CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS
Fri 29-Aug-1997

CC hockey team narrows names to 4 finalists

Puckish fans deliver Ice Rays, Blue Ghosts, Bayskates, Ice Breakers

By MARK BUTTON

Caller-Times

Now that the puck has stopped here, Corpus Christi's new minor-league hockey team needs a name.

Four finalists for the team's name will be announced by team officials today. Those finalists are: Ice Rays, Blue Ghosts, Bayskates and Ice Breakers.

In conjunction with the franchise, the Caller-Times conducted a name-the-team contest to narrow the choices to this point. According to those involved with the contest, public response was overwhelming. Nearly 1,000 entries were received by Vice President of Research and Promotion for the Caller-Times Beverly Barnum, who oversaw the contest.

``Relative to other contests we've held, the showing for the name-the-team contest was phenomenal,'' Barnum said. ``This indicates to me that there is a high interest in the team.''

While the four finalists have team officials intrigued and excited, they did feel the unfortunate sting of legal trademarking.

One of the most popular entries that does not appear as a finalist was Stingrays. Turns out this name will not be an option because an International Hockey League team in South Carolina owns the rights to the name. Several other suggestions were snuffed in similar fashion.

``We were disappointed that a number of the names were protected by other sports teams,'' said Rick Brezer, part of the team's ownership group. ``It seemed like each and every one of our favorites are protected.''

Other protected yet popular suggestions included Hurricanes, Surf Dogs and Wind Jammers.

Still, the mood is positive at the team headquarters. Coach Taylor Hall said he liked all of the names and he hoped that one of the four will jump out at the public.

``The ultimate decision will be made by a committee comprised of league marketing people and the ownership group,'' Hall said. ``But we're hoping that the people of Corpus Christi will support one of the four so much that the decision by the committee will be a formality.

``We want the public to name the team, because it is the city's team.''

Three Caller-Times staff members, including Barnum, poured through the hundreds of mailed, e-mailed, faxed, and hand-delivered entries. They then provided Scott Brower, director of ticketing, and Jay Johnson, director of events, with a list of several suggested names. Brower and Johnson then handed the names over to the team's attorneys, who researched which of the suggested names were and were not trademarked. After weeding out the protected names, the four finalists were chosen by the team's marketing group.

From here, the team still wants the public's input. The Caller-Times has set up a telephone poll for people to call and vote for one of the finalists. To vote, call 886-4848, select category 6263, then press 1 for Ice Rays, 2 for Blue Ghosts, 3 for Bayskates or 4 for Ice Breakers.

The results of this poll will again be handed over to the team for consideration. The committee will then make a decision based on the public's response. Hall said the team wants to be in a position to unveil the name and the team logo by mid-September.

Although a date has not been set officially, there will be a press conference for the unveiling of the name and the logo. The winner of the name-the-team contest will be honored at that time and will receive his or her season tickets.

On Oct. 4, the team is hosting a season ticket holders kickoff party at Memorial Coliseum, where the team's home games will be played. Those who have made a deposit for season tickets will be able to hand-pick their seats and formally meet the team.

Brower said he was pleasantly surprised by the public's support of the team, and its interest in naming it.

``The whole thing has taken us by storm,'' he said. ``When we announced the name-the-team contest, we never imagined such a huge response. People were running up to our office at a quarter to midnight to beat the deadline. The response was wonderful.''

Some of the more ``colorful'' names that didn't quite make the grade included the Fish Stix, the Puckheads, and the Puckaneers. The team will begin play in the Western Professional Hockey League in the fall of 1998.

The four finalists were chosen from among more than 1,000 entries.

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