Utah team name polling opens, list of potential names revealed

[cptjeff]

Venom seems like it has more marketing options. Like fans throwing fake snakes on the ice on a win, etc.. Also everyone is afraid of snakes.

Also, it doesn't have to be snakes. Utah is a major scorpion state, and they also have venom. And either snakes or scorpions could be a great basis for a logo. Spiders could work as well, but I think scorpions or snakes would be more fun.

Also, imagine a gigantic scorpion mascot. You think Gritty is scary? Make way for nightmare fuel.

Honestly, thinking about the identity as a whole I've come around to Venom.

 

[Puckrobber]

I think HC is only in their because fans didn't like anything else on the list. So, they begrudgingly put HC as a choice rather than Powder, Freeze or Ice. Thus, HC ended up 6th in popularity.

 

[CupofOil]

The plus is Avalanche vs Blizzard is good rivalry right off.

This is a very good point, that rivalry would have some great marketing potential. The problem is that Blizzard would be kind of lame the 77-78 times they don't play the Avalanche.

Like most here, I agree that Outlaws seem like the best choice. The name seems kind of minor leagueish but it would be fitting as an homage to the Old West being in Utah and all. Plus it's a pretty bad ass name.

 

[paulmm3]

Outlaws is very clearly the best of the remaining six options. It's not "OMG best team name I've ever heard!" but it's vastly better than the other ones.

 

[Jormungandr]

Venom seems like it has more marketing options. Like fans throwing fake snakes on the ice on a win, etc.. Also everyone is afraid of snakes.

Who’s to say they’re referring to snake venom? It’s the Beehive state. Are we certain they’re not referring to bee venom?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

My only problem with Blizzard is that their closest geographic rival will be the Avalanche, and it's thematically a bit too similar for comfort.

We're the NHL. We play on ice. I think we can have more than 1 name with a snow/cold theme.

Baseball has Red Sox/White Sox and Cardinals/Blue Jays/Orioles.

Football has Eagles/Falcons.

The NBA has the Miami Heat. The opposite version of that would be the Utah Cold. Do you have any idea how much that name would get ripped to shreds, and nobody even bats an eye in the NBA.

 

[BKarchitect]

Here's a compilation I made of my favorite logos for some of the finalists, utilizing the generic HC logo colors which I would almost guarantee are brought forward to the final design (not that they won't also add a pop of a third or fourth accent color).

Many of the AI concepts are slick but WAY too busy for a hockey sweater or modern logo. I think like @rt has mentioned, if the graphic design/branding company that Smith hired is known for simpler, modern logos - then some of these fit that profile of "would they look clean and clear on a hockey sweater during a game".

I'm also not a fan of logos where it's like "HEY ADD CROSSING HOCKEY STICKS BEHIND THE LOGO SO PEOPLE KNOW IT'S HOCKEY".

Outlaws Logo: By @rt from AI - recolored. I think if they do Outlaws they will lean into something "western" like this as opposed to actually having some hockey-masked "bad guy".

Yeti Logo: From thefaceoff.net - not sure by whom - recolored. Love the incorporation of the "U" and one of the few Yeti logos I have seen where the Yeti isn't some super weird looking, disproportional face.

Mammoth Logo: A concept logo not for Utah but just for a Mammoth-themed team by Thomas Hatfield from Dribble - recolored. Simple, bold, stylish and well-proportioned.

Venom Logo: By @HabsGifs on X (not sure if they created it or were just posting it from elsewhere). One of the few Venom/Viper/Snake themes that doesn't look overly detailed. Slick potential for an interlocking "U & V" secondary here.

 

[DrandonBudinsky]

Here's a compilation I made of my favorite logos for some of the finalists, utilizing the generic HC logo colors which I would almost guarantee are brought forward to the final design (not that they won't also add a pop of a third or fourth accent color).

Many of the AI concepts are slick but WAY too busy for a hockey sweater or modern logo. I think like @rt has mentioned, if the graphic design/branding company that Smith hired is known for simpler, modern logos - then some of these fit that profile of "would they look clean and clear on a hockey sweater during a game".

I'm also not a fan of logos where it's like "HEY ADD CROSSING HOCKEY STICKS BEHIND THE LOGO SO PEOPLE KNOW IT'S HOCKEY".

Outlaws Logo: By @rt from AI - recolored. I think if they do Outlaws they will lean into something "western" like this as opposed to actually having some hockey-masked "bad guy".

Yeti Logo: From thefaceoff.net - not sure by whom - recolored. Love the incorporation of the "U" and one of the few Yeti logos I have seen where the Yeti isn't some super weird looking, disproportional face.

Mammoth Logo: A concept logo not for Utah but just for a Mammoth-themed team by Thomas Hatfield from Dribble - recolored. Simple, bold, stylish and well-proportioned.

Venom Logo: By @HabsGifs on X (not sure if they created it or were just posting it from elsewhere). One of the few Venom/Viper/Snake themes that doesn't look overly detailed. Slick potential for an interlocking "U & V" secondary here.

Slick deck, BKarchitect. Nice work laying them out like this with the current color palette.

Out of these 4, I personally would choose the Mammoth. But I’d emphasize more on that animal’s tusks for sure.

 

[hfman]

utah flats
utah dunes
utah slayers
utah dusk
utah twilight
utah horde
utah troop
utah troopers
utah combat
utah invaders
utah invasion
utah dusters
utah elephants


f* i don't know

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Yeti all day.

 

[Bowski]

I'm down for Venom if they can also get some Marvel/Disney rights.

Screw the snakes, it's all about spiders and symbiotes:

 

[usiel]

I admit I favor the Venom since hey....I do have a GT500 with the sweet super snake badging, heh.

 

[piqued]

Yeti and Venom are the ones that seem to have some flow/traction. Personally I lean toward Venom as something that can be more tied back to the real world in whatever direction you choose to take it. Yeti feels like you've just copied Seattle's (somewhat poorly done) homework.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

Outlaws better win I guess.

Yeti sounds dumb as hell and Mammoths are just big, dumb, fuzzy elephants that went extinct.

Your unwarranted slander of the woolly mammoth is un becoming, sir.

 

[Sniper99]

Outlaws is very clearly the best of the remaining six options. It's not "OMG best team name I've ever heard!" but it's vastly better than the other ones.

Love the name Outlaws

 

[njdevils1982]

I'm down for Venom if they can also get some Marvel/Disney rights.

Screw the snakes, it's all about spiders and symbiotes:

off topic but....what in the hell is this?

is this some ChatGPT making a music video?

i'd feel better if it was

 

[Bowski]

off topic but....what in the hell is this?

is this some ChatGPT making a music video?

i'd feel better if it was

Some dude playing metal guitar of the Maximum Carnage theme by Green Jellÿ.

I don't think the visuals are meant for commercial presentation.

 

[Hasbro]

If it ends up being Utah HC, I will irrationally hate that team from day 1.

It's purely rational

 

[DrandonBudinsky]

Not sure if this was shared here. Utah Jazz announced logo/jersey revamps a few days ago.

“Our branding will always be an iterative process as we, our fanbase, and the game of basketball continue to grow," said Ryan Smith, governor of the Utah Jazz. "It’s clear that Mountain Basketball and purple are at the soul of Utah and the Jazz, and we’re excited to share with our community what they have to look forward to.”

Working closely with Doubleday & Cartwright – a highly acclaimed creative consultancy and design studio – the Jazz developed this iteration of Mountain Basketball by studying Utah’s passion for the sport and how the mountains both influence its identity and symbolize a state on the rise”

This may be relevant since it’s been stated that future team branding/colors would parallel the Utah Jazz.

The 2025/2026 -as yet to be named- hockey team may share some of these colors/elements.
Will they utilize a “Mountain Hockey” tagline, too? If so, which of the six remaining names conjure up “mountain” branding along with these colors? Mammoth? Yeti? Blizzard?

A few similarities are showing up.
Especially the use of the same “sky blue” and black in both the Jazz and Utah HC recently released logos.

 

[Goptor]

I think HC is only in their because fans didn't like anything else on the list. So, they begrudgingly put HC as a choice rather than Powder, Freeze or Ice. Thus, HC ended up 6th in popularity.

I was originally thinking the Washington Football Team name was a joke but I ended up liking it a lot. Its a lot better than Commanders.
Hockey Club will work if they have the balls to stick with it.

 

[olli]

This is the best jersey I could get Meta AI to create

 

[me2]

This is the best jersey I could get Meta AI to create

Utah tri-tusks

In throwing out the name the
Utah Buttes.

 

[Patty Ice]

Utah Bluegrass

Continue the theme of their pro sports teams named after music not associated with the area.

 

[JianYang]

I think HC is only in their because fans didn't like anything else on the list. So, they begrudgingly put HC as a choice rather than Powder, Freeze or Ice. Thus, HC ended up 6th in popularity.

It's a sign of the times. Nobody wants to create negative publicity for an insensitive team name and "HC" is about as neutral as you can get.

 

[BKarchitect]

It's a sign of the times. Nobody wants to create negative publicity for an insensitive team name and "HC" is about as neutral as you can get.

Meh….

I think it has a lot more to do with the proliferation of soccer fans among younger generations in America and the clearly incorrect assumption among owners they are capturing some marketing zeitgeist by mimicking the European model of naming. SLC is already home to perhaps the weakest example of all with “Real Salt Lake”.

It’s also the placeholder name for franchises as of late, including the Utah one so it makes some sense to include it moving forward in the voting poll in the low likelihood is somehow catches on.

Nobody is politically or morally outraged about any of the 20 listed names suggested by ownership so the idea that the is some “oh clearly ownership is just being pandering and PC” is an absurd notion. Last I checked, “Fighting Mormons” was not on the any serious list.

The negative publicity will come and has been coming because everybody online has an opinion and a reason they think all the names are “stupid”. Why are we trying to label this a PC exercise?