NPR looks at naming cycling teams

[MattTuck]

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/its-all-cycling-team-name

We even get to hear sideburns pontificate about argyle.

[avalonracing]

I still believe that argyle is the slowest "color".

[tiretrax]

JV - so much about style.

[MattTuck]

JV aside, I did hear a plan a little while ago about having something similar to the football (soccer) leagues of Europe. There would be a certain amount of protour licenses and a certain amount of continental team licenses.

Those teams could locate in places and cultivate a fan base, and although sponsors might change, those teams would remain. The idea would be to move a few of the continental teams up each year and a few of the protour teams down, like in soccer.

I actually think it would be better for the sport and result in better sponsorships. If a team has an existing fan base and identifiable kit/presence, they're less likely to need to jump on the first sponsor when their previous one pulls out.

I didn't know that about team Blanco. I liked Rabobank, that team had a name I could pronounce. Even Euskadel Euskadi is ok.... caisse d'pargne... not so much ;)

[oldpotatoe]

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/its-all-cycling-team-name

We even get to hear sideburns pontificate about argyle.

http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers

No different. It's about advertising, why these companies throw $ at any 'team'. I doubt Trek would like their team to be called the the Napoleons or something(Waterloo, WI, get it?).

[redir]

I don't think it would work. I think fans are attracted to certain riders or a combination of certain riders on any given team and will just follow them from team to team. It's been that way forever so it's really kind of normal. In fact it pushes back here in the states with our ball sports. A lot of stadiums and arenas that used to have names like Shae Stadium named after some one who had great influence on baseball has gone on essentially to become Citi Field named after an organized crime syndicate :D But anyway most stadiums seem to have corporate naming rights when they never used to, maybe some day The Mets will become a thing of the past.