The Washington Football Team hopes to have a new name chosen by the middle of next year, team president Jason Wright said in his weekly column.
“At our current pace, we hope to have chosen a new name by the middle of next year. While we won’t be able to reveal that immediately, choosing the name is just part of the process.”
Re-branding is a long process. Choosing a name doesn’t necessarily mean the new name will be revealed publicly, Wright cites. The team will have to clear legal hurdles that include trademarking the new name and designing a logo and uniforms. The NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken took four years to launch. It took two years for the Los Angeles Rams to change their logo and uniforms.
“For example, let’s say we reveal our new name at some point before the beginning of the 2021 season without going through all the detailed design work of a new logo, creating merchandise, and clearing the legal hurdles to secure it all. Not only would that make for a trademarking headache, but it would also be an embarrassing and chaotic launch to what should be a proud and poignant moment for the franchise,” Wright wrote.
Wright attempted to shine some clarity to Washington fans about his comments last week that there was a “pretty good chance” the team name will remain the Washington Football Team through the 2021 season.
However, Wright promises fans “won’t have to go another season with uncertainty beyond 2021.”
