expand by two teams in the next few years, but it would still not be shocking to see a team move,