Branding has been unveiled for the Fredericksburg Nationals (High A; Carolina League), as the former Potomac Nationals prepare to open a new ballpark in the Virginia city next season.
Under owner Art Silber, the franchise has been planning for its move to Fredericksburg. As part of that process, it has been expected that it would do away with the Potomac Nationals identity and switch to something that reflects its new locale, and it has officially gone through with those plans.
During an event on Saturday, club officials unveiled the name Fredericksburg Nationals. In making this move, the team refreshed its logos while keeping the Nationals name as a way to emphasize its connection and proximity to its parent club, the Washington Nationals. More from The Free-Lance Star:
Fredericksburg, meet your Nationals. The city’s incoming franchise finally unveiled its name on Saturday morning, opting for a blend of loyalty to the big-league club and localized touches like the Fredericksburg skyline and an axe/bat-wielding George Washington depicted in team logos.
Other potential monikers—like the Generals or Cannons—generated interest, but the Fredericksburg Nationals or “Fred Nats,” for short, emerged as the clear favorite in a name-the-team contest that solicited thousands of suggestions, said Seth Silber, team treasurer and the son of owner Art Silber.
“Mainly, that is what the folks wanted in the community,” Silber said. “There was a strong push for the Nationals. … It’s something we’re very proud of and people in the community are proud of. It speaks to them.”…
“This is Washington Nationals territory,” said Dan Simon, a Louisville-based graphic designer charged with designing the logos. “This is not a typical-minor league team. They’re right in the backyard of their parent club.”
The new Fredericksburg ballpark is being constructed in the Celebrate Virginia South development. The team revealed recently that it is planning for an April 23, 2020 opening.
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