billyfly
01-21-2009, 11:25 AM
Remember the debate about our beloved footy team's name? From TorStar 2007 April:
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/199765
A couple of weeks ago, a headline published in the Star's Sports section referred to our new soccer club as "FC." Several readers called in to complain about the shortening of the club's full name.
Then a couple of days ago, the team waded into the name game, sending out a list of dos and don'ts to the media. Their memo read in part:
"In trying to establish our name as a team in our market, as well as in the U.S. and to provide clarity for our fans, we would very much appreciate your assistance with the following. When referring to the team please use "Toronto FC" or "TFC" instead of "The FC", or "The Toronto FC." As well, when referring to our home stadium, please pronounce it "Bee-MO" Field, instead of "B-M-O" Field."
First off, I don't like any of those choices. I call the club FC – the same name that got our headline writers called out. By the way, good luck trying to get the editors to use nine letters in a headline where two will do.
The whole issue prompted some debate back at the office that got me thinking about what the fans of this club will end up calling it. Imagine, if you will, two guys talking the game over in a bar.
"Hey Al, you catch Toronto FC last night?"
That sounds wrong.
"Hey Al, you catch TFC last night?"
Sounds like a strain of malaria. Or maybe a chicken sandwich.
"Hey Al, you catch FC last night?"
That's a lot more natural.
"Toronto FC" is sports announcer talk. Whenever possible, fans are going to pare the team name down to a maximum of two syllables.
Aside from its ungracious roll off the tongue, TFC fails on the syllable count.
I realize the chattering classes on the web have embraced it already. But I wonder if the three-letter acronym is the one they use when they're talking, not writing, about the team.
I suspect that the club's owners, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, think the acronym FC is too generic, referring as it potentially does to every "Football Club" on the planet. But there is only one Football Club in Major League Soccer: Toronto (if we're going to get pedantic about it – and I am for the sake of argument – the "F" in FC Dallas stands for Futbol).
Let's start treating Major League Soccer as if it's the only league that matters, rather than trying to grow it in the enormous shadow of bigger, better European leagues. The first step is not stopping to bother if a team's name sounds very like a dozen other big clubs abroad.
There are countless clubs called United and City in England. Nevertheless, no fan living in Manchester would ever be in any doubt about who "United" refers to (Manchester United) or which club you mean when you say "City" (Manchester City). That sort of cockiness is part of what made those sides great.
By the same token, nobody who's already aware of MLS in this city is going to be confused by "FC."
Over time, a nickname will emerge organically. My money is on FC. Whatever it is, let's leave the corporate interests in the announcer's booth.
As for the instructions regarding BMO Field and its pronunciation, one is reminded of the last big league sports complex MLSE built in Toronto.
At the time of its opening, the media were asked to refer to the home of the Leafs and the Raptors as the Air Canada Centre, rather than the ACC. We know how that worked out.
A team name is the team's choice. The owners pay the salaries, so they can call it whatever they like. They can plaster it all over club merchandise and press releases until kingdom come. But the name used in the stands and in the street – the real nickname – is for the fans alone to decide.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/199765
A couple of weeks ago, a headline published in the Star's Sports section referred to our new soccer club as "FC." Several readers called in to complain about the shortening of the club's full name.
Then a couple of days ago, the team waded into the name game, sending out a list of dos and don'ts to the media. Their memo read in part:
"In trying to establish our name as a team in our market, as well as in the U.S. and to provide clarity for our fans, we would very much appreciate your assistance with the following. When referring to the team please use "Toronto FC" or "TFC" instead of "The FC", or "The Toronto FC." As well, when referring to our home stadium, please pronounce it "Bee-MO" Field, instead of "B-M-O" Field."
First off, I don't like any of those choices. I call the club FC – the same name that got our headline writers called out. By the way, good luck trying to get the editors to use nine letters in a headline where two will do.
The whole issue prompted some debate back at the office that got me thinking about what the fans of this club will end up calling it. Imagine, if you will, two guys talking the game over in a bar.
"Hey Al, you catch Toronto FC last night?"
That sounds wrong.
"Hey Al, you catch TFC last night?"
Sounds like a strain of malaria. Or maybe a chicken sandwich.
"Hey Al, you catch FC last night?"
That's a lot more natural.
"Toronto FC" is sports announcer talk. Whenever possible, fans are going to pare the team name down to a maximum of two syllables.
Aside from its ungracious roll off the tongue, TFC fails on the syllable count.
I realize the chattering classes on the web have embraced it already. But I wonder if the three-letter acronym is the one they use when they're talking, not writing, about the team.
I suspect that the club's owners, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, think the acronym FC is too generic, referring as it potentially does to every "Football Club" on the planet. But there is only one Football Club in Major League Soccer: Toronto (if we're going to get pedantic about it – and I am for the sake of argument – the "F" in FC Dallas stands for Futbol).
Let's start treating Major League Soccer as if it's the only league that matters, rather than trying to grow it in the enormous shadow of bigger, better European leagues. The first step is not stopping to bother if a team's name sounds very like a dozen other big clubs abroad.
There are countless clubs called United and City in England. Nevertheless, no fan living in Manchester would ever be in any doubt about who "United" refers to (Manchester United) or which club you mean when you say "City" (Manchester City). That sort of cockiness is part of what made those sides great.
By the same token, nobody who's already aware of MLS in this city is going to be confused by "FC."
Over time, a nickname will emerge organically. My money is on FC. Whatever it is, let's leave the corporate interests in the announcer's booth.
As for the instructions regarding BMO Field and its pronunciation, one is reminded of the last big league sports complex MLSE built in Toronto.
At the time of its opening, the media were asked to refer to the home of the Leafs and the Raptors as the Air Canada Centre, rather than the ACC. We know how that worked out.
A team name is the team's choice. The owners pay the salaries, so they can call it whatever they like. They can plaster it all over club merchandise and press releases until kingdom come. But the name used in the stands and in the street – the real nickname – is for the fans alone to decide.