Professional sports team relocations where the team name makes sense in both cities

[pete6032]

Professional sports team relocations sometimes lead to absurd team names for the receiving city. For example the Minneapolis Lakers relocated to Los Angeles in 1960, creating the Los Angeles Lakers - a strange irony given Los Angeles' arid climate. The Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001, creating the Memphis Grizzles. There are no Grizzly bears in Memphis. Other egregious relocation names include the Utah Jazz (formerly New Orleans Jazz. Hard to imagine Mormons rocking out to jazz music.), St. Louis Rams (formerly Los Angeles, and now again Los Angeles).

I can think of one instance where a relocation made sense in terms of team name. The San Diego Rockets relocated from San Diego to Houston, becoming the Houston Rockets in 1971. The "Rockets" name was originally after the Atlas Missile, which was being developed in San Diego. The "Rockets" name makes sense in Houston as well, since Houston is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. I always assumed the Rockets were originally from Houston since the name fit so well.

Can anyone else think of a sports team relocation where there was no name change, but the team name still made sense after moving? I'm also open to suggestions of egregious names that make no sense for where the team is located now.

 

[SKORPI0]

Chicago Bears wants to move to a racetrack in Arlington Heights. Not sure what's gonna happen to Soldier Field after their lease expires 2026.

Arlington Heights was considered as an option for a new home for the team when they were looking to move from Wrigley Field in 1970. The Bears had shared Wrigley Field with the Cubs going back to 1921

Proposal For Bears To Move To Arlington Heights Has Come Up Over And Over Again, Since Before They Moved To Soldier Field In 1971

The idea of the Bears moving to a site on or near the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights may be a shock for Chicagoans, but it's far from new.

chicago.cbslocal.com

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/8...tional-racecourse-chicago-bears-redevelopment.

Soldier Field - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SKORPI0]

Not sure about no name change after relocating. Most of them rename.

Relocation of professional sports teams in Canada and the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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7 Team Names That Make No Sense

We all have favorite teams. But some team names just don't make any sense, like these...

philadelphia.cbslocal.com

 

[pete6032]

Not sure about no name change after relocating. Most of them rename.

Relocation of professional sports teams in Canada and the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

--------------------------------

7 Team Names That Make No Sense

We all have favorite teams. But some team names just don't make any sense, like these...

philadelphia.cbslocal.com

Yes, Dodgers makes no sense. Dodgers being the name of people who dodged trolleys in New York City. Apparently the Dodgers were also nicknamed the Bridegrooms before Dodgers became the official name. Crazy.

 

[Captante]

Too lazy to look up if they've relocated but my favorite NBA team name of all time used to be the Washington Bullets.

Talk about appropriate naming!

 

[Hans Gruber]

The most appropriate name for a professional team that was taken without cause. The Washington Bullets.

 

[IronWing]

San Francisco Packers
Seattle Jets
Salt Lake Saints

 

[Hans Gruber]

San Francisco Packers
Seattle Jets
Salt Lake Saints

It was the Seattle Pilots, not the Jets

 

[pete6032]

Fun fact the Washington Bullets actually began as the Baltimore Bullets. The Baltimore Bullets were named after the Phoenix Shot Tower, which was one of the tallest structures in the United States when it was built in 1828. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Shot_Tower

 

[Captante]

The most appropriate name for a professional team that was taken without cause. The Washington Bullets.

Never actually BEEN to downtown DC I take it?

(things get mighty sketchy like 2 blocks from the Capitol)


EDIT: Sorry misunderstood.... thought you were questioning the name!

 

[Hans Gruber]

Never actually BEEN to downtown DC I take it?

(things get mighty sketchy like 2 blocks from the Capitol)


EDIT: Sorry misunderstood.... thought you were questioning the name!

I actually edited before posting my previous post because I tend to be politically correct on forums.

 

[zinfamous]

Can't think of a sports team with this name, but The Cougars would work anywhere they relocate to.

(...Jaguars or Panthers are technically the same thing; but also very much not the same thing)

 

[Spacehead]

I guess if the Washington Football Team moved the * Football Team would still work. Till they rename at least. Are they planning to rename themselves?

 

[pete6032]

I guess if the Washington Football Team moved the * Football Team would still work. Till they rename at least. Are they planning to rename themselves?

The Spokane Washington Football Team! Seattle Seahawks rival.

 

[PowerEngineer]

The name of the Boston - to Milwaukee - to Atlanta Braves made about as much (or as little) sense in all three cities.

 

[shortylickens]

When are we gonna get the Kenosha AR-15's?

 

[LikeLinus]

The Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001, creating the Memphis Grizzles. There are no Grizzly bears in Memphis.

There's actually a history with the name "Grizzlies" in Memphis dating back to the 70s. They had a football team named that and they tried to get an NFL team, but it didn't happen. The name is part of Memphis sports history.

Grizzlies have prowled Memphis before | Why the Grizzlies mascot isn't completely ridiculous - Grizzly Bear Blues

 

[Red Squirrel]

I suppose a team name such as "the bombers" would work pretty well in Oklahoma, or Boston, although it would be in very poor taste.

"The Boston Bombers are under pressure tonight, with only 1 goal lead and 5 minutes left on the timer!"

 

[PowerEngineer]

It's been done. 😮

 

[manly]

The Oakland Athletics fits in any city, and will still fit after they move to Las Vegas.

Can't think of a sports team with this name, but The Cougars would work anywhere they relocate to.

(...Jaguars or Panthers are technically the same thing; but also very much not the same thing)

Jaguars are not in the same genus as cougars/panthers/etc.

 

[zinfamous]

Jaguars are not in the same genus as cougars/panthers/etc.

oh you're right (but I wonder if you missed the larger point... )

 

[BudAshes]

Pittsburg Pirates would work well in a move to Somalia.