It was announced this week that the NBL commission are in the final stages of approving two new teams for the league’s 2012-13 season. It’s hoped that by the end of January a new team from Melbourne and a team returning to the Brisbane market will be approved.
Despite in-depth financial and marketing planning already being done, it’s known that the Melbourne team is yet to choose a name. S
o lets get to the all important naming process, and while we’re at it let’s consider the Brisbane team as well.
Brisbane:
Considering the rich history associated with the Brisbane Bullets, it’s a sure thing that the returning team will take up the old name. As much fun as it would be to think of some new creative idea, I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Though I could see the Brisbane Blackhawks, Barons, Bats or Bluebottles.
Verdict: Brisbane Bullets
Melbourne:
Unlike the Bullets, the new Melbourne team has no history to speak of, save for its many failed predecessors (not associated with the new bid).
For the first time, the secondary Melbourne team will play out of an arena other than Hisense Arena, instead at the new State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South (South Eastern Suburb, 25kms from CBD).
Set in what is undeniably Australia’s basketball homeland, the team is not likely to be short of supporters, even if the arena can’t fit more than 3,200 spectators (a good 2,000 less than should be the minimum.
In the past, Melbourne teams have sported ‘South Melbourne’ (Dragons), ‘North Melbourne’ (Giants), ‘South East Melbourne’ (Magic) and ‘Victoria’ (Titans/Giants) as their titles.
Considering the new backers, I think it unlikely that they’ll take an old name, making a straight up ‘Melbourne’ team my preferred choice for naming. Other options could include ‘Wantirna South’ and ‘Knox’ (Suburb names) or possibly a return to ‘South East Melbourne’ or just ‘East Melbourne’.
Despite all the other choices available, a simple Melbourne title does two things.
• Opens the entire Melbourne area for a fan base, even allowing them to stake claim to the occasional marquee game played at Hisense Arena.
• It asserts their equality with the Melbourne Tigers. Anything other than a ‘Melbourne’ title would show that they are fearful of the Tigers’ brand.
With the nickname in mind, there’s no doubt that a new name is 100% necessary, to move away from the failed past’s of former franchises.
If the team adopts the ‘Melbourne’ title, options could include the Melbourne Marlins or, riding off the success of the Dallas NBA team, there would always be a market for the Melbourne Mavericks. No matter how many times I look at alternate names, I’m certain that, should the team be a ‘Melbourne’, ‘East Melbourne’ or ‘South East Melbourne’ team, then the nicknames must be ‘Mavericks’.
If however, the team opts for a suburban title (Wantirna or Knox), then the most obvious choices are the Wasps and the Knights respectively.
Verdict: Melbourne Mavericks
No matter where they’re based out of, or who’s playing for them, the return of a Brisbane franchise and a cross town competitor in Melbourne can only be good news for fans in two of Australia most basketball crazy areas.
Let’s hope that the league approves the bids and we can all look forward to the Melbourne Mavericks facing off against the Brisbane Bullets in season 2012-13.
anonymous
Guest
Adelaide 36ers (nbl) Philadelphia 76ers (nba) South East Melbourne Magic (nbl) Orlando Magic (nba) Sydney Supersonics (nbl) Seattle Supersonics (nba)
NBL Guy
Guest
how about the Port Melbourne Panthers
traread
Guest
I think that the new Melbourne franchise will go under the "Victoria" tag... This will help them broaden their appeal. I'd like to see them called the Victoria Niners to pay homage to the 9 Victorian Franchises that were either merged, went under or merged then went under in NBL history. 1. Coburg/Nth Melbourne Giants 2. St Kilda/Westside/Southern Melboune Saints 3. Nunawading/Eastside Spectres 4. South East Melbourne Magic 5. Victoria Titans 6. Victoria Giants - the Giants were technically a new franchise after the Titans went under. 7. Frankston Bears 8. Geelong Supercats 9. South Dragons This would be a good way to unite fans from all over Victoria that used to be fans of any of these teams and also allow the NBL to grasp some of their heritage. I know most of you wouldn't agree but this would be pretty cool.
Harro
Guest
A magic giant is a Titan.... been done I know... new name... keep it relivant to the S.E of Melbourne... rangers would be great but obviously Dandenong have that... will continue to think... maybe bats is a good name given Melbourne was originaly called Batmania... Really liked the dragons but again needs to be new...
Steve
Guest
thesportsguy makes a good point, it should be something relevant to the area. What about 'Melbourne Victors'? If that's too sensible, what about 'Melbourne Neighbours'?
Fan
Guest
Can't beleive the "Pride" havent been suggested. Considering the franchise will be backed by a group of local Associations coming together, thought it would be an obvious choice. Not to mention a good foil to the big cat "tigers" across town. As for the NBA teams, pretty sure Gold Coast had the same problem, they wanted to be the "Heat" but were stopped by MIami. As for Wollongong & Sydney, I'm pretty sure they're "aloud" to use their names because they originated back in the 80's so we were well established names, unlike the new Townsville & Gold Coast teams. Looking forward to the cross-town games and a new Stadium for Melbourne basketball.
mushi
Guest
yep but Toronto chose an ferocious anthromorphic animal which is pretty typical for sports teams jsut like the Bronco's getting away with it because it was an animal.
Lucan
Guest
Nunawading retained the Spectres moniker after the South Melb and Eastside NBL merge. Suspect they'd have every right to block another basketball team based in a neighbouring suburb from cashing in on their intellectual property.
thesportsguy
Guest
did they really? there you go. interesting, never knew that! cheers mitchwally
Lucan
Guest
Go for "The Magic Dragons" and have Puff as their mascot.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
It's quite a popular name in Melbourne, although I'm sure more would think of the Eureka Stockade than going up against the AFL!
mitchwally
Roar Rookie
The Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby team went with the Rebels name after the 2007 ARC team of the same name- although the competition only lasted one season, the branding associated with the name was strong. So it does relate to Melbourne's Rugby history- which is far from short- Victorian teams played early Wallaby and Waratahs touring teams as they transited across the country to sail to England. Also the "Rebel" moniker has an allusion to going against the considered norm in Victoria- AFL!
Johnno
Guest
Launceston Casino City anyone lol. NBL champions 1981
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
What about the Coburg Giants!
Johnno
Guest
Brett were you a Canberra Cannons fan in the day, did you love going out to watch Australian captain Phil Smythe running around for the Cannons. I was a basketball fan so i miss th egret days of the NBL in the 90's.
JD
Guest
East Melbourne Spectres has merit but how many potential supporters go back that far? Reviving 'Dragons' would be an insult to people's intelligence. It's meaningless to a completely new club playing at least 20km away in a different part of Melbourne. It goes to the same folly that saw previous non-Tigers entities rebrand, merge, rebrand, demerge and remerge/rebrand again. Fans aren't that stupid and a proper club constitutes more than the name. Really, the focus should be to re-establish the likes of the Brisbane Bullets and keep consolidating for a while before jumping too quickly on this second Melbourne team merry-go-round again. Another failure and it will be another 10 years before a sponsor or backer went near the next attempted resurrection. There's simply too many so-called professional clubs across the various team sports struggling to survive as it is. You only get one, maybe two shots to get things right in a saturated market. The NBL in Melb have had about 5 or 6 now.
Johnno
Guest
Gotta love the sydney supersonics everyone.
Brett McKay
Expert
I don't even follow basketball, but I can't believe no-one's mentioned the old Eastside Melbourne Spectres....
Australian Rules
Guest
My favourite brand-out-of-water in America is the Utah Jazz. Originating in New Orleans before relocating to Utah, the image and culture associated with the back-street New Orleans jazz scene couldn't be further from the image and culture of the Mormon state. Though, Velociraptors were apparently never found in Nth America either, and I doubt anyone would begrudge Toronto for being phonies. But it's amusing nonetheless. I read a questionnaire (may have been Sports Illustrated) that asked people to vote on the lamest brand/nickname from a list of 30 chosen clubs around the world. With respect to it being a mascot to a full-contact football team of blokes, the "Sydney Swans" won comfortably (the Rabbitohs were also in the top 10).
thesportsguy
Guest
agreed. i like the idead of borrowing the name from an established local club. when rugby union decided to open a club in melbourne, i found it weird that they used the name rebels...it has no association, ties or any relations to anything relevant about melbourne or its short rugby history. i thought going with Melbourne Power would have been better - it relates to the other melbourne rugby team (storm) and references melbournes biggest rugby union club, the powerhouse. the rebel name was way out of left field. id like to see the new bball team do something similar.