When it comes to Oklahoma City's yet-to-be-named NBA franchise, a for-sure, can't-miss nickname is difficult to come by. Marketing experts say the easy choices are already taken, long ago gobbled up by the hundreds of professional franchises.
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But options remain.
"Now you kind of get down to a name that fits who you are and where you are,” said Vince Orza, dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University.
Good names, Orza said, are terms that are positive, short, easy to spell and easy to pronounce. The best ones also reflect strength and characterize the team's region.
"You kind of want a fun term also,” Orza said. "Four letter names are always the best if you can get them. If you think about it, Ford, Oreo, Coke, the reason those names are so successful is they're easy to say, easy to remember and easy to spell.
"Simple means bigger, and the bigger you can get it on a uniform and cap the easier it is to see the image and the impression of the name.”
Tom Fugleberg, executive creative director at Minneapolis-based Olson, a sports branding and ad agency, said it's most important for Oklahoma City's nickname to reflect the region.
"It might take more mining to come up with something unique, but Oklahoma City is a very unique place,” Fugleberg said. "Geography is important. It's important that they try not to think of a name that's necessarily going to be popular in the NBA but popular in their city.”
That's precisely what the Toronto Raptors did, said Dan Rascher, president of Oakland, Calif.-based SportsEconomics, a sports economics, finance and marketing research firm.
The Raptors, who began as an expansion team in 1995, were named in 1994, one year after the release of the hit movie "Jurassic Park.”
"Dinosaurs were more popular 15 years ago,” Rascher said. "But you look down the road 10 or 20 years later and it's not so exciting.”
Animals, however, generally are good options. Thirty-seven of the 121 professional sports teams in the four major North American sports leagues — NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL — have animals as nicknames, excluding Oklahoma City's NBA franchise.
The commonly chosen animals are fierce beasts that represent strength and above all can be marketed well if you choose the right creature.
But the choices have become slim with Detroit home to the Lions in the NFL and the Tigers in MLB, Chicago home to the NFL's Bears and MLB's Cubs, Philadelphia home to the NFL's Eagles and Atlanta owning the rights to the NBA's Hawks.
"There are probably still other animal names out there, but the good easy ones are gone,” Orza said.
Weather-related nicknames have become popular among fans because of the state's penchant for storms. But names like Tornadoes and Twisters are long and could reinforce negative images about the state.
Thunder could work, Orza said, because it's a shorter name and implies power. But it doesn't end with the letter S, which Fugleberg thinks is a bad idea.
"I think there's more of a sense of a community when you are a fan of the Blazers and not the Storm,” Fugleberg said. "There's a feeling that you are a part of that.”
Whatever direction the team owners and the NBA go with the selection of the team name, it's important that they get it right, Rascher said, because millions of marketing and merchandising revenue dollars are riding on it.
"It's what you build the brand with,” Rascher said. "If they pick a name that people don't like or the colors aren't right, the fans aren't going to buy as much merchandise and the brand isn't going to be as strong. So it's really a key decision and one that they should spend their time on.”
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OKC time travelers, OKC enterprise, OKC sound barrier, OKC rockets, OKC gas explosion, OKC fired up, OKC another planet, OKC space gas!
OKLAHOMA CITY FLASH, OKLAHOMA CITY WHIPPETS, OKLAHOMA CITY YARD CATZ, OKLAHOMA CITY KING AND HIS COURT, OKLAHOMA CITY GLAZERS, OKLAHOMA CITY RAZORS, OKLAHOMA CITY RADS, OKLAHOMA CITY STRINGS
OKLAHOMA CITY TICS, OKC TARANTULAS, OKC SILVER BULLETS, OKC JOSE CAN U C'S, OKC KISS103S, OKC SENTINELS, OKC CENTURIONS, OKC SPOCKS, OKC SCOTTIES, OKC 123S, OKC 90261, OKC UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A NAME!
BATS - BATMAN - BATS
The name Bats has enormous potential for team mascot. Three letters with a S.
1. The Oklahoma State Mammal is a Bat. (Am I wrong?)
2. May be possible to use BATMAN, BATWOMAN,BATBOY,BATGIRL FOR MASCOTS. Contact Marvel Comics or whoever owns copyright to BATMAN (proven winner)and see if you can use copyrigted material for a mascot and props. They will get free publicity everytime you have a game is televised.
3. Make a Giant replica of a bat (State Mammal)and hang it in the lobby of arena.
4. Use spot lights and or lasers to project BAT signs on buildings or clouds above the arena before and during the game.
5. The arena becomes a BAT CAVE during the games.
6. Hang Bats and inflatable Stalactites from the ceiling in arena. (Bat Cave)
7. Place inflatable non-flamable Cave entrance where the players come out on the court.
8. Just before the players come onto the court, if possible, dim the arena lights and shoot a puff of smoke into the air just above the cave entrance and use a movie projector to project Bats coming out of the cave entrance onto the smoke with the sound of thousands of Bats. This may produce a 3D effect.
9. Mascots can drive a mini electric Bat Mobil out of the cave tunnel.
10.Transportation vehicles for the team can be given a Bat Mobil look.
11. The concession stands can sell Bat Nip :)(soft drink) Bat Wings, Legs, etc.(Chicken) and Bat Droppins :)(Rasins)
12. Eco friendly mascot name. Bats eat lots of insects.
Fun name, State Mammal, intertaining, a proven winner for a mascot name you can work.
Do I have a problem taking to me? Absolutely. My speech is third party and sounds rediculous? Well, you are partly right, I am a redhead so guess I can be rediculous. What you smokin sweetie? You got spell check? Use it.
I checked out koco and no deal, what their reporting means nothing. Why don't you try being accurate if you going to say something a being fact, your information was wrong.
I think Julie is talkin to herself. The NBA team is going to be OKC Thunder. Oh yeah, It's Ms to you Julie. Don't call me Mr. again. OKC Thunder!! Yeah! Don't believe me? Go to KOCO.com. Get off the Internet and watch some news!
If the name it Thunder, you can volunteer to be the mascot and and dress as a lightening bolt, and I'll watch from the stands while they electricute you for half time entertainment.
I agree Julie. I wasn't talking about Slickers. You accused me of watching too much Gary England when I said OKC Thunder and to that I said, you think so? We shall see. By the way, I am not a Mr.
What happens if we get bad press, the paper will read the Slickers bicker, or snicker at the Slickers, lickers, where's the Managers bad pickers for the Slickers. NO!
I Like the Wildcatters or Wildcats that name is used in exploring oil and gas in undiscovered areas and Clay and the group are exploring a new venture by bringing the NBA to okc!
I think Titans will work although I know all you cussing, backward mountain jacks would like us to name the team the Knackard Blue Hairs with a rest home cheerleading squad, what's up with you folks?
OKC Yellowjackets .. Wasn't there a bull named Little YellowJacket?? Clay would have to get permission from the bull. If Clay can stay on for 8 seconds, then it is OK .. lol
Come on Clay. Stop teasing us and tell us the new name. You had this figured out two years ago. You must be pooping your pants in anticipation of making the big announcement.
Use CATS if possible. Three letters with an S. Covers all species of cats. Call the team to the court with amplified cat call (MEOW) When they score MEOW can go to a PURRR. If possible use Cat Woman as masscot like in the movie. If the uniform is not Black use Black Cat as emblem.
I think the team should be called "The Team Formerly Known As The Sonics". Then all we would need is some really cool symbol. The team color would be purple of course.
My high school mascot was "Rufnex" which I think would be a great name for our team (phonetically spelled version of roughnecks which is way too long). It meets all of Vince Orza's criteria: short, easy to spell, and characterizes strength and is reflective of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma City Sentinels. Someone on Berry Tramel's blog suggested this and I love it:
http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/07/17/short-nba-name-necessary/#comment-4056
Use Vipers. A Viper head on black uniforms would look good. I guess the fans could call the team with a Hissss :)
The name should reflect the region but all the good names are already in use? What?
When you consider the Global Economy and diversity of race and nationality of our citizens any name should be ok. Scientists claim we all have a common ancestor from Africa.
Use Zulus for a fun name that is not a common theme like everyone else. The Zulu Warriors already have all the calls and sounds you will need to pump up the players. Bring them to OKC to make the players Honorary Zulu Warriors if they would agree. If you want to have fun and make some cool sounds use Zulus. You can even have small plastic sheilds with plastic weapons to beat on the sheilds like they did in the movie Zulu. I know it sounds stupid but I'am just trying to think of a name that will let the fans be part of the team with the calls and sounds they can use. It is hard to tell who you are rooting for if the fans are just screaming and making noise without a common theme.
Hard to come up with good name when over half of the states history is off limits because the tribes feel disrespected or something. I look at it as honoring them but it is not my place to make a judgment.
Well of all the ones I've seen I like Thunderbirds (T-birds) or Bison, but Cyclones would be bad since they are the mascot of Iowa State and a Big 12 school so that would be double bad. But Typhoon or Monsoon could be alternatives although not the most positive in recent times.
Copperheads, Marshals, Cottonmouths/Water moccasins, or even Posse are good as well.
Colors should be Red(Dark to match Oklahoma-Red Earth) Blue and/or yellow,gold, white, or silver.
If you did you wouldn't be on the internet at 11:38 PM.
Man, give some people an NBA team and they spend all night on the internet inhaling a bottle of 151. Name the team whatever Julie decides.
I love the weather also, but I also liked my husband in bed, so what does that mean, I should ask them to name the team OKC sex pistols, or the OKC matress thumpers. God that name sucks.
I've always been fascinated by OK's weather and I think OKC Cyclones has a great ring, thanks to who thought it up. Shortened to 'clones of course, kinda strange.
Unfortunately, OKC Tweakers is accurate as well.
Well these new coaches seem to be more iterested in the spot light. I can't stand media seekers. I wish Switzer would come back for just one season, the drug busts would drop by 100 percent.
I graduated from OK state, but went to school in London for a while, just one of those things. I was raised on a ranch so I really liked that school, the only problem was the basket ball coach was a drunk. But no, I don't follow any football period. Switzer made football instead of the other way around. We havn't had a good coach since.
You got that right. yes I could go to starbucks but I don't want to ruin my health, I don't want to know whats in it, some thing like tar and glue. I don't know how they make it up there, but it's really bad hear, they only people that drink it are the ones having an image crisis.
typo, yes I have a college degree and no I don't think a northern college degree is superior, but I know you do, that's the kind of things you folks tell your kids. And we don't have wild Indians riding horse back down main street.
sorry about my spelling "yo" want-a be liberals? that funny but I think you can do better that that. It good to see what the good folks of OKC have to say or think about us whinny a** cry babies folks in the northwest
All I'm saying is that they should select a name that's not dorky or little league, but a name that will make OKC hold their heads high. And yo should also know that I'm one of those Sonic fans who is not upset that my team is gone; all good things must come to an end. Who knows maybe I'll be a fan of your team
OKC where is your pride. All of your ideas remind me of the teams my son played in little league sports. I think that if you are proud of where you are then OKC PRIDE should be your teams nick name. It is strong, easy to remember, unique and I believe no other pro team has that name; I could be wrong. So think about it OKC PRIDE.
From wikipedia:
"Across many North America indigenous cultures, the Thunderbird carries many of the same characteristics. It is described as a large bird, capable of creating storms and thundering while it flies. Clouds are pulled together by its wingbeats, the sound of thunder made by its wings clapping, sheet lightning the light flashing from its eyes when it blinks, and individual lightning bolts made by the glowing snakes that it carries around with it. In masks, it is depicted as many-colored, with two curling horns, and, often, teeth within its beak."
Sounds good to me!
You know, Thomas, we could name them the "66ers". Phillip Petroleum used to have a team by that name, and they were very good. Bob Kurland played for them.
Oklahoma City Cruisers to commemorate Oklahoma ties with historical route 66 and how it has allowed us to cruise across the country to enrich our lives today and the future.
"Thunderbirds" would be great, but Clay Bennett is the same guy who changed "89'ers" (great) to "RedHawks" (insipid), so I'm not expecting much.
Should be "Oklahoma," though, as the whole state is on the line for the money the legislature voted to give Clay, and the support of the whole state will be necessary in the long run.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
THE OKLAHOMA CITY WHIPPETS
Matter of fact, I love bats, they eat mosquitos.
What's the ingredient of Batnip?
The name Bats has enormous potential for team mascot. Three letters with a S.
1. The Oklahoma State Mammal is a Bat. (Am I wrong?)
2. May be possible to use BATMAN, BATWOMAN,BATBOY,BATGIRL FOR MASCOTS. Contact Marvel Comics or whoever owns copyright to BATMAN (proven winner)and see if you can use copyrigted material for a mascot and props. They will get free publicity everytime you have a game is televised.
3. Make a Giant replica of a bat (State Mammal)and hang it in the lobby of arena.
4. Use spot lights and or lasers to project BAT signs on buildings or clouds above the arena before and during the game.
5. The arena becomes a BAT CAVE during the games.
6. Hang Bats and inflatable Stalactites from the ceiling in arena. (Bat Cave)
7. Place inflatable non-flamable Cave entrance where the players come out on the court.
8. Just before the players come onto the court, if possible, dim the arena lights and shoot a puff of smoke into the air just above the cave entrance and use a movie projector to project Bats coming out of the cave entrance onto the smoke with the sound of thousands of Bats. This may produce a 3D effect.
9. Mascots can drive a mini electric Bat Mobil out of the cave tunnel.
10.Transportation vehicles for the team can be given a Bat Mobil look.
11. The concession stands can sell Bat Nip :)(soft drink) Bat Wings, Legs, etc.(Chicken) and Bat Droppins :)(Rasins)
12. Eco friendly mascot name. Bats eat lots of insects.
Fun name, State Mammal, intertaining, a proven winner for a mascot name you can work.
colors should be black and gold.
http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/07/17/short-nba-name-necessary/#comment-4056
Oklahoma City Cougars (my second choice)
The name should reflect the region but all the good names are already in use? What?
When you consider the Global Economy and diversity of race and nationality of our citizens any name should be ok. Scientists claim we all have a common ancestor from Africa.
Use Zulus for a fun name that is not a common theme like everyone else. The Zulu Warriors already have all the calls and sounds you will need to pump up the players. Bring them to OKC to make the players Honorary Zulu Warriors if they would agree. If you want to have fun and make some cool sounds use Zulus. You can even have small plastic sheilds with plastic weapons to beat on the sheilds like they did in the movie Zulu. I know it sounds stupid but I'am just trying to think of a name that will let the fans be part of the team with the calls and sounds they can use. It is hard to tell who you are rooting for if the fans are just screaming and making noise without a common theme.
Hard to come up with good name when over half of the states history is off limits because the tribes feel disrespected or something. I look at it as honoring them but it is not my place to make a judgment.
Copperheads, Marshals, Cottonmouths/Water moccasins, or even Posse are good as well.
Colors should be Red(Dark to match Oklahoma-Red Earth) Blue and/or yellow,gold, white, or silver.
Man, give some people an NBA team and they spend all night on the internet inhaling a bottle of 151. Name the team whatever Julie decides.
Unfortunately, OKC Tweakers is accurate as well.
"Across many North America indigenous cultures, the Thunderbird carries many of the same characteristics. It is described as a large bird, capable of creating storms and thundering while it flies. Clouds are pulled together by its wingbeats, the sound of thunder made by its wings clapping, sheet lightning the light flashing from its eyes when it blinks, and individual lightning bolts made by the glowing snakes that it carries around with it. In masks, it is depicted as many-colored, with two curling horns, and, often, teeth within its beak."
Sounds good to me!
Should be "Oklahoma," though, as the whole state is on the line for the money the legislature voted to give Clay, and the support of the whole state will be necessary in the long run.