New Ownership for the Edmonton Elks

[blue_or_die]

Sounds to me like he's absolutely going to change the name.

That will be weird if he does.

Not only would it be a flip flop, but I can't imagine TSN saying the word "Eskimo" on air in this day and age.

I'm faaaar from being politically correct, but it gives me the ick saying it even in my head. Just super outdated and never used.

I think the new guy would be better served to do a well thought out campaign that's centered around the fact that this is a franchise reboot, admit the transition was handled non-optimally we'll say, and more than anything lean into the horrible product on the field as the main reason the team has hit rock bottom. "Our once proud organization has found itself in a bad spot, but I'm a proud, lifelong fan and I have the keys to the franchise now. I will make our club proud once again (but running a good organization on and off the field)".

One mistake I thought they made when they transitioned to Elks was doing so abruptly and almost kinda making it seem like they were ashamed of who they are/were rather than saying "we are simply taking a new step forward".

Fully understand wanting to actually start fresh with a new brand to engrain that on the market, but I actually think a softer approach would have gone over better, especially the base which is paying the bills. I'm talking small things like using "EE" every where possible instead of "Elks". For example, they started out with the antler helmet, and while I thought it was cool, had they just kept the one they eventually switched to now with the "EE", it wouldn't have looked like they were dumping everything. On their jerseys, instead of saying "Elks" in a large font (because the word is so short), could have said "EDMONTON". It would give a sense of pride to it and still say to the fans "we are Edmonton's team".

Speaking of their uniforms, anyone else find it weird that they made a new logo for the Elks when they changed the name and it's nowhere to be found on their uniform, at least that I can find on TV?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

It didn't sound like he's going to be able to go to Eskimos again and he's very committed to the Double E. So much so I could see them just go with the Edmonton Double Es or 'Esks' if Ambroise will allow it.

[pdirks67]

Maybe because he's not ruling it out?

I should have been clearer - by "putting it to bed", I meant not even considering the name change and saying so. Because it would be very divisive to go back to the old name. You're setting yourself up for a world of hurt by doing this. Which, I assume, would be the absolute last thing a new owner would want to do.

[pdirks67]

It didn't sound like he's going to be able to go to Eskimos again and he's very committed to the Double E. So much so I could see them just go with the Edmonton Double Es or 'Esks' if Ambroise will allow it.

Ugh. Sounds like the worst of all worlds. I can't see that anyone would be happy with this. He should take a look at the kind of things that Amar Doman is doing in BC to rebuild interest. Market the crap out of Tre Ford and rebuild the base with a modern outlook.

[TecnoGenius]

It didn't sound like he's going to be able to go to Eskimos again and he's very committed to the Double E. So much so I could see them just go with the Edmonton Double Es or 'Esks' if Ambroise will allow it.

I would totally go Esks, because it's a meaningless non-word.  You can't vilify a non-word.  Well, some people will try.

But I think anything other than Elks is a good idea.  Elks is a cursed name.  I guess it's back to the "help EDM rename their team" threads!

[TecnoGenius]

I should have been clearer - by "putting it to bed", I meant not even considering the name change and saying so. Because it would be very divisive to go back to the old name.

It wasn't divisive when they changed the name to Elks?  Go find stats on how many people cancelled their STH just because of that.  Word out of EDM is there are still fans not re-upping to this very day.  That's years/life-long fans lost, which are precisely the fans you don't want to lose.  Why do you think WFC tries so hard to pander to the core STH base (and do a great job too!)?

Keep in mind that just because when it goes "your way" it's not any less "divisive" than when it goes the other.

If they change my Bombers team name I'm going to get divisive very quickly, I assure you.  I'm sure many Esks fans felt the same.  You're thinking of it from a WPG standpoint, where we have no emotional attachment to their name choices.  But put yourself in the shoes of a fan whose 100-year-old team name is getting banned... Surely if you think lots of people liked the move you can understand that a lot of people hated it.

[TecnoGenius]

Oh ya, if you change the name again, you get to sell all new merch!!

[pdirks67]

It wasn't divisive when they changed the name to Elks?  Go find stats on how many people cancelled their STH just because of that.  Word out of EDM is there are still fans not re-upping to this very day.  That's years/life-long fans lost, which are precisely the fans you don't want to lose.  Why do you think WFC tries so hard to pander to the core STH base (and do a great job too!)?

Keep in mind that just because when it goes "your way" it's not any less "divisive" than when it goes the other.

If they change my Bombers team name I'm going to get divisive very quickly, I assure you.  I'm sure many Esks fans felt the same.  You're thinking of it from a WPG standpoint, where we have no emotional attachment to their name choices.  But put yourself in the shoes of a fan whose 100-year-old team name is getting banned... Surely if you think lots of people liked the move you can understand that a lot of people hated it.

I have lived and breathed Bomber football for 50 years. I remember literally listening to the coaches show in the playground on my little AM radio. I absolutely love our team name. And I love the royal blue. But if our team name was something like the Eskimos or Redskins, I'd like to think that I'd be 100% OK with moving on to serve the larger good. The team itself is the uniting concept and the important thing. Team names are just a labels, beloved though they may be.

Would it be a tough adjustment? YES! Would we all get over it? I mean, we're grown adults, so I hope so? But then again, I'm spending lots of time complaining about CFL officials, so maybe I'm a grown but not mature adult.

[Waffler]

To me the problem is sticking with the EE logo. Locks you into some kind of E-word. Best to blow it up, new logo, new team name. As Techno points out new things sell merchandise. The Alberta Golden Bears are green and gold. It can be done.

[Waffler]

A cross between a capital A (Alberta) and the Houston Oilers oil derrick would be representative but cute mascots sell more.

[Jesse]

To me the problem is sticking with the EE logo. Locks you into some kind of E-word. Best to blow it up, new logo, new team name. As Techno points out new things sell merchandise. The Alberta Golden Bears are green and gold. It can be done.

The EE has been untouchable through this whole process. They have no interest in rebranding to that extent.

[Stats Junkie]

A cross between a capital A (Alberta) and the Houston Oilers oil derrick would be representative but cute mascots sell more.

The Alberta Golden Bears are green and gold. .

Historical notes:

On May 20, 1949 the new Edmonton franchise held a Gold-White intra-squad game at Clarke Stadium. As fans entered the stadium they got to vote for the new team name. Finishing a close second was Edmonton Oilers.

As an upstart team, the 1949 Edmonton Eskimos were tight for cash. The jerseys worn that season were old U of A Golden Bears jerseys, forever branding the team as Green & Gold (now yellow).


On October 26, 1975, the Winnipeg discovered that their locker room at Clarke Stadium had a break-in over night. Winnipeg borrowed and wore U of A Golden Bears jerseys for that game.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I should have been clearer - by "putting it to bed", I meant not even considering the name change and saying so. Because it would be very divisive to go back to the old name. You're setting yourself up for a world of hurt by doing this. Which, I assume, would be the absolute last thing a new owner would want to do.

If the new owner is even considering moving backward with the name, the CFL should have vetted him first.  There are many policies he has to be in lock step with before he can become a member even if he personally feels different about them.

[TecnoGenius]

I absolutely love our team name. And I love the royal blue. But if our team name was something like the Eskimos or Redskins, I'd like to think that I'd be 100% OK with moving on to serve the larger good. The team itself is the uniting concept and the important thing. Team names are just a labels, beloved though they may be.

Why does the "larger good" or the "good of society" not include (potentially) you, or (potentially) me?  Our wants and desires and hopes and dreams don't count but some nameless, nebulous "society" does?  Who decides what "society" wants?  The entire concept is fraught with issues.

And again, you say you'd like to accept a name change, but can we really put ourselves in those fans' shoes?  Can we really know how the average 25-year Esks STH really felt?  I didn't think too much of it all of these 3 years, but now media is revealing that they lost a ton of STH over the name and a lot of them never came back.  That's a real world problem, and contributes to EDM's downward team/fan spiral.

Don't get complacent with our team name.  "Bombers" is fraught with potential "I'm offended" issues too.  In fact, when they come for the next team name, I bet it'll be ours, because ours is the "next most offensive" one.  Let's say all of a sudden there's a spate of terror bombings in WPG, and the word "bomber" is all over the news and possibly starts to get racial overtones.  Then we'll be next on the chopping block over something we couldn't even fathom at this moment.  Sure, it's unlikely, but can you say it's not possible?  Who thought in the USA they'd be toppling and defacing statues of Lincoln?

[TecnoGenius]

On October 26, 1975, the Winnipeg discovered that their locker room at Clarke Stadium had a break-in over night. Winnipeg borrowed and wore U of A Golden Bears jerseys for that game.

But did they get the playbook?!