All aboard
Posted by Carl on May 3, 2008
Friend of the Rapidz, Mark Sutcliffe writes “How the Rapidz can replace Ottawa’s missing Lynx” in today’s Ottawa Citizen. Mark captures the substance of what I’ve believed about baseball in Ottawa, that things could turn around, in one clear sentence:
Because the hope that springs eternal dictates that a different outcome is always possible.
I think he’s right of course. But then, I’ve always believed that thing could be different - that they should have been different for baseball. Ultimately, the Rapidz success or failure will rest with the team and the residents of the National Capital Region.
Changing course for the moment, I received an email today asking that I remind everyone about the baseball episode of the Road Grill - BBQ TV show. The show will be taped this Saturday, May 10th, @ Brewer Park Baseball Diamond from 9 to 6. If you plan to attend, please flip me an email and I’ll let them know so that they can save you a spot. They hope to have two Rapidz players at the BBQ as well, so here’s your first “meet and greet” opportunity.
May 4, 2008 at 8:45 am
Good article by Mr. Sutcliffe.
A couple of things I’d like to point out. A few years back, one major reason people cited as to why they were not attending Lynx games was the parking. I learned this week that the Hampton Hotel has built an underground parking and that they will let the Rapidz use it. This will increase parking spots to, I’ve been told, 1800. I’m not sure how many there were the last few years but there were 2400 during the Lynx early days.
Mr. Sutcliffe said:
Some outsiders wonder how the Lynx struggled in a market of more than one million people. But minor-league baseball tends to work in smaller communities where it’s the only thing to do on a summer night
I’ve always felt that way myself and this is the first time I hear someone else mention it, other than my father. Still curious that attendance fell by half in just a few years and half again a few years later. The Lynx were competing for the entertainment dollar and so will the Rapidz.
May 4, 2008 at 10:27 am
I just read Mark’s article. And what a breath of fresh air it was.
He sums up the situation perfectly. He obviously knows what he is talking about & I hope to hear more articles from him about this team. Keep up the good work Mark & thanks for your insightful reporting!!!
May 4, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hey, nice article. Buy tickets folks! I will be.
And I think they ought to do a promo making light of the whole “Z” controversy. Poke fun at it. Maybe a “tribute to the missing S” night. Sponsored (a la Sesame Street) by the letter “S”. We could have a scavenger hunt to find the “S” with clues for the kids. A mascot dresses as an “S” (colour BLUE of course). Anything can and should be used as a promotion.
I’m full of ‘em (or “it” as the case may be).
Nice article, let’s hope the city can rediscover the joy of summer evenings at the ball park.
(How are the Sens doing, by the way?)
May 4, 2008 at 6:14 pm
The other side of the coin (from today’s Ottawa Sun):
By ERIN NICKS
What’s in a name? It depends who you ask.
The new owners of Ottawa’s fledgling Can-Am Baseball League team decided to alter the team’s name after taking over the club last week, and you have to wonder if they consulted anyone before making the change.
When the capital’s newest sports franchise was introduced to the public in February as the Ottawa Rapids/Rapides, everyone knew the talent wouldn’t be Triple-A calibre.
The idea was for the team to sign some players with hometown ties, giving fans a local boy or two to root for and a way to quickly form a bond with the club.
This week, though, it was a pair of local businessmen — the team’s new owners, Rick Anderson and Rob Hall — who were creating all the buzz among fans.
Better known as the co-founders of Zip.ca (an online DVD rental service), the two recently purchased the club from the Can-Am League for $750,000 US.
Among Anderson and Hall’s first moves was to announce the club’s name was being changed to Rapidz and the logo was being redesigned. The original design featuring a baseball and water splash has given way to a maple leaf with understated red script.
SUBTLE LINK
The logo’s new look doesn’t convey much about the team itself. As for the new name, the English and French monikers have morphed into a single word not found in either language.
Hall and Anderson defended the change, saying the old duel name was a bit unwieldy and the new moniker works well on both sides of the Ontario-Quebec border.
Still, it’s not hard to notice the subtle link between the “z” in Rapidz and the corporate name Zip.ca.
Fans often have an instinctively negative reaction to the growing commercialization of sports. From hockey players being plastered with logos in international play to the christening of arenas and stadiums with corporate names, it’s all become too much.
The Rapidz’ name change seems almost stealthy by comparison, but that doesn’t justify it.
Do the new owners believe the new name and logo will translate into more merchandise sales? That’s doubtful.
The purchase of team-related gear serves two purposes: It generates revenue and helps to amplify a club’s presence in the community — if you see people wearing a team’s logo, you know that franchise must possess a significant fan base.
The redesigned logo is not particularly compelling or original, and likely won’t make much impact on the younger set. How are children supposed to get excited about a misspelled word and a swoosh coming out of a capital O?
STAID LOGO
To be fair, a second logo for the club was unveiled this week, but according to the team, it will likely be featured as a shoulder crest on uniforms and won’t appear on merchandise.
The second design is circular, with a skyline featuring the Peace Tower in blue along with the words “Ottawa” and “Rapidz” in white and red respectively. It’s a step up from the principal logo, but it’s still pretty staid.
Changing names and logos are decisions that should not be taken lightly. Anderson and Hall might downplay the alterations, but this is a city with a cynical attitude towards baseball, and some fans will no doubt question the true motivation behind the changes.
Whether Can-Am ball can survive in Ottawa remains to be seen. Pro baseball is already facing an uphill battle for the hearts and wallets of local fans.
How much sense does it make to saddle the team with a bland logo and a name that can’t be taken seriously?
Zip.
May 5, 2008 at 11:29 am
James I hear you complaining but I don’t see you comming up with anything better.You are missing the point .In indy ball it all all about a cheap nite out and enjoying a family nite with some great baseball.The name and logo are not important or we would not have teams called Cracker-cats Vipers Surf Dogs Pride Salt Dogs Canaries Air Hogs Diables and so on in St. Paul they have a pig for a bat boy and you can get a barber shave while you watch the game. This year they have planted corn on the out-field wall and the players will come out of the corn field to start the game.Lets get this blog out of the name and logo bashing and start looking at all the new signings and who will play where . How come we are still a vet short and who might it be?Who are going to be the starters ? I love the idea of Z day how about dog days and a dance team?
May 5, 2008 at 11:41 am
I was complaining? I didn’t write the article.
May 5, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Sorry James my comments should go to Erin Nicks . Thank-you for the correction.
May 7, 2008 at 7:10 am
King, completely agree that odd names and wacky promotions are what MAKE minor-league ball. That said, “Rapidz” isn’t really edgy or catchy, just kind of contrived, “stupidz” you might say. And I don’t think anybody is really sure why you couldn’t have just put the Z into a pretty good logo that Miles Wolff had come up with. HE’S the one that knows how to sell minor-league ball. They’ve hired a chef to improve the food, they’re pros at the technology thing and are working on ticketing and in-stadium info/entertainment. GREAT! But one word that translates into both languages is : TERRIBLE. And that’s what the new logo is. Erin Nicks is right, why saddle the team with a bland logo and unmarketable merchandise, with or without the silly name? Why hire experts to help with all facets of this new venture, and ignore the thing that might be most important? Miles is proven at this, and came up with a good marketable product in a VERY tight time frame. Or, how about these guys at http://www.planbbranding.com ? Check it out, that’s how you do it.
I’m a happy guy, THRILLED that there’s baseball, and I’ll be there. I just won’t be buying the merchandise (well, maybe a “foam finger Z”). Thanks for the compliment on my “Z Day”, maybe we could have “S” and “Z” in a foot race along with the bratwurst and Barney Brewer from Milwaukee. Where’s Randall Simon these days? Let’s all have a beer (or two, if they’re not $12) on Opening Day…….