(New Poll) The Washington Commanders Brand 2.0: Beer Drinkers and Hail Raisers

[DieselPwr44]

 

[Spearfeather]

I'm shocked.

1) General antipathy toward the name and logo,

2) the brand's association to former owner Dan Snyder,

3) the brand's departure from [and irrelevance to] franchise heritage,

4) the name and logo being a permanent reminder of the 2020-22 rebrand process that saw fan votes and suggestions go ignored,

5) unanswered questions over why so much of the former Redskins brand was discarded,

6) and distaste surrounding the contextual connotations and insensitivity of rebranding to "Commanders" of all names.

 

[Boone]

Full text

 

[Commander PK]

Some valid points are made but that reads more like a propaganda piece by a disgruntled fan than anything remotely scientific.

 

[Chris]

Some valid points are made but that reads more like a propaganda piece by a disgruntled fan than anything remotely scientific.

Yeah, I’m calling bullshit. 💩

 

[Spearfeather]

The article cites a combination of sources. This has us at 25th:

Brandirectory

The World's Largest Brand Value Database

brandirectory.com

 

[Boone]

There is a lot more ranting about Washington’s brand later in the ‘analysis’. I agree this looks like an attempt to create ‘data driven’ rationales for changing the brand.

I think the ship has sailed on that front.

 

[DieselPwr44]

There is a lot more ranting about Washington’s brand later in the ‘analysis’. I agree this looks like an attempt to create ‘data driven’ rationales for changing the brand.

I think the ship has sailed on that front.

With the current brand in the toilet, are you sure about that?

 

[Commander PK]

What gives the whole thing away is the inordinate amount of time and platitudes paid to Washington’s brand.

 

[Commander PK]

The piece suggests the team could go 0 - 17 for the next five years and would be no worse than they are now lol.

 

[Boone]

With the current brand in the toilet, are you sure about that?

I feel pretty sure yeah because I think Harris believes if they build a winning team on the field, the fanbase will move on from the issue. And I think that’s probably true.

 

[Spearfeather]

The piece suggests the team could go 0 - 17 for the next five years and would be no worse than they are now lol.

Maybe they're ( just ) saying it's tough to move down from last place.

 

[Commander PK]

Maybe they're ( just ) saying it's tough to move down from last place.

The gap between 31 and 32 could widen 😏

 

[Commander PK]

I feel pretty sure yeah because I think Harris believes if they build a winning team on the field, the fanbase will move on from the issue. And I think that’s probably true.

I think the truth is that the issue will never die completely. The best hope is that the past gets reconciled with where we go in the future. Even if we end up winning more Super Bowls, which we all hope for, there are always going to be people who say things like “first one as Commanders” “the Washington franchise won their first three when known as the Redskins” etc. etc.

By and large the fan base will move on as the years go by. It took decades, but nobody refers to the Ravens as the Browns anymore. Most of their fans probably don’t even think about that. Not apples to apples but it’s in a similar vein.

 

[DieselPwr44]

It will take the generation of the Gibbs Era fans dying out before the name "Commies" is accepted without controversy.

 

[Commander PK]

It will take the generation of the Gibbs Era fans dying out before the name "Commies" is accepted without controversy.

Probably

 

[AngryChuckT]

Probably

Yep. Commanders name sucks but it is not changing - and once we glory years fans die out it no longer will be an issue because no one will remember any different.

Interesting anecdote about that I consciously noted recently:

1. I refer to them as the Redskins/Skins.
2. My 13 year old son refers to them as the Redskins 60% percent of the time (mostly in conversations with me or his GGmother) and Commanders 40% - when talking football with his friends his age.
3. My 11 year old daughter refers to them as the Redskins 40% of the time and Commanders 60% of the time. Though honestly the Commanders percentage has been increasing I think.

 

[Commander PK]

It will be remembered without the emotional attachment/anger/resentment our generation feels.

I would never compare the two things as being equal…but it’s kind of like 9/11. For the 20 somethings and under now it falls somewhere in the realm of where Pearl Harbor fell to Generation X. A historical event that was tragic and should be remembered…but without the emotional baggage of a “fresh wound” that comes from having lived it like we did.

 

[JoeyG]

It will be remembered without the emotional attachment/anger/resentment our generation feels.

I would never compare the two things as being equal…but it’s kind of like 9/11. For the 20 somethings and under now it falls somewhere in the realm of where Pearl Harbor fell to Generation X. A historical event that was tragic and should be remembered…but without the emotional baggage of a “fresh wound” that comes from having lived it like we did.

I think the current brand sucks and that is a problem that is not going away. While the name may not change (I wish it would) they must improve the brand to help with the business side. Winning helps but as we have learned this year they just may not happen and they did not get the bump they expected after last year. They have lost their historical connection and now have a brand that is unimaginative. Those are two major obstacles. Going back to the old uniforms is an aesthetic improvement but is an in your face reminder that they gave away their fans beloved brand. In today's brand of professional and college sports with free agency and NIL people root more for a uniform and brand than ever before.

 

[Commander PK]

but if they “go back to our brand” sans the logo and the name…will it still suck? Or will it be markedly improved?

I’m at around 80% certain that is what is going to happen. They are going to look like the Redskins without the name and logo. There will be plenty in this time frame who will say that isn’t enough. For many right now a full restoration of the Redskins brand and name would be the only thing that works. I believe those people are the minority. Even if you don’t believe there was anything wrong with the Redskins’s name and brand (like me) you don’t want it back and the controversy that goes with it.

I do believe the Commanders name works over the long haul. We still have Wizards 30 years later. People still generally dislike it over Bullets but it’s still here and those people are not as loud.