Random Commanders Thoughts

[tshile]

If they lose the trademark, there is zero chance Snyder keeps the name.

1) He'll lose way too much money, and
2) The league won't let that happen, so there will be some backdoor arm twisting and the name will change.

This is the beginning of the end of the name Redskins, friends.

This will be the final bullet point in the list of reasons how Snyder ruined a historic, prestigious franchise.

It's going to be really interesting to see how the fan base reacts. I think the success of the team at the time will drive a lot of it (we're largely a fair weather fan base). I give it 2 years at this point, and I think that's being generous. It'll depend on how quickly the trademark office moves on revoking the trademark.

Really puts the pressure on to win now... if this happens while the team continues to be in a failed state the fan base will quickly erode...

 

[Ax]

This will be the final bullet point in the list of reasons how Snyder ruined a historic, prestigious franchise.

Yes, because he invented the term, Redskins.

It's going to be really interesting to see how the fan base reacts. I think the success of the team at the time will drive a lot of it (we're largely a fair weather fan base).

The 30 and under crowd may be fair weather. But not the older crowd.

I give it 2 years at this point, and I think that's being generous. It'll depend on how quickly the trademark office moves on revoking the trademark.

Really puts the pressure on to win now... if this happens while the team continues to be in a failed state the fan base will quickly erode...

We'll see.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Yes, because he invented the term, Redskins.

The 30 and under crowd may be fair weather. But not the older crowd.

We'll see.

I would argue that the season ticket holders are primarily older than 30 - and its them selling their tickets to opposing teams' fans. Just my 2 cents.

Also, it doesn't matter if Snyder invented the term, it will happen under his watch. He handled the whole thing incredibly poorly from a PR standpoint, and he will get shouldered with the blame (deserving or not).

 

[tshile]

The 30 and under crowd may be fair weather. But not the older crowd.

Hrm. Wonder where this older crowd that isn't fair weather was on Sundays weeks 10-17 this past season... They're certainly not not in the stadium. Well, the ones that were wore the other team's colors.

or why they stop wearing their redskins gear after the team starts losing...

I'm sorry but being a fair weather fan that only shows their connection to the team when the team is winning is not uniquely related to being young.

You only need to attend games regularly and walk around the northern VA area to see the stark difference in support when the team is winning and when it is losing to see how fair weather the area is.

 

[tshile]

Yes, because he invented the term, Redskins.

If you don't think losing the team name will be pinned up as a failure of Snyder then you're delusional.

Whether that makes it right or not is one thing, but the guy can't even be in the same state without being blamed for every little 'bad' thing that happens to this organization. You think he'll not get 200% of the blame for the name changing?!

 

[Ax]

Well, my assertion doesn't separate ticket holders from the non. I just contend that if the numbers of fair weather fans could possibly be measured, which they can't, that the overwhelming majority would be found in the 30 and under crowd. Though 35 might be the more accurate age.

And there's no question Snyder will be held responsible. Especially by those that are already haters, and who also have the candy-assed PC sensitivity virus eating away at their brains.

Personally, I hope the name change never happens. For me, it will be the death of the franchise, and all it's history. But that's another thread.

 

[tshile]

Well, my assertion doesn't separate ticket holders from the non. I just contend that if the numbers of fair weather fans could possibly be measured, which they can't, that the overwhelming majority would be found in the 30 and under crowd. Though 35 might be the more accurate age.

My dad lived in this area for 50 years, held tickets for ~30 of them.

Most of the people around while he was here would now be in the 35+ range.

And there were tons of fair weather fans back then. Tons of them. Ask anyone that's owned tickets through the '60s, late '90s through now, and the years in between where the team wasn't good.

You can't give away a ticket to the game when the team is bad. For free. This is not a problem that just started. This has been a problem throughout the history of the franchise.

The '80s were great. The fan base was amazing. There's a lot of other decades in the team's history, most of them include lots of losing, and people around during those times can easily see how fair weather people are.

I don't think it's unique to us, by the way...

 

[HOF44]

The only thing I believe it has to do with age is that most people that can comfortably afford tickets are 30 or older. There are weak fans in all age groups. If most tix are held by >30 then most will be given up by >30. As a member of the over 30 club (by a lot) I never give up tix to the opposition.

 

[Burgundy Burner]

One day in and no new coach.

View attachment 1095

Keep in mind that this is a serious vigil. There will be daily updates. The continual coaching conclave is being done in secret, but we will keep our daily rituals too.

Let the tailgating coaching conclave commence! Would you please pass the bacon and that bottle of ketchup?

We continue our tailgate conclave into the ninth day and there is still no new coach.

Who is bringing the steaks this evening?

 

[DieselPwr44]

I'll be 44 at the end of this month, been following the team since I was 11 yrs old. If they lose the name and the colors, I'm done.

 

[Ax]

I'll be 44 at the end of this month, been following the team since I was 11 yrs old. If they lose the name and the colors, I'm done.

I'll be 54 before training camp. If the name is gone, the colors are meaningless. My team is the Washington Redskins. I won't root for any other.

 

[Bulldog]

This is not on Snyder IMO.

The issue of the name has been around since 1990.

While I think the organization should be able to keep the name the truth is negative attention to the league is bad for business.

If this turns into a case of people being able to legally print up Redskins shirts and jerseys and siphon dollars from the NFL the team will change the name.

My guess is if the opposition was getting this much publicity and had a legit chance to win in court Jack Kent Cooke would change the name as well.
As a compromise I don't understand why the team can't keep the colors and helmet logo and simply call the team the Wasington Warriors.

 

[tshile]

I'll be 44 at the end of this month, been following the team since I was 11 yrs old. If they lose the name and the colors, I'm done.

I'll be 54 before training camp. If the name is gone, the colors are meaningless. My team is the Washington Redskins. I won't root for any other.

I've had this discussion with many people.

I have no idea how I'll react. I honestly don't know how anyone that's a die hard fan could know.

I wont know until I'm sitting in the stands and they're introduced as something else... There will be about 15 seconds after the name is announced where I sit there and one of two things happen:
- nothing
- i'll be super excited to see the team take the field, not caring that their name has been changed.

If die hards like you guys, and possibly me, could walk away from the team over the name change what is it we expect the fair weather fans to do (which was my original point)?

If the team's bad they'll just use this as another excuse to not wear the colors or cheer for the team when they're struggling.

I have a feeling if the team is playing well they wont care.

But they're fair weather fans so I suppose none of us give a **** what they think anyways. But their actions will have an impact on the franchise.

If enough people walk away it could drive it into the ground... We've already lost ground in the 'most valuable franchise' department.

 

[Bulldog]

Again, I think the name can be changed to Warriors or something similar and the team could keep the colors and logo.

 

[tshile]

If this turns into a case of people being able to legally print up Redskins shirts and jerseys and siphon dollars from the NFL the team will change the name.

Which is why going after the trademark is a brilliant move. Money is more important to the league, and likely Snyder, than protecting the name.

My guess is if the opposition was getting this much publicity and had a legit chance to win in court Jack Kent Cooke would change the name as well.
As a compromise I don't understand why the team can't keep the colors and helmet logo and simply call the team the Wasington Warriors.

Why would we change the name to something that is just as controversial? So we can go through another change in 20 years? The name Warriors has already been bitched about and teams/universities have changed their name because of it.

If we change let's change to something that isn't going to be a problem in 20 years...

 

[tshile]

Due to the league wide dislike of Snyder by the owners I wouldn't be surprised if they're for this as a way to drive Snyder out of ownership.

 

[Ax]

I've said before t, if they change the name, they kill the team. I will continue to be a Redskins fan. The problem is, there will be no Redskins team. The history dies with the name. Without the history, there is nothing for me to root for.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I'll be 44 at the end of this month, been following the team since I was 11 yrs old. If they lose the name and the colors, I'm done.

What about just the name?

 

[Bulldog]

But we don't know what might be offensive 20 years from now.

Perhaps once they are extinct people will begin to complain about the Panthers, Lions, and Bengals

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Again, I think the name can be changed to Warriors or something similar and the team could keep the colors and logo.

I've been saying this for a year now. This is the best solution, I think. Either that, or make a deal with a local tribe similar to what the Seminoles have done. The Washington Powhatan has a nice ring to it...