The San Diego Padres have moved their AAA franchise from Tucson to El Paso. This isn't shocking, considering that the Padres moved the same franchise to Tucson from Portland following the 2010 season. But the name chosen for the new franchise is already rubbing fans the wrong way – the El Paso Chihuahuas.
The four other finalists in the "name the team" voting were Aardvarks, Buckaroos, Desert Gators, and Sun Dogs, none of which are much better than Chihuahuas. According to team GM Brad Taylor, the name was chosen because Chihuahuas are "represent fun and are fiercely loyal," as if that makes any sense. More from Taylor below the cut.
"El Pasoans played a significant role in identifying our new team name — they attended focus groups, suggested several hundred different names, and voted in record numbers for all the names," said Alan Ledford, president of MountainStar Sports Group.
"Through the entire [branding] process, our focus was on fun and on finding something that could appeal to kids," added Taylor. "You have to believe in the brand, and stand by it, because the brand isn't just something that people hear — it's something they see."
Oh my, this won't end well. Fans on Twitter are lambasting the name, and I have a feeling the cries are only going to get stronger in the morning.
[MiLB.com]
