And the name is... Albany Empire
The new arena football team that will be playing at the TU Center officially announced Tuesday evening that it will be calling itself the "Albany Empire."* The team says the name won the public voting with 44 percent.
Name and logo blurbage:
Team Name Manifesto: Power gets more intense as it is confined. A wide river wedged through a tight canyon. Wind forced through a tunnel. Politicians squeezed into a small state capital.[**] Power is why New York is the Empire State. There may be more prominent capitals and bigger cities, there is no better place for Arena Football. If Albany knows anything, it's the X's and O's of a good strategy, and the bloody knuckles of a good fight. We know that a committee of eight is more than enough to get things done and any more than that is just slowing things down. [***] And we know power - where it comes from, how its used, and that it is the ultimate aphrodisiac. [****] The AFL is coming home to Albany. But we aren't just fielding a team. We are BUILDING AN EMPIRE!
The unique Empire logo features the team's official colors, a fiery reddish orange, dark navy blue and grey accents. The logo encapsulates strength, versatility and boldness, with an attractive display of the Empire battle mask and shield, as well as a football. Designed by The Martin Group--an award-winning Upstate New York branding and integrated communications firm, with existing clients such as New Era Cap and Under Armour--the bold, yet attractive design conveys the inherent power of both the team, the sport and city it now represents.
The Albany Empire joins just three other teams that currently make up the active participants in the AFL: Philadelphia Soul, Baltimore Brigade, and Washington Valor. The Tampa Bay team announced in December it was ceasing operations. And the Cleveland team is sitting out the next two seasons to catch its breath, hydrate, and eat some orange slices.
Albany's new team opens its season April 14 at the TU Center against Philadelphia. Season tickets are currently on sale, with single-game tickets still to come.
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* If you had been pulling for the "Albany Machine," you made the correct choice. But it got only 15 percent of the votes.
** With the Smallbany thing... interesting choice.
*** Albany County has one of the biggest county legislatures in New York.
**** Maybe don't, considering the repeated allegations of sexual harassment related to the state legislature.
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Comments
Albany. Steamed. Hams.
... said Alex on Jan 24, 2018 at 11:19 AM | link
Wow. Only three other AFL teams exist? When did that happen?? This league used to be quite large. Not much excitement to it if it doesn't grow. Soon.
... said ace on Jan 24, 2018 at 11:48 AM | link
Disappointed that the 'Machine' didn't win as 'Empire' is a pretty meh name.. but maybe this means the team can enter the stadium to the Imperial March?
I'm glad to see that the logo is well designed! I'm really curious what the individual tickets will cost as I can't justify a season ticket...
... said Paul on Jan 24, 2018 at 1:30 PM | link
They'll always be the Gondolamen to me.
... said Sean on Jan 24, 2018 at 1:52 PM | link
It's a good name -- but will it work in the city they move to three years from now?
... said Rob on Jan 25, 2018 at 11:57 AM | link
Let's hope they can take care of the rebel scum once and for all, and return peace to the galaxy.
... said B on Jan 25, 2018 at 2:55 PM | link
I was pulling for Steamed Hams or Gondoliers. I'm glad I'll be able to get more use of my Star Trek mirror universe Spock costume.
... said Tim on Jan 26, 2018 at 2:42 PM | link