Official: Aeros Becoming Iowa Wild
Friday · Apr 19 · 2013 | 10:54 AM PDT
It is official now. Two decades of Houston Aeros hockey has come to an end. But their loss is the gain of hockey fans in Des Moines, Iowa. Yesterday, the Minnesota Wild received permission from the AHL's Board of Governors to relocate and rebrand the franchise, starting in 2013-14, the Iowa Wild.
It all came down to the club's inability to secure a new lease at their arena. But Houston is one of the biggest markets in the U.S. so I can't imagine they'll be without pro hockey for too long. For now, though, they are.
The press release made no mention of a timetable for the introduction of new logos and uniforms, but obviously they'll come before the fall. Sometime this summer I'd imagine. Definitely something to keep an eye on. (UPDATE) The Minnesota Wild haven't officially announced the renaming of the Aeros but the Minnesota Star-Tribune is reporting that right now.
Rocket hold off on becoming P.E.I. Islanders
In other rebranding news, the QMJHL's P.E.I. Rocket were supposed to officially unveil their new logos and uniforms on Thursday. They were to be renamed the P.E.I. Islanders for next season. However, the owners suddenly put the team up for sale, according to The Guardian, taking the rebrand off the table for now.
Unless a local group can come up with the money to keep the team on Prince Edward Island, it will be sold to a group planning to relocate to Sorel, Quebec, where they'd be rebranded as the Sorel Eperviers — a team that played there from 1968 to 1981.
Either way, this team will get a new look before the start of the 2013-14 season.
Thanks to Matt M. for the tip on the Rocket story.
Reader Comments (19)
Too Bad, one of the coolest hockey logos ever!! The team should be the Des Moines Aeros. The Iowa Wild is not a good sounding name,In fact it sounds awful.
Why can't they get their own name?
Say "Iowa Wild" ten times fast. Your mouth will be sore
Sad day... another AHL franchise loses the little identity it had left to become a boring generic clone of its NHL counterpart.
Where is the name "Iowa Wild" coming from? The press release didn't mention it at all.
I wonder if the people who chose the name "P.E.I. Islanders" ever actually read it out loud...
Top 10 logo in any sport. A sad day indeed.....
Ugh... I bet they're just going to piggyback on Minnesota's branding entirely. Boring.
I imagine the Minnesota Wild is doing it to try to expand their market to an area that doesn't have an NHL team. I get it, but laaaaaaame.
Glen: You're right, I forgot to include the link to the other story. The Minnesota Star-Tribune is reporting the name change.
For those wondering, Sorel Éperviers were basically a Chicago Blackhawks carbon copy branded hockey team from 1969-1981. I don't know if they will go that route and become the QMJHL's version of the the Portland Winterhawks or not, but IMO it'd be a dumb move if they did. A quick translation of Eperviers = Hawks or Sparrowhawks (depending on which translation service site you use).
RIP for one of the coolest logos in hockey.
the old team logo and name belongs to the franchise correct? theres little chance of seeing an aeros rebirth?
well that just plain sucks, both houston aeros (great team name and logo) being no more AND the iowa wild name, must have taken about 2 seconds to think of that name......
Where is the dogers jerseys the kings sported against the Jackets on Lasorda night?
What a truly awful thing. I hate that Houston is losing their team and trust there will be a new Aeros in short order.
I also hate the name Iowa Wild. There is nothing wild about Iowa. At least it's not as bad as the Iowa Chops, which made me ill it was so crappy. Think they are going to have a silhouette of a boar's head with pine trees, a moon and a stream in it?
I doubt that will be the case JEFFB. Word is the owner of the Toyota Center (Les Alexander) asked for a raise from 24k a game to 42k a game for the Aeros to play there. Being that it was too much for them, they will be playing in Des Moines for 10k a game. I think it's clear that Alexander wanted the Aeros out. For whatever the reason, I do not know.
The Iowa Wild official website is now up. I'm digging the logo!
http://www.iowawild.com/
And here's a pick of the new Iowa Wild Jersey.
https://twitter.com/IAWild/status/326371139402203138/photo/1
The logo has been revealed and is on AHL website
Just stumbled on what seems to be their logo, unless NBC made it up completely http://nbcprohockeytalk.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/iowa-wild.jpg?w=200