Should The Houston Astros Change Their Name?

try to imagine a team nicknamed after a gun in present-day professional sports. The NBA’s Washington Bullets were re-nicknamed the Wizards in 1997
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I can’t remember who gets credit for the line, maybe it was Leno, but he said approximately, “The Washington Bullets are changing their name because of its association with violence and crime. So from now on they’re going to be known as the Bullets.”

They are about to go into direct competition with the Rangers for fans (which was a bad idea to begin with). Up until now, people could be fans of both teams. Even in Houston, people generally liked the Rangers in the American League. Now they have to compete in the secondary markets for fans. San Antonio has historically been an Astros town. My guess is that is changing fast, and it won’t help to cut off the remaining fans in San Antonio, visually and in name, from all their memories as Astros fans. I couldn’t help but root for the Oilers even after they moved to Tennessee, because they were the “Oilers,” but the moment they became the “Titans,” I instantly lost all connection with them.

It’s not the Houston fans they need to worry about (although that’s going to be a problem, too, I imagine). It’s Austin and San Antonio and New Orleans and other areas that have been Astros areas, but that they could lose very quickly if they make themselves into an expansion team.

This is not a newbie franchise or team with decades of crap behind it (like all of the teams that you mentioned who changed their names). This is a team who was coming off a World Series and two straight NLCS appearances just six years ago. They have had a couple of bad seasons now, and it very well could be a few years before things really start turning around. They have already completely turned over the roster, they will completely change their context and rivalries, to completely change the name and look will cut off everyone but the biggest fans from what they are used to following and rooting for.

It’s just a horrible idea and I hope it doesn’t get off the ground.

The team really isn’t moving so I don’t think they’d have a major risk of losing fans. Now if they were moving to say Las Vegas to become the Gamblers then yes I could see fans of the Houston Astros being disconnected from the team.

Outside of playing in a new division and league they are going to be the same organization and play in the same park. This sort of move didn’t hurt the Brewers years ago, and I doubt it would have if they had changed their name to the Beers.

If the Astros want to change their name I think they need to stick with something that at least references a baseball team from the Houston area.

Buffaloes or Colts. Though once you’ve had a name for 40 odd years it should be one that the team embraces unless it has serious PR problems, or doesn’t really make sense for the area. The later is more a NBA issue though.

If they were to become the Colts though and make their emblem look close enough to the Denver Broncos they could get some misplaced Tebow love.

Buffaloes may be a good option. The Houston Buffaloes were a AA team in the Texas League. The Colts—another option which harkens back to the original name.

Other names: The Tornadoes, the Mustangs, the Boots in your Ass.

Galveston had a team at the turn of the 20th century called the Sand Crabs. Perhaps a better option would be the Scorpions for Houston.

Just though of what would go really well for this team keep the name and uniforms the same and get this team winning, stop screwing around on this name and uniform change. If the name changes we lose the heritage of what made the Astros like bagwell. biggio & ryan to name a few, the uniforms are one of the best in the majors. so lowering the prices on all these things and changing the name and uniform is where the money will be made back. Just start winning.

They should totaly Gulf Hawk themselves.

“Astro-” is a prefix. It is the Jetsons’ dog. What it is emphatically NOT—and never has been—is a noun, or an acceptable name for a sports team. “Colts” is my favorite option—it gets the edge for echoing the team’s history. But if you want to keep honoring the space program, name them the Stars, or Comets, or Pilots … as long as it’s something that’s a NAME.