Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

[IthacaMatt]

You're right, they can be the Mets. And I'm happy that they appear to be staying put, at least in the near future. However, I will never ever purchase any Syracuse Mets apparel, and I bet there are a lot of other fans who think that same way. Maybe that will be cancelled out by Mets fans that purchase more than they would otherwise, I don't know.

I think there are a pretty decent number of Mets fans in Syracuse. I see them around town and know several. They like the Mets either because they hate the Yankees, and/or they fell in love with the Gooden/Strawberry/Hernandez/Carter teams.

 

[cuse10]

There's nothing Metropolitan about Syracuse. I'm not a fan of the wacky names to "draw the younger crowd", but I'd like to see something other than Mets. Binghamton is now the Rumble Ponies.

 

[sutomcat]

I think there are a pretty decent number of Mets fans in Syracuse. I see them around town and know several. They like the Mets either because they hate the Yankees, and/or they fell in love with the Gooden/Strawberry/Hernandez/Carter teams.

There are lots of other reasons people are Mets fans than those...

 

[Fly Rodder]

I'm not sure that's accurate, unless it's a newer rule and the Pawtucket Red Sox and Oklahoma City Dodgers (named as such in 2015) were grandfathered in. There are also a number of AA and A teams that use the parent team's name (Blue Jays, Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Red Sox, Giants, Mets, etc.).

I can't find it. Sorry. I've read it a couple of times with regards to Yankees' minor league affiliates (namely the Railriders and Tampa Tarpons), but there might be some confusion as to whether it is MLB policy or a Yankees policy. Supposedly, it's not a hard and fast rule, but "they" have been encouraging teams to use something different than the parent club.

 

[IthacaMatt]

There are lots of other reasons people are Mets fans than those...

OK, I remember the Tom Seaver era Mets. Do you count yourself among their fans?

 

[OttoMets]

This was the most poorly-kept secret in Central New York, so I'm glad they're finally making it official.

For the record, I wish they'd have stuck with the Chiefs name for tradition's sake, but money talks. And they're not going to be shy about breaking out Chiefs and Salt Potatoes throwbacks here and there, from what I understand.

 

[SUOrange44]

If it is the Mets...so be it. They bought the team and is expected to stay here through 2043. Syracuse is one of if not the smallest market to have a AAA team. The fans are in no place to bitch...or else in 5-8 years we'll be playing Altoona and Reading.

Obviously glad for anything that keeps them in town. That being said I think it is a horrible move from a branding/sales and potentially an identity perspective if they go with Syracuse Mets.

There is immediate confusion to some extent with the Big League club. Many fans may well be immediately put off as I find it hard to believe that Yankee fans, Red Sox fans, Phillie fans, etc. will want to walk around with Mets paraphernalia particularly if the word mark is similar.

One of the great things about Minor League baseball is the opportunity to be a little out of the norm and having the chance to reflect the locality. My opinion would be that this would be a big opportunity missed. Locals who care enough to be Mets fans or enjoy Minor League Baseball will know they are a Mets affiliate. The opportunity to have a really cool new nickname and splash a little with a great logo will be missed.

These things can be hot commodities even outside the area if the branding and logo is right. Baseball America does a best logo contest annually. I am confident the name Mets or something similar in any way will finish at the bottom.

They also miss out on an opportunity to have some excitement. Name that team contests turn some eyes to the product.

We have such a great area we live in with so much history. So many names we could come up with...If it is the Syracuse Mets I just think it is a mistake.

SUOrange44

 

[kingtidge]

If it's not "Syracuse China Shop Bulls" then it's a fail...

 

[MaxwellCuse]

Well, it is the Mets for better or worse. I think it is for the better for the reasons enumerated by TexanMark. Plus, the Mets are willing to settle for rehabbing the stadium rather than a complete rebuild in a more desirable location. Go Mets!! (Syracuse, that is)

 

[skurey]

How many people actually bought Chiefs gear?

 

[TexanMark]

How many people actually bought Chiefs gear?

Mostly hardcore Chiefs fans and Minor League baseball fans. I never owned any. However, I gave the Chiefs my Syracuse Thurmon Munson Basseball Bat to their collection. He played with the Chiefs for about 6 weeks

 

[Frozen]

Syracuse Leaf Rakers.

 

[sutomcat]

OK, I remember the Tom Seaver era Mets. Do you count yourself among their fans?

I am one of many local Met fans. We are here to say that you should not speak for us!

 

[TexanMark]

New Syracuse Mets fans...your first lesson

Mets Fans: When is it okay to root for the New York Yankees?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Dumb changing the name. As a Yankee fan I’ll never buy anything with Mets on it.

 

[Cusefan0307]

How many people actually bought Chiefs gear?

I would’ve bought salt potatoes gear.

 

[creatorsgam]

Mostly hardcore Chiefs fans and Minor League baseball fans. I never owned any. However, I gave the Chiefs my Syracuse Thurmon Munson Basseball Bat to their collection. He played with the Chiefs for about 6 weeks

Really? You are a better man than I.

Respect.

 

[storange]

Really? You are a better man than I.

Respect.

That could have brought some $$$$s at sports memorabilia trade shows. I possessed Some Bobby Orr rookie cards, my mother threw out. I priced them between 400 and 800 dollars a piece.

 

[creatorsgam]

That could have brought some $$$$s at sports memorabilia trade shows. I possessed Some Bobby Orr rookie cards, my mother threw out. I priced them between 400 and 800 dollars a piece.

My father laments, to this day, baseball cards that my grandmother discarded. He went away to Vietnam and she cleaned them out. Quite the family dynamic we had. He still hasn’t gotten over it, and he is 71 years old.

And I’ll be honest, those would have been passed down to me, and from me to my children. I haven’t reconciled with it either.

 

[TexanMark]

The bat was a freebie give away for Bat day. It said Thurmon Munson, Syracuse Chiefs. It was never signed by Thurmon.

Of course, as a kid it was game used in Little League so really not super valuable...better for the Chiefs to have it.

 

[FrancoPizza]

So many names we could come up with...If it is the Syracuse Mets I just think it is a mistake.

SUOrange44

And the Sky Chiefs was somehow reflective of our rich Native American aviation history?

 

[longtimefan]

And the Sky Chiefs was somehow reflective of our rich Native American aviation history?

Someone admitted the mistake, and went back to the classic "Chiefs". Sorta like the New Coke fiasco.

 

[SUOrange44]

And the Sky Chiefs was somehow reflective of our rich Native American aviation history?

Um...no. Plus I never harkened back to that either. At the very least, that was an attempt there to preserve some historical aspect of Syracuse minor league baseball (I.e. the Chiefs name) with a politically correct bubble wrap.

I also would not have kept Chiefs either. Fresh chance to change everything and give the club something unique and new. Instead they went in a direction that automatically carved out a section of the population who will not purchase new garb because of the word mark. There is a reason that using the name of the major league club is not trendy and the choice made for teams undergoing brand and affiliate changes.

SUOrange44

 

[OrangeXtreme]

And the Sky Chiefs was somehow reflective of our rich Native American aviation history?

It was reflective of bad airline food.

 

[dooey139]

Even more apartments on the way. Gotta say cleaning up that corner of downtown will be nice though.

Downtown Syracuse's Jefferson Center to be redeveloped with apartments