Opinions split on nickname for Tasmania’s NBL team but CEO confident doubters will turn
The announcement of Tasmania’s NBL team name has divided opinion across social media – but club chief executive Simon Brookhouse has urged the doubters to understand the backstory.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
JACKJUMPERS chief executive Simon Brookhouse is confident any negative connotations with Tasmania’s NBL team will be converted once the club’s branding is fully understood.
The nickname of the league’s 10th team, which will see the state re-enter the NBL for the first time in 25 years in the 2021-22 season, was officially unveiled this morning.
JackJumpers beat out Tridents — the last two names standing from a shortlist of five — with the winning option met with plenty of scepticism on social media.
However Brookhouse declared JackJumpers had the majority of the votes from the top five, which also included Timbers, Mountaineers and Pride.
Australian basketball greats Andrew Bogut, Chris Anstey and Shane Heal were quick to knock the name,
Not a good day for the old Jack Jumpers! 😗 https://t.co/emzHlQb1CG
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) September 30, 2020
but proud Tasmanian and Gold Coast AFL star Hugh Greenwood threw his support behind it on Twitter.
Tridents, Devils, Jack Jumpers, It didn’t matter!! As long as the word “Tasmania†was in front of it then I was always going to be on board. This video and this story is EPIC tho and I’m all in for the Jack Jumpers. LFG!! ðŸœâš¡ï¸ @JackJumpers @NBL https://t.co/sGCUiKmAtt
— Hugh Greenwood (@HGreenwood3) September 30, 2020
“Any publicity is good publicity but the truth is a lot of the, we will call it negativity against the name, is probably because people don’t understand what it is,” Brookhouse said.
“A lot like Tasmania itself, once you have been here you don’t forget, and I think it will be the same with the JackJumpers.
“We understand to mainland Australia a lot of people don’t know what a jack jumper is and what it means to Tasmanians.
The @NBL takes a great step back into Tasmania, then calls them the Jack Jumpers? My goodness 🤦ðŸ»â€â™‚ï¸
— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) September 30, 2020
“But I am absolutely certain with the positive feedback we have got, it will grow on everybody.
“It is important we convert views on the mainland as well, truth of the matter is there is a lot of Tasmanians who live there and we want their support as well.
“I think the team will be supported globally in that regard but we certainly want to change the opinion that it is a great brand and you will see it with the videos and what we do over social media in the next days, weeks coming.”
More than 10,000 suggestions were put forward for Tasmania’s moniker, including overwhelming support for the likes of Devils, Tigers, Mariners and Islanders.
But Brookhouse said it was important the state’s club look to the future, and not the past, when settling on the final decision.
“We did decide to change the main name around something that wasn’t aged.
“We didn’t want to be something from the past, a Devils, Mariners or Islanders, we wanted to be something fresh, new and energetic.
“The name itself we think is distinctive, those who have seen the brand and logo it is on the basis of the map of Tasmania, which is fantastic.
“It is also synonymous with kids and families and meant to be a lot of fun, and that’s what we want to be.
“We want to be exciting and entertaining when we play.”
Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein, who signed the historic deal with NBL owner Larry Kestelman in February to bring a team back to the state, said he had no input into the naming process.
However with the Government forking out $2 million a season to the club, he had to give a tick of approval.
“As part of the arrangements we had to be comfortable with it, and to be frank, I am very comfortable with it,” he said.
“The fact already there is public discussion about it, I think is a good thing.”
Crisis time: Roo fury over NTFA demotion bid
The Deloraine Kangaroos are hopping mad after a failed bid to demote them from the inaugural NTFA Premier League has left league officials scrambling for answers.
Inside the plans to renew north against south footy rivalries
The evolution of Tasmanian football is almost complete with the north against south rivalries set for a new chapter. Here’s what we know with the changes close to completion.