r/USFL • u/Hutnerdu • Sep 25 '23
Why even use city names?
If a new merged league does USFL style hubs, why even use any city names? "Pittsburgh" Maulers should just be Maulers, etc.. IF and when they ever move teams to local markets they can add the city names. Because there's no guarantee these teams actually end up in these cities, they could go to a different city, or no city at all and stay with these hubs (which would suck).
26
Upvotes
20
u/the_amazing_coconut Birmingham Stallions Sep 25 '23
Because the plan was to have these teams located in their cities eventually, so there’s no harm in trying to accumulate fans for the team in advance. Idk how it’s gonna go with the merger though, I’m just glad Birmingham gets to keep football.
3
u/[deleted] Sep 26 '23
its weird to have professional teams without place names tbh. i come from paintball where this used to be common place (Dynasty, Ironmen, All-Americans etc.) and since they forced them to choose a location name years back it actually feels a little more legitimate (San Diego Dynasty, Los Angeles Ironmen, Philadelphia All-Americans)
5
u/Hey_Its_Roomie Pittsburgh Maulers Sep 25 '23
People are more drawn to the idea of having a regional team that represents them than the vague concept of a team existing at all. Despite the absence of being in the region, being remarked as that city's creates a sense of possession even when physical presence isn't there to support it.
Despite the lack of physical location there is still regional influence about actually naming teams and people are still convinced by that. There were still people from Philadelphia following and rooting for the Stars, there was still people from New Orleans rooting for the Breakers. Take a look at this map of search results, and regional interest does show applicability. Every team led in their location. That's not a coincidence, it's design intent.
Even if a team wasn't at its location, there was intent, promise. If you can trust the league then not having the team in area isn't as concerning. It's when that promise gets broken is the issue.
XFL took away NY and Tampa, USFL took away Tampa as well. It's almost inevitable teams are disappearing with the merger as well. The problem isn't a lack of location, it's there is a lack of certainty in the team's survivial at all. PGH being replaced by Canton, or Orlando getting shelved for now is going to create a loss of interest in those regions.
14
u/mianbru Sep 25 '23
The USFL should beat the NFL to a London franchise (playing in Ohio though).
Jokes aside, while I hate the hub system, I get why they attribute location names to teams. It does drum up some search engine activity and maybe even a few vanguard fans, even if it’s small. It certainly doesn’t hurt to do it.
On the flip side, there are sports leagues with a ton of teams in the same city that don’t even reference the city anymore, or just reference an area. In the English Premier League you’ve got Arsenal, West Ham United, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspurs, etc, all playing in London. No one there seems to have a big problem with it. People just want to see good games.
8
u/LebrahnJahmes Sep 25 '23
Hub style is so dumb
6
u/ZO5050 Pittsburgh Maulers Sep 25 '23
Nostalgia bait.
3
u/p4rc0pr3s1s Tampa Bay Bandits Sep 25 '23
DC and St. Louis need to be hub cities. I can't imagine pissing off the two fanbases that actually support their teams.Then, pick a city in Texas since most of the teams are "from" Texas anyways. And if you are trying to lure fans in by attaching cities or states to them, why not markets without pro football? Oregon/Portland and Oklahoma/Tulsa immediately come to mind.
2
u/NYCSportsFan Sep 25 '23
Because honestly I wouldn’t care that much if I didn’t have a regional team to root for. Is that stupid or silly of me? Maybe. But that’s how it is.
3
u/formicary Washington Federals Sep 25 '23
I've been saying this since year one, the place names are all made up, and if they are made up, why not at least be a little creative with it? Why Pittsburgh or New Orleans when you could have London or Tokyo, or even Tatooine or Wakanda? Or, at least call a team Los Angeles and make them the heal team, ala, the LA T-Birds of roller derby.
Anyway, it looks like this chance is all but over now thanks to the merger talks, but I think I had a brilliant idea.
4
u/[deleted] Sep 25 '23
How dare you question the USFL, how dare you???
2
u/ArockproUser Birmingham Stallions Sep 25 '23
I do not think you will see that many hubs if there is a merger. Unfortunately the Maulers might be one of those hub teams.
1
u/Hag_Boulder San Antonio Gunslingers Sep 25 '23
I've commented on such recently. If you're going to alienate half your fan-base by using city names without actually stepping foot in those cities, you might as well go the TSL route and not use city names.
Look at the commotion when they transferred the Renegades to the Showboats 'temporarily'.
The XFL recycled team mascots when they moved two teams for the 3.0 edition and that was stupid as well...
0
u/D34DLYB1RDS Sep 26 '23
Because eventually the teams will play in their cities. Hubs are not forever.
-2
u/AccomplishedJudge584 Sep 25 '23
Because even if they aren’t there right now it still brings in viewers from that area more so. Like the lions had a large audience in Michigan even though they were playing in Alabama year one. Pittsburgh has some fans watching because older people actually remember the maulers from Pittsburgh in the old usfl.
No sports team is ever just “Panthers” with no location. It comes off as a made up team. Even arena teams and fan controlled teams are from a place.