Dr Z Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Source Starting in the 2014 season, the Class AA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians will be known as the Akron Rubber Ducks. In an event at the Akron Civic Theatre, team owner Ken Babby announced that now is the time to dig deep, and create a brand that’s fun, and will mark the fan experience. Rubber Ducks general manager Jim Pfander says they are thrilled to be part of the new brand, which was chosen as a way to represent Akron’s history in the rubber industry. “This is part of our heritage. This is part of our history. This is part of our future,” said Pfander Babby says that when he bought the team, he wanted to improve the fan experience, and feels he did that in 2013 with discounted tickets and more fan-friendly activities. He says he also committed over $3 million in improvements to Canal Park, which he now says will total $5 million by the opening of the 2014 season, including a new restaurant at the ballpark. Babby has a 25-year contract with the city of Akron to keep the team at Canal Park. More on "Lame Duck" from MLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Zip Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 So RubberDucks is all one word... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legendofzippy Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 It's being mocked on SI.... Akron Minor League Baseball Team Adopts “RubberDucks” Nickname Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 So, that's the worst name they could come up with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes102 Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 I don't know which nickname I rather have...The RubberDucks or the Pelicans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted October 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 The mark reminds me of the old 1970's Roadrunner (I think) logo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Good eye, Dr. Z. It does remind you of the Thrush Woodpecker. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted October 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Good eye, Dr. Z. It does remind you of the Thrush Woodpecker. . .Thank you! Thrush. That's it. Intial poll results not good. Can't wait to hear at the stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Name - Awesome Colors - Great Logos - Bad But that's just me. It's still the Zips town anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 I gave up whining about non-traditional minor league names long ago. If this gets more kids interested in baseball, hell yeah it's a good move. That's what baseball needs. Not us old farts who want everything to be _____ Sox or the major league affiliate's name. We're already buying tickets. The sport dies without getting kids involved. At least they got away from purple. I might wear their stuff now. I just can't tell if the duck is pissed or constipated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Little kids would have preferred the Akron RubberDuckies. Adult-oriented folks would just as soon shorten it to the Akron Rubbers. Futurists might favor the Akron Polymers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 I think the name change was a prophylactic move by the team owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Riding the Towpath today beside Canal Park I saw the tie-in with ducks. Dozens of them reside in the park between CP and Children's Hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 A lot of cities have a Rubber Duck Race to support United Cerebral Palsy. Akron better have one now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted October 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 Florentijn Hofman, a dutch artist, recently displayed a forty foot rubber duck in Pittsburgh. Maybe Akron can contact him. Here are 17 photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legendofzippy Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 What kid that's old enough to enjoy a baseball game plays with a rubber duck? Babies/toddlers might have one in the bathtub, and that's the extent of it. There's no spinning this, it's a dumb name and it's being mocked. It's a fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 Florentijn Hofman, a dutch artist, recently displayed a forty foot rubber duck in Pittsburgh. Maybe Akron can contact him. Here are 17 photos. Yeahhhhhhhh. Have it sitting in the canal so you see it when you cross the bridge into the ballpark. Most people enter through downtown though don't they (I never have). It would look good sitting outside the left center wall. Imagine the tie-in, if a player hits the duck he gets a steak dinner, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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