Los Angeles Chargers, change your name to California Chargers
By Dennis J. Hassell
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” –William Shakespeare
There are two massive ways the Los Angeles Chargers ownership can win back San Diego-based fans. One is to win that silver football thing in 2020. The other is changing the name to the California Chargers.
A six point argument for “California Chargers” branding
- It does not sound any stranger than the California Angels, the Golden State Warriors, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Texas Rangers, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, and other teams named for their region, not their city.
- If stadium civic locale is so important, call them the Inglewood Chargers. (Inglewood is 30 minutes from LA, two hours from San Diego.
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- The San Diego commute is plausible. It is only eight times a year for regular season games, and the distance is comparable to several NFL situations. The distance from San Diego to Inglewood is 124 miles, a two-hour drive, but tens of thousands of Tucson fans of the Cardinals travel 122 miles to Glendale (west of Phoenix). Thousands of fans from Madison, Wisconsin travel 137 miles to Green Bay every game-day, and many more thousands from Milwaukee travel 116 miles .
- Regaining tens of thousands of fans in San Diego County not only creates a positive vibe in the next three years of growing a fanbase in greater L.A., but it is also a bulwark against inevitable years of famine when the team does not play well.
- The Chargers can, with the name change, run a game-day shuttle service from San Diego to their new stadium. It could include train and bus. Why not a boat? (Best tailgate ever.)
- The Bolts can also hold regular fan events in San Diego, like an open practice day, meet the players and charity events.
If the Los Angeles Rams win the 2019 Superbowl, the Chargers have more need than ever of regional support. It’s a no-brainer to court former San Diego fans.