USA "what"

[warrior poet]

what about if they go with a bit of history and call them the U.S.A ALL STARS after the first american rl team in the 1950's. It didn't work out then but it could still tie in with the stars and stripes. Plus, i think, americans would be more willing to support a team of allstars (even if they are only a minor country in international rl), and it would work with the USA's patriotism (ie; similar to when the national basketball team was being called the dream team)
It could also be marketed as 'Established 1953' (even if most of that time rl in USA was non-existent but technically USA allstars were established in 1953)

Personally i thought the tomahawks name was a little limited in terms of marketing... tomahawks to most people brings up thoughts of native americans, use of native american iconography in sport has been done pretty poorly (see washington redskins).

 

[Evil Homer]

I also don't particularly like the name. I get the significance of the stars and stripes as a symbol in the USA but I am not sure how narrowing your branding to something dominated and claimed by everyone can be helpful. All US teams are surely playing for the 'stars and stripes' whatever sport.

From a marketing point of view I am not sure it is particularly distinct either as all USA teams have the clear right to use the 'stars and stripes'. The imagery is going to get lost in the blur of activity around it.

They are trying to market the US national team, not some obscure brand.

All-stars is a winner BTW. By far the best name on this thread.

 

[Rugger]

All-stars is a winner BTW. By far the best name on this thread.

Agreed. Somebody make that happen.

 

[Fatwing15]

USA Liberty
Revolution,
Nationals,
Rangers
Rough Riders**** my vote
Bombers
Chiefs
76ers
Philabusters
Independence

Is voting over? I like Tomahawks better than Stars and Stripes. It Just doesn't roll off the tongue.

 

[Fatwing15]

ON THE FIRST FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, THERE WERE 13 STARS, AND 13 STRIPES. So Stars and Stripes itself is about as American as you can get. And then the original flag has 13 of each. An interesting coincidence within history..........

No coincidence, was deliberate to represent 13 colonies. There are now 50 stars and that's no coincidence either. How about the USA Fifty? Ok that's cheesy too lol

I honestly like the names "13's" better than Stars and Stripes.

One thing about Americans is that we come up with bad ass names for bad ass things. Stars and Stripes sounds lame.

 

[deluded pom?]

No coincidence, was deliberate to represent 13 colonies. There are now 50 stars and that's no coincidence either.

Spinner was suggesting a link between the original 13 colonies and the number of players in a RL team. I'm sure he knows why there are fifty stars on the USA flag.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Is there a trademark or rights issue or something with the name? If so has anyone just asked David Nui if he could relinquish it for the good of the game and not for narcissistic reasons?

 

[gyallop]

there doesnt seem to be any issue, seems the USARL just want a new name.

The choices they have given are fairly average but the suggestions here of All Stars or Patriots aren't bad IMO at least.

If the USARL want to start over with the national team and get away from the Tomahawks should they start afresh with the RLIF rankings as well otherwise arent they cashing in on something they opposed in the use of heritage players?

 

[Bronco Rob]

I'm not sure why they would want to change from a name that already that has some recognisability especially thanks to the Wiggles. I support the USARL but I'm baffled if it was the case that the Tomahawks name is not prohibited in using?

 

[joshreading]

This situation probably reinforces the reality that national logo's/monikers etc should actually be owned by the RLIF in the same way the NRL actually owns the rights to the logo's / names of NRL teams

 

[Craigo]

I'm not sure why they would want to change from a name that already that has some recognisability especially thanks to the Wiggles. I support the USARL but I'm baffled if it was the case that the Tomahawks name is not prohibited in using?

This is how I understand it, the Tomahawk name was sold by the AMNRL to Star Group (I think that's what they were called). Reading one of Spinner's post's, it appears as though the USARL has received legal advice that if they, the USARL, were to continue to use the Tomahawk name, then it may create a legal issue for use of that name without permission.
I'm happy to be proven wrong and have the Tomahawk name remain as I really like it, but if I am right and someone sued the USARL, it could prove quite costly.

Craigo

 

[gyallop]

i am sure if someone had a claim to the name they would have jumped out of the ground screaming when the Tomahawks were world wide news at the RLWC and the Wiggles, one of Australia's riches groups was singing the song. Think about it would you wait and sue an entity like the USARL worth (and no disrespect) $2 or a RLWC that used the name and made a $6m profit and a group that makes about $50m a year??

 

[roughyedspud]

I'm not sure why they would want to change from a name that already that has some recognisability especially thanks to the Wiggles. I support the USARL but I'm baffled if it was the case that the Tomahawks name is not prohibited in using?

its owned by the Amnrl

 

[gyallop]

how do you know that?

and if it is as the AMNRL has folded and some clubs have joined the USARL why not ask them to hand it over

 

[Craigo]

i am sure if someone had a claim to the name they would have jumped out of the ground screaming when the Tomahawks were world wide news at the RLWC and the Wiggles, one of Australia's riches groups was singing the song. Think about it would you wait and sue an entity like the USARL worth (and no disrespect) $2 or a RLWC that used the name and made a $6m profit and a group that makes about $50m a year??

Like I said, I'm happy to be proven wrong and I'm sure the real reason will be explained in time.

 

[deluded pom?]

This is how I understand it, the Tomahawk name was sold by the AMNRL to Star Group (I think that's what they were called). Reading one of Spinner's post's, it appears as though the USARL has received legal advice that if they, the USARL, were to continue to use the Tomahawk name, then it may create a legal issue for use of that name without permission.
I'm happy to be proven wrong and have the Tomahawk name remain as I really like it, but if I am right and someone sued the USARL, it could prove quite costly.

Craigo

That's how I see it too.

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

I like the All Stars name. You can market it along the lines of the All Blacks.

Stars and Stripes would not distinguish the side from any other USA related marketing. It's just so incredibly generic USA. All Stars usually refers to "the best" players (any side named the All Stars tends to have a group of the best players that represent something). It's a play on the word "stars" (star, the shape; and star, an elite player). And it's also a play on "All Blacks", a famous rugby moniker. Wins for be.

On a separate note, I hated the Tomahawk name.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Same. Was never a big fan of the Tomahawk name.

Not so sure about All Stars. The name already has a conotation in US sports concerning basketball and baseball for starters. While the sense is similar, ie the best of the best, there are different names for the national teams in these sports, so if you use All Stars for the national league team, people may not immediately associate it with the national team - as far as I am aware the NBA All Stars != USA Dream Team.

So promoting internationals with USA All Stars may be slightly confusing. I dunno. I could be wrong, you would need to survey some north americans.

 

[alien]

well voting finished saturday so a decision could be made soon. . .

 

[Bronco Rob]

From the horse's mouth, the 'Tomahawks' moniker does not have any trademark or rights issues over the name, so that's not the issue.