Connecticut Tigers launch new name contest
Norwich — Got a perfect name for a team that epitomizes the Norwich community? The Connecticut Tigers want to hear it.
For the first time since the minor league baseball team moved to the Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium in the spring of 2010, the Connecticut Tigers are rebranding with a new name that includes Norwich to start the 2020 season.
In anticipation of an upcoming vote as early as next week by the Norwich City Council to approve a new lease to keep the team in Norwich for at least another decade, the Tigers on Thursday announced an online “Name the Team” contest.
“As we head towards the 25th season of Minor League Baseball here in Norwich, we want the fans to help decide what the future will look like at Dodd Stadium,” Tigers General Manager Dave Schermerhorn said in a news release Thursday. “What better way to kick off a new era of Minor League Baseball in Norwich than by having our fans help determine a name that will be representative of them and our community?”
Fans can submit their team name suggestions at www.cttigers.com, along with an explanation of why they feel their suggestion perfectly embodies the community. The online contest runs through April 25. The top choices will be released this summer for community input and voting, and the winning name will be announced later this year.
Individuals can submit multiple suggestions, Schermerhorn said. “We’re looking for as many good suggestions as we can get,” he said.
The Tigers are collaborating with Brandiose, which helps make teams famous by celebrating their hometown stories. Partners Jason Klein and Casey White designed top-selling logos for the El Paso Chihuahuas, Rocket City Trash Pandas and America's oldest baseball club, the Cincinnati Reds. The Tigers previously teamed up with Brandiose on the 2013 New York-Penn League All-Star Celebration logo, Dodd Stadium logo and New England Lobster Rolls logo.
The Tigers, the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, will start their 10th season in Norwich with the home opener at 7:05 p.m. June 16 at Dodd Stadium.
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