Earlier this week the CFL’s Edmonton Football Team finally revealed their new team identity. As many expected, the team would now be know as the Edmonton Elks.
On July 21, 2020 the team officially retired the “Eskimos” name, and began using “Edmonton Football Team” and “EE Football Team” as temporary names until a new one was decided. The name change occurred at around the same time as the NFL’s Washington Football Team retired its longstanding nickname for similar reasons, although unlike in the latter case the Edmonton Football Team intends to keep its logo which unlike Washington’s former logo lacks any racialized aspect.
In February 2021, the team invited fans to vote in a survey for their preferred nickname from a list of seven choices: Elk, Evergreens, Evergolds, Eclipse, Elkhounds, Eagles and Elements. Elks and Energy were also later trademarked and considered name finalists.
Well, now that it’s official… but what did the fans think?
Some people love it
This is such a better name and logo then their old Eskimos name, more major sports teams affiliated with Native American roots need to rebrand like the Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves & Kansas City Chiefs. We need to respect these people!
— Exzalt Sonicorp 🎄🎅 (@Sonicorp) June 1, 2021
Can’t lie, I like it. Go @TorontoArgos but love the rebranding.
— I dunno (@sportshate77) June 2, 2021
I.
LOVE.
IT.I want foamy antlers at the merch tent. #elksCHARGE
— Justin Wondga 🇨🇦♥️⚡️🐿 (@jwondga) June 2, 2021
Some people hate it
https://twitter.com/djchabot/status/1399826619347345408
So we keep the double E name but drop the double E logo? Disappointing.
— Alex McLean (@almclean26) June 1, 2021
WHAT ….. this is the worst name and promo video for a sports team I have ever seen. An elk really, that's the best your team of experts came up with .. how Canadian ……. that is absolutely brutal.
— Paul De Divitiis (@pauld72) June 2, 2021
Random observations
Is it just me or does Max from the Grinch look like the @elks logo? #CFL pic.twitter.com/XY93Yuv7mW
— Clay Chisholm (@AllKindsOfClay) June 3, 2021
Notice the "E" in the antlers when you turn the logo on its side?#CFL #ElksCHARGE pic.twitter.com/a4caOMHWMl
— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 2, 2021
Nice, but Edmonton Energy was right there…
— EngPharm🇨🇦💉💉 (@engpharm) June 2, 2021
The biggest complaint we’ve seen online, beside the obvious, is that the the plural of elk is elk. That being said, we don’t see that as a huge issue, but the team could update that before the season starts if the fans push back enough.
What do you think of the new Edmonton Elks team logo and name? Let is know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
