Alpha Entertainment files trademarks for 5 potential XFL Seattle team names

[XtremeFanForever]

I'm still not that thrilled with these names. But Seattle Fury is beginning to grow on me. There are just issues of connecting the name with the city. What's the connection with any of these names? They seem interchangeable. (...) Put any city in front of these names. (...)

I just don't get it.

That might be well by design: team names that emphasize a brand associated with the league, rather than the city—just like McMahon did with the 2001 XFL.

I'm warming up to these names for this very reason. Gimmicky names wouldn't be good but, in my opinion, unoriginal names would be worse. The XFL has made it clear it wants to build its own brand, rather than be seen as minor league NFL.

Names like "Surge" and "Force" sound like they could've come right out of the 2001 league. I know the new league wants to separate itself from that image but, as a fan of the original league, it's would be nice to see some spirit of the original league brought back. Without the excessively violent (Hitmen, Enforcers) or offensive (Maniax, Blast) names. Hell, maybe Los Angeles Xtreme is still on the table afterall.

[Firecop]

The XFL would be foolish to discount or ignore regional / local tie in to the team names. That's why I think Surge is most likely, Wild or Dragons next; although Dragons don't have much local tie unless you count Mt. ST. Helens firebreathing and all.

[GDAWG]

Just because teams don't end with "S" doesn't make said team a minor league team. The NBA has the Heat, Jazz and Thunder. NHL has the Wild. MLB has both Red and White Sox. 21 of the 24 MLS teams do not end with the letter S.

[Tank55]

Just because teams don't end with "S" doesn't make said team a minor league team. The NBA has the Heat, Jazz and Thunder. NHL has the Wild. MLB has both Red and White Sox. 21 of the 24 MLS teams do not end with the letter S.

The fact that you can even count the six (you missed Magic, Lightning, and Avalanche) teams in the Big 4 with singular names should prove the point. The Red Sox and White Sox are pronounced as plurals; soccer is a different culture.

Let's stick to football. Consider that of the NFL and the Power 5, there are only three singular names:

Syracuse Orange
Stanford Cardinal
Alabama Crimson Tide

That's it. Note that Syracuse and Stanford ended up with their somewhat awkward names because they wanted to move away from Orangemen and Indians. Still, that's 3/95 (3.2%). Comparatively, Arena is at 4/6 (66.7%). The AAF was at 3/8 (37.5%). NFL Europe was at 3/6 (50%) in their final season.

Which of these groups -- minor leagues of past and present, or the NFL and major college football -- does the XFL want to associate itself with in the minds of fans? The XFL is trying to mix the familiar with the innovative. Are plural names familiar? (I'd argue yes.) Are singular names innovative? (I'd argue no.)

I don't think the XFL needs to avoid singular names entirely (I'm down for the Kraken). I do think they need to be extremely careful if they go down that path, and I don't think Surge, Fury, Force, or Wild are tempting enough to pursue.

[LeoNY]

I actually like Force and Fury. I remember the Georgia Force team in the Arena League. I am ok with non plural if it describes a team or unit, rather than a virtue. The XFL should have taken fan suggestions online a few months back. Not so much of a fan vote but just to get fan feedback on names that fans like. I am a logo and uniforms guy. So unless the team name is patently absurd. It won’t bother me.

[Tank55]

I remember the Georgia Force team in the Arena League.

I'd argue that's exactly why it shouldn't be a contender.

[LeoNY]

I remember the Georgia Force team in the Arena League.

I'd argue that's exactly why it shouldn't be a contender.

Lol. To each their own. I liked the name.

[MikeMitchell]

I actually like Force and Fury. I remember the Georgia Force team in the Arena League. I am ok with non plural if it describes a team or unit, rather than a virtue. The XFL should have taken fan suggestions online a few months back. Not so much of a fan vote but just to get fan feedback on names that fans like. I am a logo and uniforms guy. So unless the team name is patently absurd. It won’t bother me.

Not a big Force or a fury guy. I don’t have the same venom that some fans have against the XFL’s 5 trademarked names, but Personally, I think they could have done better.

The names didn’t necessarily have to be second rate knockoffs of the other Seattle sports teams. Like aspects in relation to the sea, but I would have tried to carve out a different path with something else that ties into Seattle.

Lumberjacks and Skyliners might have seemed boring but boring isn’t always a bad thing.

[Tank55]

Lol. To each their own. I liked the name.

It's not that you shouldn't like it; it's that the fact you're able to immediately recall an Arena team means there's an unhelpful association.