Wild ride for NBL moniker
SUGGESTIONS to name Tasmania’s NBL team are pouring in to league headquarters, but two popular options almost certainly won’t be considered.
Since opening up the search for the state’s nickname a week ago, ahead of a team entering the competition for the 2021-22 season, more than 5000 options have been lodged at www.nbltas.com.au.
There have been plenty of weird and wonderful nominations put forward, including Pride, Titans, Warriors, Thylacines, Trailblazers, Timbers, Mavericks and the Brewers.
Other selections proposed have been Spirit, Mountaineers, Freeze, Thunder and Wild.
Two suggestions, Devils and Tigers, have also been nominated on multiple occasions but NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman said despite their popularity, they are unlikely to be chosen.
AFL
Tasmania — which ran its own public competition to name all of its football teams from juniors to seniors in 2018 — has trademarked Tasmania Devils, which is the proposed name of an AFL team from the state.
Both the men’s and women’s cricket sides are also well entrenched as the Tigers at first-class level.
“We’ve been delighted with the response so far and the range of names suggested by Tasmanians,” Mr Kestelman said.
“There is clearly a passion for the new team which will be Tasmania’s own.
“The campaign still has three weeks to go and we encourage everyone to put forward their suggestions and we then come up with a shortlist before announcing the name later this year.”
All Tasmanian residents can enter up to three suggestions and go in the running to win season tickets, a signed jersey and a chance to meet the players.