Team Nicknames Should Branch Out

Going back to my previous post about using a Zombie as a team logo (albeit temporarily), it dawned on me that pro sports teams play it safe when it comes to their nickname and branding.I made this for the Puckdrawn blog, where you could design a team for a designated city, in this case, Portland:

They often go with a fierce animal (Bears, Cougars, Wolves), a warrior type (Spartans, Vikings, Trojans), or something fairly generic (Reds). I haven’t seen anything really bold and different since the Toronto Raptors were born.

The Raptors is a brilliant name. It capitalized on the popularity of Jurassic Park in the mid-90′s, and is a subtle nod to the ongoing fusion of hip-hop and basketball (RAPtors).

Since then, I have seen franchises adopt some bland names, like the Wild, Blue Jackets, Bobcats, Thrashers, Predators, Rockies, Ravens…nothing really unique.

So Zombies is one example of creating an identity around a fictitious yet popular creature. Here are a few more ideas that are in the same vein as Raptors and Zombies:

1. Robots, and all the nicknames that derive from the theme. Bots, Droids, Rustbots, Bolts, Cyborgs.

2. Dragons. This theme branches across many cultures, and could encompass many looks. Alternates: Wyverns, Fire-Breathers, Scorchers, Fire Serpents.

3. Supernatural nicknames. Vampires, Werewolves, Slayers, Demons.

4. Superheros: Capes, Avengers (copyright?), Crusaders, Vigilantes, Villains.

5. Sci-Fi: Clones, Aliens, Invaders, Martians, Spacemen (sorry for the sexist nature of this list), Meteors, Comets, Asteroids.

6. Fantasy: Valkyries, Orcs, Elves, Goblins, Trolls. Knights and Wizards has been taken!

7. Bugs: Spiders, Arachnids, Scorpions, Infestation, Fire Ants, Rhino Beetles, Wasps. Fortunately Bees, Jackets, Hornets, have been utilized.

8. Science-y names like the Isotopes (which has become a reality in tribute to the Simpsons): Atoms, Protons, Colliders.

I’m not saying all of these would be ideal for a pro team, these are just possible directions for teams seeking unique identities.