Music: {allcanada} REPORT: OTTAWA TEAM TO BE CALLED REDBLACKS; NAME, LOGO LEAKED

Thursday, May 30, 2013

{allcanada} REPORT: OTTAWA TEAM TO BE CALLED REDBLACKS; NAME, LOGO LEAKED

Ottawa's new CFL team reportedly has a name.

The team, which begins play in 2014, will be called the RedBlacks, according to a sports logo website. The name and logo leaked ahead of a June 8 ceremony planned to unveil both.

The team sent out a clarification press release in response to the online posting.

"I'm thrilled by the fact that there's so much advance interest in our team nickname and logo," said Jeff Hunt, President of the sports division of the football team's parent company, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. "We've organized a spectacular fan event for the official unveiling and I'm looking forward to seeing our PRN holders (reserved season tickets) and their friends on June 8th. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment any further on the logo or nickname until then."

The RedBlacks was long rumoured to be the name of the team and was presented to focus groups in January along with four others. The other names presented were the Nationals, Rush, Voyageurs, and Raftsmen.

General manager Marcel Desjardins and the Ottawa franchise recently named Brock Sunderland the team's assistant GM.

Along with Desjardins, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and CFL legends Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel are expected to be at the unveiling in June.