Would you say the same if he changed the colour to blue? And, to be fair, he did do it against the wishes of the majority. We basically don't mind a) because we haven't always played in stripes but, most importantly, b) because he has done so many other things correctly. I really, don't think its simply because we are winning, its more that we are doing things in the 'right way'. I don't see this with the Hull guy. Anyway, the real problem with our shirts this year is that they are just a c**p design.
What's people hang up on the club name? We've had a number of changes were founded as "St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C." When they changed that to "St. Mary's F.C." and then again to "Southampton St. Mary's" before us finally becoming "Southampton F.C."? In fact it could be argued that should Cortese ever decide to change us to "Southampton Saints" he's actually taking us closer to the previous name.
That was over the space of 10 years as the club was formed. Very many clubs around the country who rose up & above other local clubs were adopting the name of their respective towns & cities at that point instead of the specific small area in which they were formed. So the Hull change is totally different, it's a change after 109 years, for reasons that don't make much sense & done in a way to alienate their own fans (as stated before, the key "customers" of the club).
It is done by a man who has invested millions of his own money into a club, and has stated that he believes changing the name is a tool to the club earning more money and becoming more saleable. It's just a name. I don't know much about this chairman at all, it may be that he is a crook. But the fact that he has bankrolled hull city into the premier league would suggest otherwise. 99% of football fans are idiots, you can't not make a business decision for the good of the club because of a vocal minority. If Cortese had listened to Saints fans, we would still have Adkins in charge and most likely be fighting relegation all season. I'm not saying Hull's chairman is anything like Cortese, and it may turn out that he is wrong about the whole thing, but I doubt he would have alienated a large section of the fan base unless he truly believed a name change would benefit the club. IF a similar thing happened at Saints right now, I would let Cortese do whatever he wanted, as he clearly knows more about running a successful business/club than the fans. Who is to say that Hulls owner isn't as savvy as Cortese, and this decision won't keep them in the Premier League for the next decade or more?
Can we count you in the 99% group of idiot fans? Or in the 1% who are so utterly without passion for their club that they would let someone do whatever they liked with it? "It's just a name" Well to most Hull fans it appears to be more than that.
How? Because everyone likes tigers? The Chinese don't. The only way this could be a bigger PR disaster for their far-east fanbase would be re-naming themselves Hull Whales or Hull Dolphins. I think you're playing devils advocate slightly, it's just a hideous, naff, childish Americanism. I used to play for Chichester Tigers until we all reached puberty and became Chichester City U13's
I'm not going to pretend that I don't think it's a stupid idea, but the hull board/owner who are obviously more qualified than me or any other fan to make these kinds of decisions. In fact a quick Wiki search reveals that he is an international businessman with a degree in economics. Just because fans are passionate and love the club, doesn't mean they are right about everything. And when it's something as small as a name change, I think it's completely justifiable to try and benefit the club even if it turns out that it doesn't have a massive effect.
It's a small thing to you. It's not a small thing to many others. Read this excellent blog. It sums the situation up very well and far more eloquently than I can... http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/10929?cc=5739
Again, this is just written by a bitter anti-establishment fan. There is categorical proof that names, logos, colours and badges have a massive impact on product sales all around the world. If the hull owner has even a small chance of changing people's perception of hull, and improving the clubs income I say grab it with both hands.
I totally agree that it is no small thing.......but what more can they do about it? It is not about giving in as you said previously.........I am sure they could do with your wisdom to guide them.
What proof regarding a football club changing its name and increasing revenue? Please direct me to this proof.
Yes, they were changing their names to appeal to a broader base of supporters; this is basically the same thing adapting to the era of globalised mass media and PL megabucks, the club now has an even wider reach so changing the name because he feels it'll appeal to more supporters globally. He knows that the local fans will keep going regardless of the name; the only way they can make an impact is if they boycott. He obviously sees a reason, probably the one I speculated above; if the customers don't like it, they can stop buying tickets and club merchandise - they won't though. Pretty much this^^ I'm betting the man knows more about football economics than any of us here and well, it's his money he spent to buy the club. If the fans don't like it, well they should have got together and bought the club themselves. I know exactly what they can do, they can stop spending their money on the club. Perhaps they can spend it on tickets to see a small local team or a different sport; I hear Hull FC are a good Rugby league team.
Why not call themselves the "Hull One Directions" then? And when that fad has gone, just change it to something else and then something else. Change the name every season, it doesn't matter after all, its just a name.
Doncaster did actually "sign" a one direction member haha. But anyway, changing the name of a club/brand over and over again would have a negative impact. The only reason a name change has been suggested is because the owner feels it will have a positive impact. My friend changed his name last month, he's still the same person.
