One of the new logos. On a black hat, this looks AWESOME.
I am no longer employed by the Omaha Royals. Instead, I now work for the Omaha Storm Chasers, and a lot of you are expecting me to rant about how much I hate that. And if I had written this at 4:16 this afternoon when I heard the news, that’s what this post may have been.
Maybe it’s the champagne talking, or maybe I’m gullible and easily swayed by confetti and flashy graphics, but…….
…I don’t hate it.
You know I wanted to keep being the Royals. In hindsight, I should have been less vocal about that since I’m on the payroll and all. But that team has been my life, and to some extent my identity, for my entire adult life. There’s some passion in this little heart.
But we’re not the Royals now; the people have spoken. The Omaha Storm Chasers…that is what the team is, so that is what I am.
The collection of ballplayers who will play at Werner Park* next season will be one of the most exciting the Omaha metro area has ever seen. Dayton Moore’s Process, if there really is one, will be laid out in front of our eyes. The more I think about that, the less I care that they won’t be called the O-Royals anymore. It’ll take some getting used to – our own Assistant GM, Rob Crain, mistakenly summoned us all for a group picture by asking for all ‘Omaha Royals’ employees to gather ’round. This is a change, and change is hard.
*Again, not that it officially matters, but I LOVE that Werner bought our park’s naming rights. They’ve been a big part of Triple-A baseball here, and the name ‘Werner Park’ rolls off the tongue quite nicely, doesn’t it?
But ultimately, this is still baseball. And quite frankly, it’s baseball with some kickass new branding. The colors – dark blue, gold and some black – are handsome, and I’m in love with the alt-home uniforms.
Again: I don’t love it, because I am a stubborn person and new things are scary. But I don’t hate it as much as I- and likely you – figured I would. As one season ticket holder put it, “it is what it is.” On April 15 when the Chasers take the field for the first time at Werner Park, all that will matter is that it is finally time for sweet, glorious baseball.
What do you think?
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Phil
November 16, 2010 at 5:02 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
as a KC Royals fan, I suppose I’m somewhat of an outsider, but did we not learn anything from the Golden Spikes “era”?
Minda Haas
November 16, 2010 at 4:39 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I think this is somewhat different from the change to the Golden Spikes, because the team is moving to a new park. I don’t know, though, as I wasn’t in Omaha or really aware of all the factors surrounding the name change in ’99.
I do not think the team will revert back, so hopefully nobody out there is holding their breath for that…
Dave
November 17, 2010 at 3:50 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Agreed. Golden Spikes was just like…wtf? out of the blue random. This is much more anticipated and branded and reasonable.
Flip
November 16, 2010 at 5:21 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Sorry, Werner Park may sound Triple-A, Storm Chasers is weak even for single-A.
Tony Haynes
November 16, 2010 at 11:49 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Aside from sticking with the O-Royals, perhaps I would have preferred the simpler “Omaha Storm”. But it is what it is ;-) I see the hat logo – are you planning to post pictures of the uni’s?
Minda Haas
November 16, 2010 at 4:40 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Dave posted some links below, or you can see logos and stuff at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.
Dave
November 16, 2010 at 12:43 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
The crowd response last night was overwhelmingly positive. The branding looks fantastic and I was surprised how quickly it won me over. Proud to be a fan of the Storm Chasers.
Minda Haas
November 16, 2010 at 4:41 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Yep. I talked to as many people as I could, and it was way more chipper than the crowds on Facebook, etc are making it seem. At the end of the day, baseball fans are still baseball fans, and will come out in April to see an amazing baseball team.
Dave
November 17, 2010 at 3:52 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
So true. My wife and I continue to shake our heads at the collective wisdom of the Facebook/Omaha World Herald populace.
Haters gon’ hate…sheep gon’ mate…and Billy Beane should have never written that book! – Joe Morgan.
Minda Haas
November 17, 2010 at 6:47 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
They’re fiery, and they’re passionate. These are not bad things. I just happen to not agree with the extreme anger that has popped up in some places, that’s all.
Dave
November 16, 2010 at 12:44 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Pics
http://www.theclinkroom.com/news/introducing-omaha-storm-chasers/comment-page-1/#comment-6482
http://goosejoak.blogspot.com/2010/11/omaha-royals-are-now-omaha-storm.html
http://stormchasers.milbstore.com/store.cfm?store_id=117
Nick’s Royals Bullets - Royals Authority
November 16, 2010 at 3:53 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
[…] the Omaha Storm Chasers. Yes, seriously. I expected to read Minda Haas ripping it apart, but she’s not. I’ll defer to her on this and accept […]
Happy Birthday Storm Chasers! » mindahaas.net
November 16, 2011 at 4:15 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
[…] 16: I had a great time at the ceremony, and didn’t hate the new name. (Hey, change is hard!) The collection of ballplayers who will play at Werner Park […]