Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

County officials have mixed feelings on Gwinnett Braves name change

May 11, 2017 - Lawrenceville, Ga: Gwinnett Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (15) delivers a pitch to a Toledo Mud Hens batter during their game at Coolray Field Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Lawrenceville, Ga. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Credit: Jason Getz

Credit: Jason Getz

May 11, 2017 - Lawrenceville, Ga: Gwinnett Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (15) delivers a pitch to a Toledo Mud Hens batter during their game at Coolray Field Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Lawrenceville, Ga. PHOTO / JASON GETZ
By
May 22, 2017

The Gwinnett Braves announced Monday that, come 2018, they'll no longer be that: Braves.

Officials are soliciting fan help to find a replacement for the iconic moniker, which they said has created "confusion" among fans of the big league ball club in Atlanta and its Triple-A affiliate in Lawrenceville.

The team hopes to find a "unique, hometown" name — but Gwinnett County officials, who have seen poor performance at the box office and a disappointing lack of development around taxpayer-funded Coolray Field, aren't sure what to make of the decision.

“I’m a little concerned in that I don’t want the Braves to do anything that would affect the marketability of the stadium and bringing people out to our ballpark,” District 4 Commissioner John Heard said Monday.  “Although I’m so disappointed in the attendance that they’re having right now that I don’t think they could do anything to hurt.”

Read more about the name change proposal — and what county officials had to say — on myAJC.com.

The Gwinnett Braves is thinking about dropping the “B” word from its name. The team’s GM said potential fans confuse the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves with the Major League team. (Video by Matt Kempner, edit by Erica Hernandez

About the Author

Before taking over the AJC's Sports Daily newsletter, Tyler Estep spent two years writing the A.M. ATL newsletter. A Gwinnett County native and University of Georgia graduate, he has been with the AJC since 2015 and previously worked as a reporter on the breaking news, hyperlocal and local government teams.

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