First, props to the Uni Watch blog for getting the above, cleaner version of the logo that I posted last night.
Now for more on the upcoming rebranding of the Wizards. This team will be Sporting KC next year, and I'm still not excited, or even happy about. It's not because I hate the name, cause I really don't. It's because I'm indifferent about the name, I nothing it. I have no feelings at all about the name. It's a name that stirs no emotion at all one way or another. The name strikes me as marketing done the best to offend no one. The logo is the same, there's nothing that makes it stand out and it looks too much like the Eastern Conference logo in my opinion. I understand why it was done by OnGoal as I expect they will have team's other than soccer under the Sporting KC flag in the coming years, lacrosse and rugby for example playing out at the new stadium. I just think that the name itself really does nothing to elicit any sort of sense of pride or tie in to the city of KC.
I plan to give Robb Heineman at least the opportunity to explain on Wednesday why the team will be this name, and I hope that others with the same mindset as me will do so as well. But currently I don't feel good about his whole "second chance to make a first impression" right now.
Like I said in my blog this week. I feel the name sets the team back. I feel many people will believe KC has a new team and the Wizards have gone bust. So many people are just the casual fan. It takes the name they've known for 16 yrs away and adds this. As for it being regional I totally understand that. But that's big region KC west to Colorado or KC east to Chicago b/f you find another MLS team. Not many people in that vast expanse care about KC soccer or soccer in general. Obviously they haven't done a lot of homework as Nebraska is Cornhusker football crazy and Iowa is all about Hawkeye football. Those pickup truck driving Bud Light drinking people don't care to watch men without pads on run around kicking a ball. Ongoal has now set back the team in its own city. The only positive I can think may have to do with signing players from other countries. Perhaps they could be more swayed if the team isn't called the Wizards. Though there is a Wizards in the NBA, who changed their name from the Bullets. Which was a much better name.
ReplyDeleteFacebook.com/sportingkc lol
ReplyDeleteWow if that is the new logo it goes perfect with the new name...and if your gonna screw something up you should go big!! first make a name change to something that is totally lacking edge and then try to push the change on us by making the word sporting larger and bolder than kansas city!! hey on goal you are over the crossbar..its about the fans, the city, the team not the owners the owners the owners and the egos. dumb move. Wizards was never great but it is usually harder to do worse so congrats.
ReplyDeleteCan I pose a suggestion. Pick a GOOD name, forget about an umbrella for lacrosse, rugby, horseshoes and darts or whatever else you can sucker in and PUT A WINNER ON THE FIELD consistantly. Win alot, lose less, problems solved and seats filled.
ReplyDeleteSo ... now you aren't going to boo on Wednesday. Flip-Flopper!
ReplyDeleteNo Anon, I WILL still boo, but I am also willing to at least listen to the reason for the name change before booing some more.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to Sporting KC and the new logo was HORROR! I've backed down a little (very little) cause I recognize that it is what it is but share many of Mike's concerns.
ReplyDeleteSporting KC is confusing and too Euro-poser. Kansas City Sporting Club however would be fine with me. Like politics, it's the lesser of two evils.
New logo is meh. Would have less of a problem with it if it didn't look like an Eastern Conference rip off. Also hoping this doesn't mean there will be 'Blue Stripes' on the new kits. Please stick with solid blue at least. KC, IMO, feels to blue collar for stripes (don't make me explain it).
OnGoal is fooling themselves if they think MLS soccer is going to be anything other than a curiosity outside of the immediate media market. The real appeal of MLS from a fans perspective is the atmosphere of actually going to the games. Outside of that, it's not going to compete with high-def soccer channels showing the European leagues.
ReplyDeletePortland had theirs reversed!! Do I need to write a letter this is a crime!!
ReplyDelete- at least we'll still have the Comets....
Go Comets!
ReplyDeleteI am not a KC fan, so sorry for trolling. But I hope you can keep your Wizards name. Having been in Colorado when the Rapids threatened to change their name to Arsenal for rebranding, I was very concerned that they are turning their back on (short) history and fans. Luckily the fans protest worked, and they kept Rapids and simply changed colors to those of Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the new shield is pretty lame. I do like the new colors, though.
Dude, ok we get it, you don't like the re-branding. How many times are you going to post about it? It seems like you are trying to convince everyone that "Wizards" some how has tradition and significance in Kansas City...it doesn't. It simply is not on par with Chiefs, Royals, Jayhawks etc. in this town. So if OnGoal did some market research (which I'm positive they must have) and this helps soccer in KC become relevant and grow then we should all be for it. To me the thought of KC Wizards brings to mind empty Arrowhead stadium and minor league baseball parks and a lot of casual fans feel the same I'm willing to bet. This change is a start of a whole new era of soccer in KC and I for one am all for it.
ReplyDeletenot thrilled about the name but see it as an improvement and am pumped to more effort going into everything outside of the actual play of the team as it has been cheap thus far. this signals a new era for Pro soccer in KC... it is what it is
ReplyDeleteTo the above Nick:
ReplyDeleteOf course there wasn't a "tradition" with the Wizards, since they only existed for 16 years. The other teams have been around for a lot longer. How do you expect things to become "tradition" if they aren't just let be? How would Chiefs fans feel about re-naming that team? Not very good, I imagine.
The fact is that there was absolutely no reason to make a change, but they did so anyway, for reasons no one is aware of. This won't bring in any new fans, and it's upsetting a lot of established ones.
What's the net gain here? What's their reasoning? As far as I can tell, they took a look at FSC and ESPN's ratings for European League games and half-assedly decided that they wanted a piece of that.
This is a massive display of ignorance from the FO.
IF this is the name change and the big whigs do not listen to our voice we need to collectively keep the message going. Day one in the new stadium ALL the cauldron hooligans need to keep the WIZARDS chants going. This has to keep going, please do not let this issue die.
ReplyDeleteWhy are all of so upset with this name change? Many of the biggest clubs in the world changed names, colors, stadiums, etc in their early stages. I think most of you are venting just to vent at authority(OnGoal) or are worried that ny, la, Seattle, Chicago or others will belittle the new name. Why should we care what they think or say on some "board". I can garauntee the euros don't give a crap what happens of here with our little "pub league". I will gladly support the change I think ownership is trying to present the club and game in a professional way. New stadium new culture new expectations new name. No more rainbows or dragon suits or lame hAlftime shows. This needs to be about the soccer and the results only. Hopefully this will appeal to soccer fans who enjoy professional soccer the way they watch it on fsc. Remember this is europes game and we need to play their way to garner any worldwide respect. So drop all the bullshit, buy New shirt the way manu supporters do, go to games drink beer and sing your songs. And beat the crap out of the Seattle xboxers and potland lumberjacks and the fake chivas. Give me a redbull and vodka. Go kc
ReplyDeleteI've lived in KC since 1997 and have been a fan of the Wizards since the dreaded Arrowhead days. I am thankfull for OnGoal, their purchase of the club, and their keeping the team in KC. They have done lots of good since taking over, including the new stadium, practice facility, setting up a friendly with Man U, etc. Unfortunately, that is where the good stuff ends. The team hasn't been competitive on the field since their take over, and this rebranding thing is a major gaff. The logo looks like a childish ripoff of the Eastern Conf logo and many others have said. As predictable as this has been, my guess is the sideways stripes are a prelude to sideways stripes on the jersey, just like Sporting Lisbon. Changing the name and shield is the equivalent of divorcing yourself from an identity 15 yrs in the making. Like it or not OnGoal, this is who you are....an MLS club with a goofy name. But its a name with hisory and titles. See the LA Galaxy rebrand for how to do this with class. As for the Cauldron chants, I say tomorrow we give OnGoal a similar reception as what was given in Portland when their logo was unvailed. Ownership listend in Portland. Maybe if we make some noise, OnGoal will reverse this jackassery.
ReplyDelete"Remember this is europes game and we need to play their way to garner any worldwide respect."
ReplyDeleteIt's not Europe's game. It's North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia's game.
There isn't one specific way to set up a league, or name teams or do anything. Of all of the comments, this one is absolutely the most ignorant.
Maybe they're partnering with Sporting Lisbon, a la Rapids and Arsenal.
ReplyDelete"Obviously they haven't done a lot of homework as Nebraska is Cornhusker football crazy and Iowa is all about Hawkeye football."
ReplyDeleteNeither have you. Several Des Moines, Omaha, and Lincoln fans trek down to KC for Wizards' games. There is a lot of crossover between the Menace & Wizards, partially due to the friendlies and USOC matches earlier this decade. Hopefully that will resume with the return of the Reserve League.
Also, Iowa & Neb are loaded with Chiefs and Royals fans. KC is the closest MLS, MLB, and NFL city to Des Moines & Omaha and many of our residents cheer for KC teams - including our fairly large soccer fanbases.
I'll give you that Nebraska is Husker country through and through, but the part of Iowa that is closest to you is not full of Hawkeye lovers. It is about 35% Hawkeye, 35% Cyclone, and the rest is split between Neb, Mizzou, and KU with some others thrown in for good measure. For the most part, SW Iowa is Big 12 country.
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I am against the name change, but at least the generic moniker allows fans to continue calling the team the Wizards. I guess. Horizontal strips are too FC Dallas (esp considering their away is blue). A Harlequin style would be sick.
Surely there has to be a protest in the making. . . .
ReplyDeleteIf fans could save Colorado and keep the name Sounders, we can do it here. And what trend does On Goal think they are following? The three upcoming expansion teams are Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, and Montreal Impact - all non-European, old-school American sports names.
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