Washington Set to Make Name Change with Temporary Solution
The Washington Redskins organization announced that their internal reviews have been completed and a name change, after 87 years, for the NFL franchise is in the future. However, they have not decided on a permanent name yet but a temporary solution has been announced.
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The franchise will now be known as “The Washington Football Team” according to an official release. The former logo and images will be replaced on official sites and across the organizations branding efforts starting immediately with hopes of having it completely done in a matter of a few months.
The temporary move allows the organization to use it’s existing color scheme to redesign uniforms and fan merchandise in time for the upcoming 2020 season. Player’s numbers will replace the old logo on their helmets.
Dan Snyder, has been under pressure to rename the team since he became the owner in 1999. That year the organization went to the Super Bowl and several thousand protestors showed up at the Championship game to push for change.
Protests of varying sizes have gone on ever since prompting Snyder to famously was quoted by USA Today as saying “put it in all caps” that he would never make change the team’s name. But, money talks!
In the last several months, several companies have announced that they would withhold money or stop doing business with the organization completely due to the Redskin name. The biggest being FedEx who pays for naming rights to the team’s home stadium.
Also, Amazon announced that “Redskin” branded fan items would be removed from its platform with other retailers such as Wal-Mart joining in. Retailers, we’re not the only ones applying pressure, as minority owners and shareholders joined the long list of vested parties looking for a name change.
The pressure has worked. The move came quickly once it was apparent that the team would be faced with huge financial losses. Only ten days passed from the time an “official review” was in the process to when news dropped that the Redskins name and logo would officially be retired.
Now we have to wait to see what the new name will be, or if they simply setting in as being known as Washington FT.
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