https://www.milb.com/oklahoma-city/news/okc-brand-identity-transition


OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City’s Triple-A baseball team will undergo a brand identity transition as the organization develops a fresh and local team name.

Effective immediately through the 2024 baseball season, the team will operate under the temporary name of the Oklahoma City Baseball Club. Following the conclusion of the 2024 baseball season, team officials will unveil a new permanent identity.

Although the organization will no longer be known as the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the team will proudly remain the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate under the current Professional Development League license.

“For the last nine years, it has been an honor and a privilege to share one of the most iconic brands in all of professional sports,” said Oklahoma City Baseball Club President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “However, we’re excited this new era affords us the opportunity to strengthen our connection to our community and reinforce that we are Oklahoma City’s team.”

Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes added, “Our Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City has been an incredible partner over the last nine seasons and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them for many years to come.”

The process to develop the team’s new permanent identity is already underway, with the organization previously hosting a series of meetings and focus groups with key community leaders and stakeholders to receive input.

While the team cultivates a new permanent identity, it will spend the 2024 season celebrating the franchise’s history, which has been continuous since 1962. During every Sunday home game, the team will wear its City Celebration jerseys and hats, which were introduced in 2023 in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. During every Thursday home game, the team will wear refreshed Oklahoma City 89ers jerseys and hats. Other theme nights scheduled for the 2024 season will be announced at a later date.

New team merchandise is now available at the Team Store at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and online at okcbaseball.milbstore.com.

The OKC Baseball Club will play its first home game of the 2024 season on Tuesday, April 2. Season ticket packages and group outings are currently on sale, with single-game tickets going on sale in February. For more information, please call (405) 218-2182 or visit okcbaseball.com.

Is this weird? This feels weird.

i am actually excited about this. i still wear my OKC Basketball Team hats and t-shirts..... i will totally get generic OKC Baseball Club gear!

Nice! Though I wonder if this presages a change in affiliation, if the LA Dodgers would prefer to have their AAA team a bit closer to home.

Is this weird? This feels weird.

I think it's very weird. Just like the "Washington Football Team".
If you're going to change names pick a name and go with it.

Is this weird? This feels weird.

I get the rebrand. What I don't understand is the one-year temporary rebrand to OKC Baseball Club. Why not just go by Dodgers for one more year??

I really like the throwback 89ers logo with the mustache guy.

This is kind of strange. My vote would be to switch back to the 89ers and just keep that permanently. The branding is cool and there are a lot of people who love that name/brand.

89’ers are alive again- I hope.

Nice! Though I wonder if this presages a change in affiliation, if the LA Dodgers would prefer to have their AAA team a bit closer to home.

i think it's probably more just from a branding perspective. they were having to share their copyright with their AAA team. that is why most went away from same name branding unless they specifically own and operate the affiliate team. such as the Dallas Stars and the Texas Stars of the AHL. the Dallas Stars management group owns the Texas Stars, so okay sharing the copyright. the NHL went through teams having their minor leagues change names back in the mid 2000's specifically for this purpose as well. to better protect copyright

Of note- the Okc Dodgers were the only team to share the same team name as their parent club in the Pacific Coast League. A name change makes sense.

I get the rebrand. What I don't understand is the one-year temporary rebrand to OKC Baseball Club. Why not just go by Dodgers for one more year??

Absolutely. Makes no sense to me.

Within an 12-year stretch, the team will have had FOUR different names.

Redhawks (last used in 2014), Dodgers (2015-2023), "OKC Baseball Club" (2024) + the new name (2025 >)

I like the OKC Slodgers as a name.

The Dodgers are such a recognized brand though, I don't mind sharing it with the big club and have always liked the branding! I proudly wear my OKC hat--love that primary, very classic interlocking OKC logo--need to go get me more while they are clearing them out! Other than Dodgers, the only name I would rather have would be the 89ers.

Looks like some of the new "Oklahoma City Baseball Club" gear is already out: https://okcbaseball.milbstore.com/collections/all-caps?sort_by=created-descending

The Dodgers are such a recognized brand though, I don't mind sharing it with the big club and have always liked the branding! I proudly wear my OKC hat--love that primary, very classic interlocking OKC logo--need to go get me more while they are clearing them out! Other than Dodgers, the only name I would rather have would be the 89ers.

Looks like some of the new "Oklahoma City Baseball Club" gear is already out: https://okcbaseball.milbstore.com/collections/all-caps?sort_by=created-descending

yes. but is it worth it for the Dodgers to share that copyright with us? it is such a recognized brand. i think that is why they want it back fully

Seems to me that every 10-15 years MLB gets a different set of consultants who advise them on brand value. And they flip-flop on teams names. Some years it was the Tidewater Mets and some years it was the Tidewater Tides. Columbus Clippers or Columbus Yankees.

Or-after the Dodgers sold the OKC team to Mandalay (or whomever owns them now) they had a 3 year right to keep using the Dodgers name, and it expired without a renegotiation. At the last minute. Like now.

Or-The Dodgers decided the Ohtani deal is going to make the Dodgers brand so dominant in Japan that using it at the minor league level is a negative.

Nice! Though I wonder if this presages a change in affiliation, if the LA Dodgers would prefer to have their AAA team a bit closer to home.

locked in until at least 2030

Or-The Dodgers decided the Ohtani deal is going to make the Dodgers brand so dominant in Japan that using it at the minor league level is a negative.

i think this is the most likely

Let's name them the "Lightning" so we can have Thunder and Lightning.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Let's name them the "Lightning" so we can have Thunder and Lightning.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

No, no, you're on to something.

Let's name them the "Lightning" so we can have Thunder and Lightning.

Sorry, couldn't resist.Very corny. But I like it!

One of the folks who works for me suggested Flycatchers. I...actually sorta love it.

I have some more insight on this move when I came back from lunch and bumped into the president and vice president of the team, both of whom I've known and worked closely with for years. I think I know them well enough to spot if they were just putting on a brave face, but I came away convinced that they are pretty excited about this change.

They reiterated that they continue to have an excellent relationship with the parent club, and that they enjoyed a really nice shot in the arm relative to attendance and merch when they originally went to the Dodgers name. But reminded me that there have been ownership changes for both teams in the past two years; when the name change happened last time the ownership of both teams had substantial overlap. They said that at the end of the day each club preferred to fully control its own branding, and that especially for the OKC club there were many limitations placed on the way they used their branding. Both seemed pretty psyched to be taking on this change, and I came away convinced that this is a really good move for the team.

Anything besides 89ers will be a disappointment to me.

I saw someone on reddit mention the Flycatchers name. It's not terrible, but I'd prefer they'd go back with either 89ers or Redhawks.

My first thought about Flycatchers is a bit of rolling of the eyes because does everything have to be about the scissortail (why no rose rocks?! lol), but then thinking on it more maybe if everything (ish) is scissortail something maybe that really starts to work for us in some synergistic kind of way.

"Thunder" and "Lightning" is cute, but its not like this team is really on equal terms with an NBA team and I also don't quite like "Lightning" by itself (but what do I know I don't think I originally really liked "Thunder" as a thing either).

'89ers has sentimental value, of course, and I wouldn't be sad if it were chosen. But I don't think its a requirement and part of me thinks it would be better to have something that Looks Ahead. I have mixed feelings about the Land Run in general.

Whatever it ends up being, mainly I hope it sticks around for a long time. From a branding perspective a new name feels like a new team (I think, anyway, I'm sure there have been studies and those may absolutely prove me wrong) so I think its better to finally have something we can really rally around for the long haul. Unless it sucks of course, ha.

And, of course, I should acknowledge I have no ideas of my own and my opinions surely matter less than nothing. I'm just munching popcorn and enjoying the speculation.

My vote is 89ers (but no one cares lol)

My vote is 89ers (but no one cares lol)

Time for a poll? I like the complimentry "Lightning"

Did anyone see the new logos? It is so bleah except for the mustache guy logo, I thought that was good, the worst logos is the 405 area code and the OKLA logo, I thought that is unnecessary to have an area code as the logo and the OKLA logo does not look great either and the main logo looks like a 5 year old designed it and is too kiddy

My vote is 89ers (but no one cares lol)

If you see the new logos, they have the 89ers on it

Did anyone see the new logos? It is so bleah except for the mustache guy logo, I thought that was good, the worst logos is the 405 area code and the OKLA logo, I thought that is unnecessary to have an area code as the logo and the OKLA logo does not look great either and the main logo looks like a 5 year old designed it and is too kiddy

These are temporary.

89’ers are alive again- I hope.

I hope . . .

Time for a poll? I like the complimentry "Lightning"

heck yeah! Let’s gets some names going and I’ll make one if no one else does.

89ers
Lightening
Redhawks

What else does everyone want to see on it?

I saw someone on reddit mention the Flycatchers name. It's not terrible, but I'd prefer they'd go back with either 89ers or Redhawks.

Oh Gawd no! Thats like the Bugeaters ......

The mustache man is one of the logos from the 80’s. Those that are old enough or lived here remember him well. I welcome his return along with the old 89ers phrase “Good time baseball”!

Wonder what triggered an immediate rebrand and why they had to do it now?

I'd vote for 89'ers.
Redhawks had a ring to it, as well. I didn't mind it.
I NEVER got used to calling them the Dodgers. We are a major league city now. No need to take someone else's name.

If you see the new logos, they have the 89ers on it

they will be the 89ers at every thursday home game this season

i like flycatchers because of the obvious pun for catching fly balls. but then again, my favorite baseball team logo and mascot is the Montgomery Biscuits.

I have really liked the connection with the Dodgers and even the supportive branding. As so many minor league teams are going with relatively cheesy names, this is a opportunity to join in the fun. Some of the other team names are hilarious. Amarillo Sod Poodles, with a prairie dog as the mascot.

Here's a link to see some of the others. https://www.milb.com/about/teams

Hopefully they go with a fun name (even the 89ers) could be good, but please make the logo better than 89'ers. Definitely needs a stagecoach in there somewhere. The Rough Rider logo is Teddy Roosevelt swinging a baseball bat.

Anything besides 89ers will be a disappointment to me.
Agreed. The next best thing would be the 89er’s AND a 2030 return to the Rangers as the parent team.

i like flycatchers because of the obvious pun for catching fly balls. but then again, my favorite baseball team logo and mascot is the Montgomery Biscuits.

I have a Montgomery Biscuits hat I wear often and it always garners funny looks! :)

i like flycatchers because of the obvious pun for catching fly balls. but then again, my favorite baseball team logo and mascot is the Montgomery Biscuits.

OK, l withdraw my dislike of Flycatchers. I wasn't smart enough to catch the pun. <embarassed and smh>

Agreed. The next best thing would be the 89er’s AND a 2030 return to the Rangers as the parent team.

This is the way.

My vote is 89ers (but no one cares lol)

Mine too. I didn't like the change to the Redhawks.

The overture to a more "homegrown" nickname sure suggests to me they're telegraphing a notion of going back to the 89ers.

Does anyone really think the Chickasaw Nation will support a team named the '89ers?

Does anyone really think the Chickasaw Nation will support a team named the '89ers?

I see your point, but, I think the Chickasaw are only the naming rights sponsor. I don’t think they have any operational control or duty at the ballpark.

Agreed. The next best thing would be the 89er’s AND a 2030 return to the Rangers as the parent team.

I will never forgive the Rangers for leaving in order to satisfy the personal wealth of Nolan Ryan. They can stay the Strangers forever.

I also no longer want to be the junior, or feeder, market for the Metroplex. Associating with the Los Angeles gives OKC association with a different part of the US. And gives us distance from being junior to the big club.

No, if we talking the Dallas Cowboys, I’m in love with anything they do!!!

Yeah, I agree that I’d rather remain AAA affiliate of the Dodgers over the Rangers, recent Ranger success notwithstanding.

OK, l withdraw my dislike of Flycatchers. I wasn't smart enough to catch the pun. <embarassed and smh>

like i think they go all cartoony of a flycatcher in baseball gear catching a fly ball... i think it would be great!

Flycatchers is the move. If they go with something else it should at least be used for one-off games, like the drillers did with noodlers. They would sell a mess of hats of a bird catching a ball in its hat or glove.

I see your point, but, I think the Chickasaw are only the naming rights sponsor. I don’t think they have any operational control or duty at the ballpark.

It wasn't even going to Chickasaw Ballpark at first, it was going to be Newcastle Gaming ballpark, but there was an uproar about having another towns name on the building.

But I do see Swake's point, that's not future proofing the name and there will be some level of uproar with 89ers. I like flycatchers. I'm sure whoever is designing the mascot would like that name also. lol

What about the Oklahoma City Lightning to go with The Thunder?

What about the Oklahoma City Lightning to go with The Thunder?

nah... i say you separate the names as much as possible. if the Thunder ownership group owned the baseball team, okay sure.... but why tie yourself to another team in town? be your own thing, and completely unique.

Flycatchers has a tie to oklahoma with it being the state bird, and the pun of catching fly balls for baseball. it's cute, it's fun, and it's marketable to kids. the fun of minor league baseball is that it is fun.

Minor league baseball mascots are supposed to be fun and kind of goofy. Redhawks and Dodgers were neither. See:

Toledo Mud Hens
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Suger Land Space Cowboys
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Amarillo Sod Poodles
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Akron RubberDucks
Hartford Yard Goats
Montgomery Biscuits
Lansing Lugnuts
Rocket City Trash Pandas

Minor league baseball mascots are supposed to be fun and kind of goofy. Redhawks and Dodgers were neither. See:

Toledo Mud Hens
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Suger Land Space Cowboys
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Amarillo Sod Poodles
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Akron RubberDucks
Hartford Yard Goats
Montgomery Biscuits
Lansing Lugnuts
Rocket City Trash Pandas

don't forget the Albuquerque Isotopes!!! literally named a team after a Simpsons Episode.... Go Topes!!!!

Minor league baseball mascots are supposed to be fun and kind of goofy. Redhawks and Dodgers were neither. See:

Toledo Mud Hens
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Suger Land Space Cowboys
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Amarillo Sod Poodles
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Akron RubberDucks
Hartford Yard Goats
Montgomery Biscuits
Lansing Lugnuts
Rocket City Trash Pandas

There is no way the City Fathers will allow anything whimsical to occur. We are going to end up with the OKC Oklahomans playing in Oklahoma Stadium just off the Oklahoma City Boulevard near the Oklahoma River.

There is no way the City Fathers will allow anything whimsical to occur. We are going to end up with the OKC Oklahomans playing in Oklahoma Stadium just off the Oklahoma City Boulevard near the Oklahoma River.

Seems kind of goofy to me, lol.

There is no way the City Fathers will allow anything whimsical to occur. We are going to end up with the OKC Oklahomans playing in Oklahoma Stadium just off the Oklahoma City Boulevard near the Oklahoma River.
It’s an epidemic, lol.

Seems kind of goofy to me, lol.

But given our track record, not outside the realm of possibility. Lol.