RHQ Sunday Poll - Should the Toronto Raptors Re-Brand?
by Adam Francis on Jul 31, 2011 9:30 AM EDT
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Is this lock-out done yet?
Well apparently both sides are meeting again tomorrow to give this thing another go, but I've got the feeling we've got a ways to go before anything gets resolved.
Luckily, the HQ has some stuff next week that should help the time go by a bit faster, including an insightful interview with Joey Dorsey's agent Tuesday morning, and some thoughts from Julian Wright on his NBA future.
That will conclude our look at the team's own free agents, and then we'll move onto something a lot bigger; the future of the Toronto Raptors.
It's been something I've been mulling for a while and something we've kicked around on the site in the past. However I thought this poll would help kick-start future discussions.
So give me your take.
Should MLSE management take this lock-out opportunity to get rid of the purple/red/black dinosaur, switch to the Husky, or something else, and completely change the team's "brand" going forward?
Good question...
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Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. How fast can they change the signs and tailor new uniforms?! The oportunity missed when this franchise was first launched is mind-blowing. The history and prestige that could have been capitalized on based the fact that the Toronto Huskies were actually one of a fledgling NBA’s original franchises was significant and a major misstep IMO. Why not build on that platform? Oh yeah, because Jurasic park was a popular movie…. Barf. Oh, and it’s not as though the franchise would be parting with a brand of tradition and excelence by re-brand at this point…
Suck it up. Tons of teams in the NBA have inappropriate names that no longer hold relevance. The Lakers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Clippers and Jazz are just a few examples of teams with names that have nothing to do with their cities (really biz Jazz scene in Salt Lake though i Hear).
As for the Huskies, uhm wouldn’t it be too similar to the Timberwolves? If we are going to change it (and I don’t think we should) then find something related to Toronto’s multiculturalism (I like the Dragons with Oriental Dragons) more than some historical reference for a team that played 1 year in the NBA.
That’s something I’m hoping to figure out…but great question.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Jul 31, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
name change?
Forget the name change……change some of the players. Will MLSE open their rich pocket books….and spend some money on proven, front line players?? Raptors have too many ‘off the bench’ types and D-League players. They need 3 proven starters….and they will have to pay to get them. But MLSE is too busy counting their money to really give a s**t. However attendance is slowly dropping and interest in basketball in Toronto is slowly dropping……so they better light a fire and get this team going before it’s too late. The fans are tired of losing seasons…..year after year.
Come on buddy
So your plan is to get 3 proven starters through Free agency? How?
Too many Toronto Fans want to win quickly. To avoid mediocrity they need to avoid getting and paying for three proven starters. We need to build through the draft and somewhere down the road, hopefully sooner than later, we will have a team that warrants adding a few pieces to polish off the roster. We are not close to that point yet. Be patient or go watch the Leafs…I am sure they are gonna win very soon.
JV is coming. We will have another good pick next year. We may be able to trade a piece or two for another top pick next year as well. (bye bye AB or Jose) I hope that happens. And in 4 years, when we are the most exciting team in the NBA, we will be young enough to make repeated runs to the Championship. If we do what you are suggesting we will never win anything but an 8th seed and the hope of winning one game in the series so the top seeds don’t sweep us easily.
by defensive rap on Jul 31, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Change the name
Toronto is the only team in professional sports with a team name taken from Dinosaurs. When the team came out there was a huge popularity with Jurassic Park and they felt they were capitalizing on the trend. The trend has died. What was once thought to be on the cutting edge and leading popular culture is now considered by many a silly name that is childish and irrelevant. And purple is an awful colour.
Huskies would be much better and those retro uniforms are more distinctive.
We could also go with
“The Toronto Towers”
but I think that is a bit cheesy. It plays on the CN tower thing, but I prefer Huskies.
Huskies are a Northern Animal that are very common in Canada. They are strong, intelligent, loyal and have been man’s best friend up North long before Joseph Conrad ever wrote “The Call of the Wild”
“Raptors” doesn’t even appeal to the young people anymore, which was the original intent. Kids move on. Dinosaurs is no longer the “in” thing. We need a timeless name. We need to get away from purple and a cartoon image and get “REAL”
re: Team name from dinosaurs
I would say originality is a plus when it comes to team branding. When I think Huskies in a basketball context, I think UConn Huskies or possibly Washington Huskies.
Dinosaurs are closer to timeless then Huskies are. I do acknowledge that there is the Canadian cultural tie in with sled dogs and such.
minor note -- Jack London wrote 'Call of the Wild'
Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness, N***** of the Narcissus, and The Secret Agent. But not Call of the Wild.
ps. Definitely agree that Huskies would be a great name for the Toronto franchise.
Jack London
oops. that was pretty weak. Thanks for the correction.
by defensive rap on Aug 1, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
how is “raptors” childish but the name “huskies” isnt?
plus theres tons of highschool and college teams all over this continent alone named huskies. do not let our only nba team have the same name as the many school teams.
just move on, the name raptors isnt great but it isnt bad either, and its definitely not as cheezy as the most common used sport team name, huskies.
Oh man…there goes my blog post on why the “unicorns” is the way to go…
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Jul 31, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Ummm...you don't have to change the name
Consider that a Raptor is a bird of prey, you can simply evolve the emblem from a dinosaur to a bird and actually be more relevant. The claw logo would only need a little tweaking.
The term “raptor” is derived from the Latin word rapere (meaning to seize or take by force) and may refer informally to all birds of prey, or specifically to the diurnal group.1 Because of their predatory lifestyle, often at the top of the food chain, they face distinct conservation concerns.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey
The dinosaur might not fit but the name can still work, and the notion of flight ties in nicely with the team playing out of the Air Canada Centre.
Huskies and Dragons is a bit too common, and although the Toronto team isn’t the only sports team named Raptors, may be the most prominent one
Happiness is that which gets lost in the details of its pursuit.
by HQ Interloper on Jul 31, 2011 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Raptor name
If we keep the name then I would agree completely with your approach here. It’s not the name but the Purple Dinosaur image that bugs me. I have a child, I have suffered through a few moments of Barney and it just doesn’t fit the image we need. A bird of prey approach seems much more appealing.
BTW, the man who plays our mascot is fantastic but the same person who does such a great job could easily change the suit, and do a similar job as a bird of prey.
by defensive rap on Jul 31, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
The interesting thing is that I didn’t live in Toronto when the team was first born. So when I heard MLSE had settled on “Raptors,” I assumed they meant the bird, which was my first choice!
Then I saw the logo…
cricket cricket
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Jul 31, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
How About The Toronto Rapturs?
Just kidding LOL
raptures?
the team intros can have Blondie playing in the background
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture_(song)
i no longer have an issue with the 'brand'
They’ve moved from the purple almost altogher (except for throwbacks and ‘retro’ gear). The reds and whites both look good and are Canadian relevant.
They’ve moved from the dinosaur to the claw holding a ball and I think is now one of the better logo’s in the league.
The origins of the team name is weak and childish, but they’ve changed it significantly over the (I’d also say they have one of the better mascots in professional sports.) Actually I’d say they have one of the better brands in the league (although not on court basketball brand)
by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jul 31, 2011 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
re: Keep team name the same, change logo and jerseys as see fit
In terms of logo design, the team has already moved away from the garish dribbling dinosaur to the Raptor claw, with a basketball in the center.
As far as a complete rebranding, not in favor. I’m sure the Raptors have talented marketing execs / ad agencies that can dress up the logo and uniform regardless of what name follows Toronto. Were dinosaurs really popular at the time, of course. But every dinosaur team doesn’t have to be either Jurassic Park or Barney.
As a personal opinion:
- A team that has moved from one city to another has grounds to change their name, and often should (ie New Orleans Jazz, Utah Raptors).
- A team is no longer a fit for the city ideals ( Washington Bullets) also gets a pass
- A team that just wants a new name for the sake of a new logo just isn’t trying hard enough.
Example of a movie inspired team from another sport, Anaheim Mighty Ducks. They changed to just Ducks, instead of abandoning the name it altogether, and ditched the duck wearing the hockey mask.
personal reasons
My son’s favourite toy is his stuffed Raptor – yes, this team’s mascot in stuffy form. It’s a bonding point. For that reason, keep the brand.
That’s one of the things I’m going to look at.
Not so much your son’s fondness for the toy, although that’s a good reason ha ha, but just how tough it is to now change things after 15+ years.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Jul 31, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
2 options
Well we either continue with the name and get away from the purple dinosaur or we change it. At least that’s improvement and I could live with either one.
by defensive rap on Jul 31, 2011 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
University of Calgary Dinos
I think we have the better dinosaur logo. The T-rex reminds me of the Toy Story character.
2006 NBA Draft Revisited
1 – With the first overall pick in the 2006 Re-Draft, the Toronto Raptors select: Rajon Rondo
5 – The Atlanta Hawks select: Andrea Bargnani
(Actual 2006 pick: Shelden Williams)
For complete article see here
For those that don’t recall Jose was signed as a fee agent on August 3, 2005: So he had played one season with the Raptors when Bargnani was drafted. Jose’s rookie season was underwhelming to say the least. Though he did go on to have twol good seasons in a row starting the next season when Bargnani was a rookie
Rondo
Rondo was never going to be the first pick.
Aldridge, Rondo, Sefelosha and Gay are the only four good players in the draft.
Aldridge is the one I would prefer to have right now and Rondo would be second but hindsight is always 20/20. Two years ago Roy would have been the standout first pick.
With Bosh Aldridge Would Have Been a Bad Pick
Rondo would have been a lot better.
The article is not about what would have been at that time but based upon hindsight. Rhondo IMO would have been a better pick for the Raptors than Bosh’s backup or Calderon. JMO
Bosh's backup?
Aldridge is a little bit better than Bosh. Bosh’s stats in Toronto were pretty good, but he was the lone star on a bad team and he got the ball constantly. Truthfully I think they are similar in talent but that Lamarcus is a bit tougher.
by defensive rap on Aug 4, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
The Toronto Red Patches
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Canadian_Infantry_Division
Along the Canadian military theme there is also the:
Toronto 32nds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32_Canadian_Brigade_Group)
Toronto Ghosts (after the Ghost Squadron:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_squadron), Toronto Rams (after the Canadian Ram Tank)
Toronto Ontarios aka “Onts” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ontario_Regiment)
Toronto Rifles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen%27s_Own_Rifles_of_Canada)
Toronto Scots
Toronto Highlanders
Toronto Foresters
Colours
Personally I like to see the colours changed to a more blueish scheme similar to the Maple Leafs, Argonauts and Blue Jays.
I had been in favour of the Huskies. The idea of retaining the name but changing the emphasis to a bird of prey, but with teams named the Hawks, Falcons, Eagles etc we would struggle to properly rebrand.
Whilst you’ve got Washington, Connecticut, NorthEastern, Northern Illinois etc, there are no pro teams using the Huskies names
And a logo like this
http://media.photobucket.com/image/toronto%20huskies/DarkFormation/Jersey%20Switches/huskylogo.gif
would help distinguish the team from the Timberwolves
How about the Toronto As
In honour of James A. Naismith, the Canadian who invented basketball. Naismith had no real middle name so he picked the “A” just because it sounded good.
Either way I think the name and image must pay heed to our history, whether it be basketball wise, city wise, or country wise.
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