The article included here (and copied below) is rather brief, however the six minute interview is certainly worth a listen.
Ottawa’s new CFL football team likely won’t be called the Ottawa Rough Riders, CTV Ottawa has learned.
The Ottawa Rough Riders were born more than a century ago. But when the team folded back in 1996, the name died too. The last CFL team to play in Ottawa was called the Ottawa Renegades.
Although the group bringing CFL football back to the capital talked about bringing the Rough Rider name back too, it appears that won’t happen.
“The Rough Rider name is something we’ve known for sometime was going to be a problem.
Saskatchewan was very adamant that they did not want the Rough Rider name coming back” said Jeff Hunt.
“They really want the league to have just one name Rough Riders.”
Since the Ottawa Rough Riders folded, the Saskatchewan Rough Riders have had exclusive use of the name for more than a decade.
Hunt adds although the name of the team is important, it won’t determine its success.
A few points…
- I don’t understand how Saskatchewan can have veto power on a name they don’t own and I can’t understand why, when they’re so quick to beat other fans over the head about how great they are, they are so insecure about the whole thing.
- If you’re going to choose a new name, then in my opinion you should break free totally. I have seen some brutal suggestions trying to just barely avoid Rough Riders (like “Rouge Riders”). If it’s not going to be Rough Riders, don’t select some crap name that will serve as a constant reminder that when you had the opportunity to stand up for your fanbase, you chicken-shitted out of it.
- Whatever name you choose, make it quick and be done with it. I’d rather it be announced ASAP to have as much time as possible to market and for people to get used to it.
- If the team chooses to have one game as the Rough Riders every year, I’ll make a prediction right now: if Rough Riders merchandise is sold year round, it will sell better than whatever new name is chosen.
Ultimately, I feel the wrong decision is being made, or that even if a new name is the right decision, that it is being made for the wrong reasons. It seems totally wrong to me that another team answers this question.
And I can’t help but feel that those most supportive of the sport in this city are once again going to get the shaft. There were said to be a couple of thousand ticket reservations when the conditional franchise was first announced. They represent the most loyal and dedicated group of fans that you have. Why do they not get a say while another franchise does?
This is “our” league, eh?
2 Comments
When I read that story in the Citizen (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Rough+Riders+name+options+Ottawa/3306801/story.html) , the first question I had was why didn’t Darren Deslaurniers ask someone in Regina how they felt. Aren’t journalists supposed to get both sides of a story. Even a “no comment” would’ve done.
It seems like Rough Rider fans in this town are being weened off the idea of using the old name by OSEG and their friends in the local media. It’s a freakin’ no-brainer. Don’t turn your back on 120 years of history and 9 Grey Cups for the sake of some name that appeals to the kids. “Renegades” was embarrassing.
I hope OSEG doesn’t do what Watters did, and stage a contest for names when they already know that Rough Rider isn’t going to be used. That’s only serves to posion the well a bit.
When the Browns returned to Cleveland, the NFL suggested they switch names to make the most out of new merchandising. The city, the fanbase, the new ownership wouldn’t hear it — and good on them. If people in Cleveland can rally around a name that only came into existence in 1946, please tell me our city values something that dates back to 1876.
People who associate the name Rough Rider with losing have absolutely no understanding of the history of football in this town. If OSEG listens to them over the real fan, my optimism just took a hit.
As for Saskatchewan having a say, they took our name in the 1920s. I guess that’s a form of flattery. I hope they feel the same way if OSEG does the right thing.
All that Saskatchewan ever seems to say (from other articles I’ve read) is that they’d “rather” there not be two teams with the so-called same name or that they would “probably” use their veto power (the mere existence of which offends me).
This is from April of last year.
http://capitalregionfootball.info/blog/?p=878
It may be that they play the “aw shucks” types in front of the media but threaten to hold their breath when debating this behind closed doors.
This feels very much to me like the Watters nonsense. You don’t get the sense that OSEG fought for this at all but that this is what they wanted all along and are playing the victim in order to not start off on a bad foot with its die-hards.
Swing and a miss. It’s a stupid move because the die-hards care far more than the so-called casual fan (contradictory term that I detest) does. Therefore, while it won’t really affect Joe Casual, it leaves the most supportive fans once again feeling like they got bent over.