Club officials are closer to revealing finalists for a new Madison Southern League team name, with work taking place to narrow a broad field of suggested names.
The Mobile BayBears (Class AA: Southern League) are set to relocate to Madison, AL in time for the 2020 season, when they will begin play in a new ballpark constructed as part of the Town Madison development. Earlier this month, ground was broken for the new ballpark and club owner BallCorps, LLC launched a name the team contest.
Over 3,300 name suggestions were reportedly submitted after the contest began. Once an ongoing legal review process is complete, club officials anticipate being able to reveal a slate of finalists that will be put up for consideration in a fan vote. More from AL.com:
As many as 10 suggestions made by the community have been, according to team general partner Ralph Nelson, and are under legal review by Minor League Baseball attorneys.
Nelson said Thursday that 3,352 nickname suggestions were submitted by the north Alabama community with 890 unique proposals.
“There are some amazingly thoughtful names,” Nelson said. “It was fascinating, just a fascinating process. Those 8 to 10 names are in minor league baseball offices in St. Petersburg, Fla., and lawyers are running trademark checks on every single name.”
Once the trademark review is completed, the finalists will be posted on the team website – NorthAlabamaBaseball.com – and fans will be encouraged to vote for their favorites.
The first season that the new name would be in effect is 2020. Madison is located in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area, which has not had a professional baseball team of its own since the Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) played their final full season at Joe Davis Stadium in 2014. Ground was broken for the new Madison ballpark on Saturday, June 9.
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