The Lake Erie Monsters of Cleveland
Saturday · Sep 29 · 2012 | 12:05 PM PDT
The AHL's Lake Erie Monsters want you to know that they play in Cleveland, Ohio. So much so, in fact, that they've added the city's name to their logo. It's a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim kind of situation we have here in the minors now.
By all accounts, the team name has not changed. They're still the Lake Erie Monsters, but on Sept. 18, they unveiled new jerseys featuring a revised crest — Cleveland has been added to the bottom of the logo. The revised primary mark is now in use on the team's online outlets as well.
The Monsters logo, which has been with the team since the original launch in 2007, will now include “Cleveland” written into it below the “Monsters” wordmark. Moving forward, this logo will be seen on all uniforms, including home, road and alternate. The home white jerseys have also been revised for the 2012-13 season.
Aside from the crest, the road jersey isn't changing. And the alternate uniform is also getting the updated design.
Now Cleveland, help me out here. This logo revision just seems silly. What's really going on here? It seems like the Monsters are spending a lot of marketing dollars just to "show their commitment" to their town. There has to be another reason, right?
Reader Comments (14)
So you are telling me you knew where the Lake Erie Monsters are located when you were first hearing about the team? The Monsters serve a far-reaching geographic region and wanted to distance themselves from the terribly run Cleveland Barons circa 2001 to 06. The Monsters are also in a city with not 1 or 2 major league teams, but 3. They are creating an identity within an already profitable and successful former identity which is prevelant in their rise in attendance year after year to being number 3 in the league. A minor, but necessary change if you knew anything about the landscape of Cleveland sports and Cleveland pride....
At least they're not the Lake Erie Monsters of Cleveland.....
Why not just Cleveland Monsters. or Cleveland Lake Monsters. Similar to the Lowell Lock Monsters
Honestly I wasnt sure where the team was located before this. Being from Pittsburgh which is right below Erie, I thought the team might have been from the city of Erie which is in PA. Maybe the Erie Otters should be the "Erie City Otters"...JK!
Usually when a team adds geographic markings to their logo and/or merchandise it's to attract sales from those seeking to rep their city/state/whathaveyou. I have a hard time imagining this logo change will boost sales to that demographic… unless of course each jersey and hat comes with a free magnifying glass.
I had no idea the team was actually from Cleveland and not Northwestern PA. This might be because I'm a Pennsylvania myself, but it does help clarify since they don't use the actual name of the city in their name.
Makes sense. Helps the casual sports fan know where the team is located. Might help sell a few tickets when out off towners are in Cleveland and can associate the Monsters with the city...Lake Erie is pretty big.
I think it's a great idea. I had no idea where this team was based out of. Lake Eerie is pretty big, now knowing they're from Cleveland makes a lot more sense.
horrible jersey's
As a Clevelander, I understood the myth behind the naming of the team. Now adding Cleveland to the crest puts emphasis to the fact that Cleveland (much to my dismay) will forever be a minor league hockey town. I also have to disagree with an earlier post...I used to work with (not for) the most recent incarnation of the Barons and they organization was run correctly....when they were allowed to run. San Jose didn't care where as Dan Gilbert does. I know he want to put Cleveland back on the map, but this was an unnecessary addition.
Just so everyone knows the home jersey was changed, color schemes on there are now different. If you are pointing out facts about merchandise sales, having a home jersey changed will inevitably lead to more sales...
Also the Cleveland Barons were horribly run Jim, how can you say otherwise? The AHL Barons never drew more than 4,200 in a city with a passionate hockey history. NOBODY here ever talks about the Cleveland Barons of 01-06, always the Lumberjacks or the old Barons. Whenever anyone talks about the 01-06 Barons there is always a snicker or a "who were they?" Monsters have been in Cleveland just as long and have double the attendance...
Honestly, considering how much real estate there is on the shores of Lake Erie, I didn't know the Lake Erie Monsters were in Cleveland. Being in New York myself, I thought they were somewhere on this side of the lake...This actually clarifies things quite a bit. Also agree with above, this gives another option to proud Cleve-Landers who want to represent the city without wearing Chief Wahoo or a dog mask.
Cleveland Lake Monsters would have worked better, but Lake Erie Monster of Cleveland? Way too long of a name. This is like the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim". Just, no. Shorter is sweeter.
I know it's practically unnoticeable, but that new home jersey is actually different than that which they'd been wearing since '07. It's all in the arms. They've swapped the "wine" and white colored panels with each other.