Utah team name polling opens, list of potential names revealed

[rfournier103]

Yeah I don't get it either. With so many less trademarks and copyrights at the time they could have picked anything they wanted

The story as I understand it goes something like this… the guy that moved the Jazz from New Orleans to Utah didn’t want to eat the cost of all “Jazz” merch he already had. Changing the name, colors and brand was expensive, and he just decided to keep the brand the same.

 

[Curufinwe]

Utah Frost does it for me.

I was expecting much worst lol

Then they make their first trade...

 

[buffa dud]

These are so so so bad

Utah Venom has so much potential I couldn't not vote for it.

 

[RRhoads]

Utah Yeti sounds like a punchline to a joke when you say it out loud.

 

[lawrence]

Powder?? Did they mean power ? GOOOOOOO POWDER GO! Go POWDER GO!

 

[Curufinwe]

Yeti would be an abominable team name.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

I like the bee names because there is a lot possibilities from a jersey Design perspective. Venom is great as well.

Major credit to Black Diamonds. I actually think it might be the best because of the out of the box thinking and a jersey could be pretty sweet.

 

[BKarchitect]

I don’t think Ryan Smith is going to let fans have final say on a name - this is just being “not a doofus 101 when I buy a team - let the public feel involved in the process”.

Smith actually seems keenly aware of perception and branding.

- He wasted no time in establishing this team was gonna be “Utah” - not Salt Lake City. Much of the population of the area sprawls well out of the confines of the Salt Lake Valley. It’s also a smaller market. You need to be as inclusive as possible with the locale naming.

- He immediately established a very well attended and publicized welcoming to the players and franchise. Smart PR move especially after the disastrous PR ownership proceeding it.

- He immediately established that naming and branding would not be done by next season. This eliminates the need to rush things and sets expectations. This doesn’t guarantee everybody is gonna love the final brand but it does give ample time to developing it in a professional and well thought-out manner.

Of the proposed names…

- Ryan Smith is an NBA owner first and foremost. The world he comes from has a team that completely owns and plays up the Raptors brand. He’s not gonna copy it for his NHL team. It’s a bad look.

- The team in the state right next door in his division has a brand that has:

A primary logo with a mountain peak and snowy/winter imagery.

A secondary logo of a Bigfoot/Yeti foot.

A mascot that is literally a Bigfoot/Yeti.

Jerseys that literally have mountain peaks designed into the hemline.

I really don’t think at the end of the day that Ryan Smith is gonna want his cool new team riffing so hard with an existing team right in his backyard. He doesn’t strike me as that kind of entrepreneur. I think he’s going to want a brand that stands out as original and marketable in a different way.

 

[Curufinwe]

I don’t think Ryan Smith is going to let fans have final say on a name - this is just being “not a doofus 101 when I buy a team - let the public feel involved in the process”.

Smith actually seems keenly aware of perception and branding.

- He wasted no time in establishing this team was gonna be “Utah” - not Salt Lake City. Much of the population of the area sprawls well out of the confines of the Salt Lake Valley. It’s also a smaller market. You need to be as inclusive as possible with the locale naming.

Utah is also much quicker and easier to say.

 

[57special]

Minnesota can then change their name to the Packers

That's so not happening.

Minnesota Massacre has a certain modern, video game appeal going for it, as well as alliteration, but what really needs to happen is for them to get the North Stars name back. Everyone in Minnesota would go for that, young and old, while Utah is busy going "Wild". What a dumb name.

 

[BayStBullies]

Hockey McHockface

 

[Chessarmy]

I actually like Yeti, not sure why it's getting hate. Rolls right off the tongue and fits with Utah, to me it's a no brainer.

 

[joe galiba]

Utah Yutes

what is a yute?

 

[Megustaelhockey]

Utah Yutes

what is a yute?

It is a "youth" in the 1992 classic film My Cousin Vinny.

 

[joe galiba]

It is a "youth" in the 1992 classic film My Cousin Vinny.

they could have Joe Pesci drop the first ceremonial puck!

 

[Machinehead]

The only appropriate choice here is the Powder

 

[TGWL]

Anybody who buy a jersey in the first season should get a free jersey in the second season.

 

[Osakahaus]

I actually like Yeti, not sure why it's getting hate. Rolls right off the tongue and fits with Utah, to me it's a no brainer.

because kraken is such a good name too, right?

 

[hangman005]

Squall, Outlaws and Venom were my top three, Swarm was alone in the next tier to make up my 4.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Glaciers is another one of the funniest entries.

Might as well go with Snails or Sloths

 

[QuizGuy66]

The story as I understand it goes something like this… the guy that moved the Jazz from New Orleans to Utah didn’t want to eat the cost of all “Jazz” merch he already had. Changing the name, colors and brand was expensive, and he just decided to keep the brand the same.

They also moved way late - June 8th that year

 

[HanSolo]

Just make it Utah Jazz and lets see NBA's reaction...

If there's a reason we don't have a Vegas Black Knights in the league...

 

[robertmac43]

Give me the Utah Mammoth!

 

[Stealth JD]

Needs to be Powder in a ‘John Scott to the ASG’ kind of way.

 

[SwordsgoneWild]

I like Frost. Not sure what the logo would be though. An Icicle? A Snowman?