From The Wizards E-mail newsletter:
Fort Wayne Wizards to Hold Re-Naming Contest
Team Gives Community Chance to Get Creative and Give SuggestionsThe Fort Wayne Wizards have announced that, as the team moves to the new Ballpark at Harrison Square this April, they may do so with a new name. Fans will have an opportunity to put their stamp on the future of baseball in Fort Wayne by submitting Team Name suggestions.
Beginning on Sunday June 15, fans can go online to HarrisonSquareFortWayne.com and suggest names for the team, one of which may be adopted when the team begins play at the new ballpark in April 2009. When the allotted name submission time has expired, team executives and industry professionals will review the submissions to determine the name and identity of the team starting with the 2009 season.
“2009 will begin a new era for baseball in the Fort Wayne area,” stated Jason Freier of Hardball Capital, the team’s ownership group. “This new downtown ballpark will be one of the best in all professional baseball and something the community will be proud to call their own. This team is a part of the community and we want the community to have a hand in establishing the identity of this team.”
“Numerous people have asked us about the name over the years and the inquiries have been more frequent since the new downtown ballpark was announced,” said Wizards’ General Manager Mike Nutter. “More and more we realized that a lot of our fans and partners would like to see a name that is more identifiably and uniquely ‘Fort Wayne’. If we do change, we would love to have a team name that connects with the community, represents some of the rich history and tradition of leadership and innovation that exemplifies Fort Wayne and that celebrates where we’ve been as a community as well as where we’re going in the future. We know our fans can be very creative and, with their help, we think we’ll come up with something great.”
Bragging rights over a new team name would not be the only benefit available to fans. The team will select one contest participant to receive a prize package that will include season tickets for the 2009 season, a shopping spree in the team store and the opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch at the new ballpark on Opening Day 2009.
Community members interested in making their suggestions, or simply learning more about the Harrison Square project, can visit HarrisonSquareFortWayne.com. Submissions are being accepted now through Monday, June 30th.
New Harrison Square website:
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