We have a slight rebranding for the former Rockland Boulders, as the independent New York Boulders will play under a new Frontier League affiliation for the 2020 season.
The Boulders were part of a 5-team move from the independent Can-Am League to the Frontier League. (Due to a lack of a lease, the Ottawa Champions are on hiatus for 2020.) Those five teams will comprise the majority of a Can-Am Division in 2020.
The reason for the rebranding? To broaden the team’s appeal throughout the region. Located on the west side of the Hudson River and technically part of the New York City MSA, Rockland County tends to be a little overlooked in the region. With the rebranding, the hope is that the team isn’t overlooked as well. From the Daily Voice:
“Rockland County is and will always be our home,” team President Shawn Reilly said. “We will always have an emotional connection to Rockland, but the reality is a large percentage of our fan base lives outside Rockland and across the metro New York market.
“The New York Boulders is a better representation of that diverse fan base and also gives fans of other Frontier League cities a better sense of where we are located,” Reilly added. “With the excitement of the new and better league, I believe this new name will allow us to engage even more fans throughout the area and attract more people to Rockland County and our games.”