New names, same faces?

[BLAZE]

Hi! Our team rescently had to change our name due to our sponsor. The problem being, we were a well known team throughout New England, due to our name. For those teams who have been through this, how do you change your team name, but keep a similar reputation? We went from the Lego Maniacs to Team Jester. Any help would be appriciated.

[rachakate]

The team formally known as the Lego Maniacs?

[BLAZE]

Yes... FORMALLY known as. They still sponsor us, but not nearly as much as they used to. Our biggest sponsor is my school, Putnam. That's sad. Plus they sold the rights to the maniac, so we had to change our mascot and our name. It's sad.

[Jessica Boucher]

My suggestion? Shift as slightly as you can over the next few years - while keeping in line with your agreement with your old sponsor.

From how you're logged in, it looks like you were allowed to keep the team number. Although I like "Team Jester", that's such a huge shift that it might get lost in the shuffle.

I'm not saying lose the name, but market predominately using the team number. This is great because of the instant credibility it brings with being such a low number, while tying yourself back to your old identity without saying your old sponsor.

Also, if you can do anything similar to the color schematic (most importantly, the black shirts) you used to have without getting in trouble, do it, if only for this year. As years go on you can incorporate the name as well as your preferred color scheme, but focusing on the number and the colors will be enough of a link in most people's minds.

Good luck!

[Fixen]

96 isn't so hard to advertise...(I'm not going into that statement)

[Billfred]

I agree, shift toward the number.

In the meantime, is there anything preventing you from just being The Maniacs for a season or two? (LEGO Maniacs I can see--but Maniacs doesn't seem to be taken.)

[BLAZE]

We can't use maniacs and keep the symbol. Our biggest problem is coming up with a new symbol while not looking like the Techno-maniacs, we've played them before... Atlanta I think. NEWay, we would still use The Maniacs had not our mascot and symbol been sold by Lego Corp.

[Rich Kressly]

Add a motto/slogan like:
"Team 96: New Name. Same Attitude."

-put a little explanation on youe website under the slogan
-distribute that same information at comps / in your pit
-it'll be a chance to honor your old sponsor ans highlight the fact that the school district is your number one supporter.
-if you do it right, not only will people "get it", but judges will like the way you overcame a difficult situation, remained positive, and celebrated two partnerships.
-it's all in how you look at it.

I did like the old mascot though.

Good Luck

[KathieK]

RAGE has had two team numbers and three names. Each year there will be rookies who meet you as "Team Jester" and after four years, your old name will become part of the FIRST history books.

[BLAZE]

You know, you're right. Eventually, people will know Team 96 as the Jesters.... Even some of the older teams.We still have a few bugs to work out, but keep them suggestion coming. They've helped us in more ways than you know! Thanks Guys!

[JudyVandy]

We recently went from WATTNESS to CHUCK 84. For us, this was relatively painless. We just combined our robot's name, which is relatively well known in our general part of the US, with our team number and it seems to be working. Also, we started talking about and presenting ourselves as Chuck 84 several years before we made the 'official' change.

[BLAZE]

The change of name came as a suprise to us. We had little idea of the change, though we did have hints for years now.... Any one who remebered the Lego Maniacs had to have been in love with the collectable keychains. That probably was the biggest thing for us. This year is more of the Mardi Gras. I hope teams in Arizona like Mardi Gras, because we're coming to ya!!!!! Team 96, Team Jester is headed to The Arizona Regional this year.... sorry to all teams going to the UTC regional, you won't see us unless you're going to Battlecry at WPI this year. by the way, good luck to you Chuck 84, I like it! Have a great year everybody!!!

[BLAZE]

We kept the color, but couldn't keep the black shirts. We have Kelly Green shirts with black lettering and symbols. We look kinda like Mardi Gras in what we're giving out and in spirit, but we have the same attitudes and people. Keeping our number is a big plus... but we wanted to change I guess. I know a lot of people will be disappointed this year because of the lack of lego give outs, but what can you do... Never mind the fact we're going to a whole new territory for our team, Arizona. New England probabley won't see us much this year, so our rep. probably doesn't matter much where we're going... Still, it would be nice to keep our spirit Reputation alive, so teams don't think we died or something. Thanks for your help, if you come up with any more suggestions, please send them along. They are appreciated!