Two new National Lacrosse League clubs, one an expansion, one a relocation, for the 2019-20 season unveiled their new looks at separate events last month.
Starting with the expansion team, the New York Riptide unveiled their inaugural identity at NYCB Live before the final of the indoor New York Open ATP World Tour Tennis Tournament.
The name was chosen as the result of a name-the-team contest, out of hundreds of submitted suggestions, “Riptide” was first chosen as a finalist before taking a popular vote held between the carefully curated choices.
The expansion Riptide showed off their inaugural identity right before the final of the New York Open Tennis Tournament. The franchise had asked their fans to submit potential names and Riptide was one of the most popular out of hundreds of suggestions. The team then narrowed the list and put it back to the fans as a survey and Riptide was a clear favourite.
“The fans spoke, and the overwhelming choice was New York Riptide,” said Gary Fuhrman, a managing partner of the club, at the unveiling. “We are excited to give the greatest lacrosse fans in the world, a fresh, new brand for professional lacrosse. The name Riptide signifies the unbridled strength of ocean currents, an unstoppable force of nature inextricably linked with Long Island.”
With a logo which features a lacrosse stick in a swirl of water and a colour scheme of navy blue, teal, orange, and white, you’d be forgiven for thinking of the “fish sticks” era of the New York Islanders franchise. Of course, since the team will be playing out of the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum, the home of the Isles during the aforementioned time period, it seems very fitting.
Moving up the coast to Nova Scotia, we meet the Halifax Thunderbirds, who are officially the relocated Rochester Knighthawks. Important to note that the Knighthawks were immediately reborn as an expansion franchise under a new ownership group and taking place in an expansion draft to re-fill the roster. They’re Washington Senators-ing it!
The Thunderbirds unveiled their identity after a traditional First Nations smudging ceremony at the Nova Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The name was chosen by owner Curt Styres, who said he was inspired upon seeing a special custom lacrosse stick which had been made from a tree that got struck by lightning.
Halifax’s logo features a bird head with a First Nation’s headdress which transitions into two lightning bolts. The team uniforms will be purple and orange.
Both the Riptide and Thunderbirds will make their on-turf debut this winter when the 2020 NLL season kicks off in December 2019.
National Lacrosse League Team Logos and History
