Josh Harris Speaks... Commanders is permanent name.

[burgold]

I'm with you on that . . . IMO the team is leaving a lot of $$$ on the table. This past Christmas we bought jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts and hats . . . NONE of them were Commanders. We bought 3rd party Redskins merchandise instead. Only way i buy something from the team now is if they come up with a throwback with the redskins logo on it. If not i will just keep buying Redskins gear from 3rd party sources.

Except, I think we are the minority in this. The sales are through the roof.

Would you really have bought a Warrors jersey this Christmas?

 

[SkinsGuru]

Except, I think we are the minority in this. The sales are through the roof.

Would you really have bought a Warrors jersey this Christmas?

The sales are through the roof . . . for new fans. Not for diehards. Look at the pics of the game in Tampa . . . no Commanders gear, was almost all Redskins gear on the fans in attendance. Change the name to something less horrendous and the sales would be double what they are now. As for the Warriors, if it came with the old logo, hell yes i would have bought em.

 

[formerly4skins]

I expected to die with him still ruining our beloved team along with everything else he touched. Him selling the team was like winning the fan lottery after living in poverty for 25 years. The name is just something I’m willing to accept given this opportunity we never expected to get.

I always figured I'd outlive Dan and get to live through the team being passed to his boy, Gerry. Generational Snyderdom 😆.

I get that some people can accept this....and some of us will just have to.

Doesn't change the fact that this was an opportunity to cleanse this org of the wet fart that Commanders has always been...Harris opted for Dan's wet fart, and it stinks.

Always will.

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

I agree it's tone deaf, but it's also the opposite. This season, the Commanders is the hottest brand in football. We are everyone's darling. Now, most of that is due to Jayden and almost none of it because due to the team name, but what businessman is going to risk upsetting all this positive energy to make a name change when they are making the most money and are the most popular thing in the League? To do so would risk destroying all the goodwill and positivity this season has generated.

Would you take that risk for something as bland as Warriors, a name that is already in use in pro sports? Would you do it for Wolves when there are half a dozen wolf-based teams already being marketed? If we had a slam dunk name that had 90% approval maybe, but at the risk of being mean, I think we're the ones who are being tone deaf.

Gotta ask, wouldn't JD5's jersey sell no matter where he was or what it looked like? Put his name and number on a Theismann style jersey and it would sell (I would buy one then). I still have a shot of my kid and all his friends at daycare wearing RGIII jerseys.

Sure, we are everybody's darling and deservedly so. We came out of the wilderness and were the most entertaining team in the league. Switching to a better name is not going to change that. I say our good team with a better name will make even more waves.

 

[RichmondRedskin88]

The sales are through the roof . . . for new fans. Not for diehards. Look at the pics of the game in Tampa . . . no Commanders gear, was almost all Redskins gear on the fans in attendance. Change the name to something less horrendous and the sales would be double what they are now. As for the Warriors, if it came with the old logo, hell yes i would have bought em.

We all saw the video of the giant gathering with HTTR being sung. Even if you can’t go back to the old name you could pick something fans really rally around.

 

[formerly4skins]

Would you really have bought a Warrors jersey this Christmas?

I would buy a jersey + hoodie + hat literally immediately

 

[Riggo44]

The Commanders went from the third lowest sales in merchandise in May of 2024 to 11th in early November. Daniels being the biggest seller in the league helps, but they surpassed their entire 2023 total sales by November, per the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/11/09/jayden-daniels-commanders-merchandise-tickets/

Sellouts by actual Commanders Fans through that date as well (I am pretty sure we sold out most games this year). 90% renewal rate for season tickets.

I think people are underselling the growth of the name this year--I don't think that 63% is accurate or current.

 

[burgold]

Gotta ask, wouldn't JD5's jersey sell no matter where he was or what it looked like? Put his name and number on a Theismann style jersey and it would sell (I would buy one then). I still have a shot of my kid and all his friends at daycare wearing RGIII jerseys.

Sure, we are everybody's darling and deservedly so. We came out of the wilderness and were the most entertaining team in the league. Switching to a better name is not going to change that. I say our good team with a better name will make even more waves.

Probably, but if you're a business man do you take that risk. There's a reason why the Hippocratic Oath leads with do no harm and the business man's credo starts with "If it's working don't mess with it."

Honestly, I'm doing the devil's argument thing. I'm all for a name change. I never wanted the name changed at all, but I can see why Harris made the choice he did and from a business point of view it likely was the best one he could make. I mean, if Harris changed the name and let's say he changed to something with Washington roots. Let's say he made us the Washington Posse... at least half of those who want it to be Redskins would get even more pissed becaue if Josh could change it then why not change it all the way back. They'd not be satisfied with half measures.

And you'd still be wearing your Redskins gear at games and outings just like I did when I went to the Bears game. Just like I ignored the lyrics and sang Hail to the Redskins as loud as I could.

 

[Commander PK]

Josh not changing the brand is really tone deaf tbh. You are talking about a name and brand that was made by an owner that brought absolute shame and embarrassment to this organization. Scandals, bad business decisions, nepotism, govt investigations, etc. Keeping the brand is like keeping a giant stain on the franchise. That’s not moving on. That’s allowing his stain to stick with the fanbase forever. Everytime we see the name and logo it’s him we see.

I understand why people feel this way, but the reality is as the seasons go by the Snyder stuff will slide into oblivion just like he will. Nobody will be left that cares about any of that stuff. The new owners are looking at the long haul not appeasing the current fans, who if we are being completely honest are all over the place on this issue. A lot of people don’t like Commanders, but they also don’t like any name that isn’t one of the names they like.

 

[mistertim]

I'm trying to be outraged about this, but I really just don't care that much. We have a franchise QB and a team that just went from 4-13 to 12-5 and got to the NFC championship game. That's what I care about.

 

[RichmondRedskin88]

Probably, but if you're a business man do you take that risk. There's a reason why the Hippocratic Oath leads with do no harm and the business man's credo starts with "If it's working don't mess with it."

Honestly, I'm doing the devil's argument thing. I'm all for a name change. I never wanted the name changed at all, but I can see why Harris made the choice he did and from a business point of view it likely was the best one he could make. I mean, if Harris changed the name and let's say he changed to something with Washington roots. Let's say he made us the Washington Posse... at least half of those who want it to be Redskins would get even more pissed becaue if Josh could change it then why not change it all the way back. They'd not be satisfied with half measures.

And you'd still be wearing your Redskins gear at games and outings just like I did when I went to the Bears game. Just like I ignored the lyrics and sang Hail to the Redskins as loud as I could.

I think most fans are realistic the Redskins won’t come back bot that’s not good of enough excuse to keep a name and brand that was forced on the fans why a owner that made their life miserable. I mean heck Josh had to fight Snyder to death to get the sale through. Fans dealt with him for 30+ years.

If you want to unite a fanbase then the best way to do that is say we can’t bring this name back but we want a name that the fans themselves choose. You won’t make everyone happy but atleast it’s fair. You can still play the Redskin hymn just without lyrics so fans can sing it on their own. Take a page out of the chiefs who do that for the tomahawk.

 

[burgold]

I think what's at the heart of this is that we feel ownership of the team. We think of it as a public trust. We've invested so much time, thought, and money into it that we think of it as ours. In our hearts, that means that we should have the same rights as the owner of the team.

That's we feel we deserve to be consulted and that ownership should cede to our will.

And to a degree, we are spirtual owners of the team. Our boardroom vote is voiced through ticket sales, ratings, and merch sales. It's also voiced through the public square through mediums just like this one. Josh Harris would be smart to weigh the fans input. Unfortunately for us, the sales, the ratings, and most other factors declared there was too much risk and not enough bang for the buck in undergoing another very pricey name change.

 

[Utah]

Harris has the best of both worlds right now. The name Commanders has launched into the mainstream. Its 'accepted' by the NFL. No fanbase, from any team, likes the name. At some point in time during any conversation about this team, the name Redskins comes up. The logo is always seen in the minds eye. It is just how it is right now.

The name changed due to politics. Bottom line. It sucked and it sure as hell wasn't the fan base that asked for it or needed it. As we are reminded at every turn, the fans are what is most important. Its who pays the bills.

With that, Harris has the other world. The name Redskins will be said numerous times about this team and it won't cost him a thing. The name will be forever discussed and history will always show it. He will work on getting the logo back which has some steam right now on acceptance. Throwback uni's or whatever. Who knows how that works out. But its a long game. And it doesn't cost him anything. Only positive vibes. He just has to make sure it doesn't go negative by basically not doing anything at all with it. He just wants to make sure the history of the team is honored correctly.

With that, I think, as of right now, the only name he would change the team to would be Redskins. If that name has zero chance, then the name is never going to change. The money is flowing with Commanders and we keep building a winner and then win.....no complaints. I firmly believe this man doesn't settle for anything. Going to another name would cost a load of money he would create a whole new battle that would simply be an unnecessary situation. Its a waste of effort and time right now.

Until someone in the position to tell us how we are so supposed to feel comes out and even hints that the name Redskins would be OK to go back to, nothing is going to happen. Harris and Co. is going to hurry up and do nothing with the name. Just keep building a winner and let our options keep growing and lead us to who knows where.

 

[formerly4skins]

Harris has the best of both worlds right now. The name Commanders has launched into the mainstream. Its 'accepted' by the NFL. No fanbase, from any team, likes the name. At some point in time during any conversation about this team, the name Redskins comes up. The logo is always seen in the minds eye. It is just how it is right now.

The name changed due to politics. Bottom line. It sucked and it sure as hell wasn't the fan base that asked for it or needed it. As we are reminded at every turn, the fans are what is most important. Its who pays the bills.

With that, Harris has the other world. The name Redskins will be said numerous times about this team and it won't cost him a thing. The name will be forever discussed and history will always show it. He will work on getting the logo back which has some steam right now on acceptance. Throwback uni's or whatever. Who knows how that works out. But its a long game. And it doesn't cost him anything. Only positive vibes. He just has to make sure it doesn't go negative by basically not doing anything at all with it. He just wants to make sure the history of the team is honored correctly.

With that, I think, as of right now, the only name he would change the team to would be Redskins. If that name has zero chance, then the name is never going to change. The money is flowing with Commanders and we keep building a winner and then win.....no complaints. I firmly believe this man doesn't settle for anything. Going to another name would cost a load of money he would create a whole new battle that would simply be an unnecessary situation. Its a waste of effort and time right now.

Until someone in the position to tell us how we are so supposed to feel comes out and even hints that the name Redskins would be OK to go back to, nothing is going to happen. Harris and Co. is going to hurry up and do nothing with the name. Just keep building a winner and let our options keep growing and lead us to who knows where.

I'd rather be wide awake during a colonoscopy than have to live with Commanders till the day I die.

But, I'd also never want to go back to Redskins.

In the end it's just so disappointing Harris didn't have the balls to make a tough call and stuck with the status quo.

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

I think most fans are realistic the Redskins won’t come back bot that’s not good of enough excuse to keep a name and brand that was forced on the fans why a owner that made their life miserable. I mean heck Josh had to fight Snyder to death to get the sale through. Fans dealt with him for 30+ years.

If you want to unite a fanbase then the best way to do that is say we can’t bring this name back but we want a name that the fans themselves choose. You won’t make everyone happy but atleast it’s fair. You can still play the Redskin hymn just without lyrics so fans can sing it on their own. Take a page out of the chiefs who do that for the tomahawk.

+ 1

Must be something in the water around here. When Pollen changed the Bullets to Wizards, they claimed that was the best available. Their original name was Zephyrs which is better than Wizards.

 

[burgold]

... and for what it's worth there is no one talking about the name change on Bluesky except one person who's wondering why the media is still indulging those who still want it.

I haven't checked Twitter, but the name issue doesn't seem to be as big an issue to the outer sports world as it is in here.

 

[Chris]

Still trending under sports on X.

 

[burgold]

Still trending under sports on X.

Probably more relevant. Twitter still has a more robust sports' community.

 

[Chris]

Probably more relevant. Twitter still has a more robust sports' community.

Just sheer numbers.

 

[Commander PK]

I'd rather be wide awake during a colonoscopy than have to live with Commanders till the day I die.

But, I'd also never want to go back to Redskins.

In the end it's just so disappointing Harris didn't have the balls to make a tough call and stuck with the status quo.

I said this earlier in the thread, but again. How do we know that it is his choice alone? He may very well have been told the NFL will not allow him to change the name again. Maybe the call was not his alone to make. There are rules on branding in the NFL and it could be as simple as they won’t allow him to break them or work around them.