Cleveland Indians Issue Statement About Possible Name Change Amid Sponsor Pressure On Redskins – Deadline

As pressure mounts on the NFLs Washington Redskins to change their name, fans are restoring contact Major League Baseballs Cleveland Indians to alter their teams name, also.

https://t.co/NUM5GYvlwe— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 04, 2020

The groups controversial Chief Wahoo logo, adopted in 1947, was formally reduced to secondary status in favor of a block letter “C” in 2014. Chief Wahoo was gotten rid of totally from signs and uniforms in 2019.

On Friday, simply a couple of hours after the Redskins released a statement about their moniker, Cleveland did similarly. It checks out in part, “We are committed to engaging our community and proper stakeholders to determine the finest course forward with regard to our team name.”

Read the full statement below.

The Atlanta Braves are another MLB franchise that has actually frequently been called out for their moniker, most recently following news that the Aunt Jemima brand name would be deserting its longtime name and eliminating its logo, which is based on a racial stereotype. Those opposed to the teams present identity things not just to the name, they also find the team mascot the celebratory “Tomahawk Chop” offensive.

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Washington Redskins To Conduct

Adweek also has reported that sponsors Nike and PepsiCo are under pressure to sever ties with the team unless it changes its name.

Over in the NFL, the Redskins are facing increasing pressure from significant sponsors, Native American groups and others.

“In light of recent events around our nation and feedback from our neighborhood, the Washington Redskins are revealing the group will go through an extensive review of the groups name,” the franchise said in a declaration posted on Twitter. The teams declaration Friday came after Snyder was informed by federal authorities Thursday that he need to change the teams name if he wants to relocate to the site of RFK Stadium. Later in the day, FedEx, the title sponsor of the Redskins arena in Landover, Maryland, launched a formal statement indicating that it had asked “the team in Washington” for a name modification. Native Americans have been questioning the use of the group name and image considering that the 1960s, while the issue has actually received increasing public attention because the 1990s.

“This procedure permits the group to take into consideration not only the proud custom and history of the franchise however also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the regional neighborhood it is happy to represent on and off the field,” Snyder said in the declaration.

Another NFL franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs, was being eyed as next in line by numerous who took to Twitter on Friday night.

The Redskins name controversy is nothing new. Native Americans have actually been questioning the usage of the group name and image since the 1960s, while the issue has actually received increasing spotlight given that the 1990s. The franchise has actually had the name Redskins given that its second season in 1933, when it still played in Boston. Snyder bought the team in 1999 for $750 million.

“In light of current events around our country and feedback from our neighborhood, the Washington Redskins are revealing the team will undergo an extensive evaluation of the groups name,” the franchise said in a statement posted on Twitter. “This evaluation formalizes the preliminary discussions the team has actually been having with the league in current weeks.” You can read the full declaration listed below.

The teams declaration Friday followed Snyder was notified by federal authorities Thursday that he should change the teams name if he desires to relocate to the site of RFK Stadium. Later in the day, FedEx, the title sponsor of the Redskins arena in Landover, Maryland, launched a formal statement indicating that it had actually asked “the group in Washington” for a name change. FedEx has naming rights to the groups stadium under a $205 million deal that runs till 2025.

Group owner Dan Snyder had actually formerly stated that he would never change the teams name, however he has actually come under installing political and financial pressure given the nationwide discussion on racism and human rights following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.