Naming the proposed new Brisbane NRL side the Bombers is just plain dumb. There is no two ways about it. The bid team have missed a fantastic opportunity to build their own brand. It would be like me creating a new line of televisions and calling it ‘Apple’.
Although technically my product would be different from Apple computers, as the NRL is to the AFL, it would be similar enough to always be compared to the original brand.
Not surprisingly, the AFL’s Essendon Bombers are none too impressed.
The (original) Bombers CEO Ian Robson said he was “surprised and disappointed” upon hearing that the proposed new franchise would carry the same nickname.
Though he did joke “I suppose we should take it as a little bit of flattery. Imitation is the best form of (flattery)”.
This was possibly a round about way of hinting that the administration at Essendon realise that there is not much they can do in a legal sense to change what has been announced.
There are crossovers with the nicknames of some NRL and AFL teams. However, many of those have been around for 100 years and existed before those sports became national.
A new team should be looking to build its own brand and image. Anything too close to home, like “Bombers”, should have been ignored. There are plenty of other strong and individual monikers that they could have chosen.
The bid organisers did detail the extensive research and community involvement that they did for finding the name. However, they didn’t come across as particularly composed at the press conference. I am sure they are well meaning, but the bid just has that feeling that it was more hastily organised than the buck’s do for a shotgun wedding.
Even some of the reasoning for the name doesn’t seem particularly well thought through.
Nicholas Livermore, the potential franchises Bid Director, stated at the press conference that he felt that the name was “family friendly”.
Now, I may be being slightly sensitive here, but surely a moniker of the ‘Bombers’ evokes images and sentiments of war and destruction. Doesn’t sound particularly family friendly to me.
I do wish this possible Brisbane franchise all of the success in the world. But it appears to have been bombed before it’s even begun.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Just call them the Greater Brisbane Gliders. The greater glider is endemic to greater Brisbane. It would be great to be able to support a club that is named after a species that lives within the club's geographical boundary! Link the club with the local wildlife organisations, in particular the ones that deal with dasyurids (quolls, antechinus, phascogales, planigales, antechinus) because they're threatened by the cane toad. Money collected from the Leagues club could be spent on bulding sanctuaries for dasyurids and possums. Promote the club at the santcuaries and attract tourists to the club by offering them a club membership option designed for them. It doesn't hurt to build a fanbase outside of Australia. I'm sick of Australian clubs being named after introduced species.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
"A cowboy in Aus is a cheat, criminal or someone who cuts corners, hardly appropriate for an Australian sporting team." Then make the North Queensland Cowboys the North Queensland Cassowaries and call the Melbourne Storm the Melbourne Cowboys or Melbourne Rorters.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Rugby league fans like me won't support a club that is named after an AFL club. I just don't like Aussie rules football.
sk
Guest
my thoughts: the nrl should go with the name from one of the old brisbane premiorship teams or elevate one of the queensland cup teams to the top grade.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
You are right. They are officially called the Essendon Football Club. One of the contributing reasons as to why Essendon most likely won't have any grounds for legal recourse. I think the point is though is that it is Essendon's accepted nickname. Yes legally the new Brisbane NRL side can choose to have the name, but by doing so they are missing an opportunity to build their own brand and identity.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
I don't think they are coming back anytime soon.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
True. I am contradicting myself in that statement a little bit. Let me clarify. From a traditional Rugby League heartland point-of-view Brisbane deserve a team. However, financially and support-wise can another team survive? Brisbane & Gold Coast are extremely close. There are already 2 NRL teams, 2 AFL teams, a Rugby Union team, an A-League team, cricket etc in the region. The market there already seems crowded given their population.
methysticum
Guest
Are Essendon officially called the Essendon Bombers? I doubt it. I think it's the Essendon Football Club so I don't think they have any legal claim to that name.
swifty
Guest
no comment on the old Western Reds?
Jason
Guest
I do want to support a Brisbane team but a unique one preferably one with history and culture. BTW I don't support the Broncos either because of their dicky name.
Buckle UP!
Guest
Well if they deserve it, I'm sure that means they can support it. Otherwise it would mean they don't deserve it. You are nearly contradicting yourself.
Buckle UP!
Guest
Not sure if you replied to the wrong person or you missed my sarcasim, but this is my point exactly!!!
Sam
Guest
Because then you're not restricting yourself to only south or north. I would agree if the Broncos were North or South though, because it creates that extra feeling of rivalry.
Sam
Guest
Agree with your last sentence mate, but I don't think its a bad thing having two "Brisbane ..." teams. There are examples where this works really well (Manchester United, Manchester City; New York Jets, New York Giants; Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid; AC Milan, Inter Milan; etc, etc.). With Australian teams, you don't get much confusion between Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory. I guess it creates a greater feeling of rivalry, and confusion gets lost because people mostly call teams by their nickname anyway.
Sam
Guest
Sorry to burst your bubble mate, but a Bronco is the same in the US as what we call a Brumby, so it is very Americanised. All of the QLD team nicknames come from American origins. Cowboys in America (Dallas Cowboys, NFL) are stockmen in Aus. A cowboy in Aus is a cheat, criminal or someone who cuts corners, hardly appropriate for an Australian sporting team. Titans (I suspect) came from pop culture (Remember the Titans) and Tennessee Titans (NFL). Very few people would know that the Titans were actually a race of Greek Gods who were overthrown by the Olympians (Zeus, Poseidon, etc. All the commonly known Greek gods). We also have: Melbourne Storm were originally going to be the Melbourne Mavericks (Dallas Mavericks est 1980, NBA), but got knocked back by Lachlan Murdoch because it was too American, and were told to come up with something original (thankfully). Canberra Raiders (although less Americanised) can be associated with Oakland Raiders (NFL), who were established in 1960 (22yrs before Canberra). Then there's Illawarra Steelers and Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL, est 1933) (although I understand the Illawarra region has a large steel making presence, so that isn't as bad, but still. Rugby League teams have a history of having Americanised names. It's disgraceful. AFL is also starting to become like this (NY Giants (NFL), San Francisco Giants (Baseball) and Pheonix Suns (NBA)). There is no originality anymore. It's all just "market research suggests this", the market most likely being the guys in the boardroom who want the most publicity, but don't want to put in the hard yards. For mine, this bid lost all credibility yesterday.
GCS in 11
Roar Rookie
I still don't get why this bid team wants to have its name as Brisbane whatever.Why not have South Brisbane or North Brisbane. only the two Melbourne teams in the A league share a capital name.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
Brisbane does deserve another team, but the point is that they should have chosen another name. Wendell Sailor has come out today and agreed with that sentiment. Also, can Brisbane support another team? Gold Coast is only down the road and the sports market seems to be little congested at the moment.
Tim
Guest
Brisbane Bombers gives the club no individual identity. When referred to as Brisbane they could be confused with the Broncos. When referred to as the bombers they could be confused with Essendon. The Tigers and Bulldogs don't have this problem as when referred to by their location are unique (Wests, Richmond, Canterbury, Western...). If the NRL as a whole are serious about moving into the AFL's market share this name represents a dumb idea and lost oppurtunity. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Buckle UP!
Guest
Americanized? Does the denver broncos sound familiar? Hardly a reason to hope they fail and not support them. Brisbane needs a second team, embrace them what ever there name. Sounds like you don't really want to support another Brisbane team. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Jason
Guest
I will only support another Brisbane team if it actually is a BRISBANE TEAM, not some Americanised/AFLised rubbish named "according to market research". Just goes to show all this bid is about is money. What about bringing bak Valleys Football Club, South Brisbane Magpies or Past-Brothers, teams that genuinely represent Brisbane? I hope this bid fails purely based on their attitude and choice of name.