Cardiff City - Disgrace?

[Macheda]

Basically what are your opinions on Cardiff City's decision to re brand the club from its famous blue strip, to red?
The decision was purely financial as the Malaysian owners thought it would make the club more attractive to a global market. One of their very poor arguments is that it is a huge problem that Blue isn't a colour of the Welsh flag, and is therefore misleading.
The change will also mean a change in badge for Cardiff who have changed from Blue to Red.

"The changes to the home kit and badge introduced as a consequence of the investment package are designed to help the club to develop its brand and to allow it to expand its appeal to as wide an audience as possible, with a view to delivering local success via an international and diverse market"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18324804

Cardiff City Supporters Trust

The total votes cast were 732 (26% of our membership)

Option 1 - Fully supportive of investment and rebranding: 355 (48%)

Option 2 - Reluctantly accept proposals to rebrand to ensure financial security: 329 (45%)

Option 3 - Not willing to accept investment under these proposals: 48 (7%)

Edit
Cardiff rebranding & investment

Change home kit from blue to red
Change club badge to include a red dragon
Clear historical debt to Langston Corporation, thought to be £30m
Proceed with plan to upgrade training facilities
Look into feasibility of expanding Cardiff City Stadium
Strengthen playing squad

[Ali_BWFC]

Plenty of clubs have rebranded in the past, including clubs with (now) iconic strips. If it works, in 30 years time, Cardiff will be known for their famous red strip. It's no different really.

[Michu]

I read about this on TFF, basically the clubs owners held the club to ransom over the rebrand. It's a disingenuous stunt aimed at marketing Cardiff and its national identity to foreign investors. If it works great ... but we all know it won't. It'll alienate Cardiff fans and rival fans won't appreciate Cardiff being marketed as the Welsh Rugby team. Whatever next, changing the name to Cardiff Cymru United.

[Macheda]

Being Welsh myself, I think it's an utter joke. The fact that they've had to brand themselves with a red dragon is awful. The "bluebirds" who have to associate themselves with a stereotype just to get a global recognisation. They may as well of had a picture of a Sheep with a Leek shoved up is arsehole.

[TH]

I thought they came out saying the kit would stay blue?

[Macheda]

I thought they came out saying the kit would stay blue?

Seems they will maintain a blue kit in the form of the away jersey, but change the home to red.

[Michu]

Aye, 104 years of tradition down the shitter because of macro marketing strategies.

[muscularmatt]

Yeah I'm not keen, it's like Man United being renamed the Manchester Lions, because and changing their kit to white because the colour is associated with good luck in derkaderkastan or wherever this month's super rich investor is from.

[fick]

It's a re-brand to a degree, fine, I can understand why people are up in arms about it, but on the flip side, someone is pumping money into the club. If that allows better players/staff to come in and results follow, then what's the problem?

Either that, of they can stay where they are, or go downhill wearing blue...

[Hunter]

It's a re-brand to a degree, fine, I can understand why people are up in arms about it, but on the flip side, someone is pumping money into the club. If that allows better players/staff to come in and results follow, then what's the problem?

Either that, of they can stay where they are, or go downhill wearing blue...

Not to mention, it could actually be a hell of a lot worse.

Imagine if the club itself was forced to move location, and thus a name change as well? Now, 'that' is crazy. This as it stands, isn't so bad, and after a while, the supporters will probably get used to it. Some won't be happy, but as you say fick, what's the alternative when you're in debt? Sink or swim?

Get on the raft.

[nath_scfc]

To answer the original question - yes, they are.

Not for the kit change, just generally.

Scum, sub-human scum.

[Michu]

This as it stands, isn't so bad, and after a while, the supporters will probably get used to it. Some won't be happy, but as you say fick, what's the alternative when you're in debt? Sink or swim?


I think that statement proves the rather sad state of affairs of football in the modern age. I think perchance its an easy statement to make as an armchair fan - no offence intended.

Fans are not quite so capricious as their club owners, especially the season tickets holders who invest cash into the club season in season out. While the owners might talk of change benefiting the club, their motives aren't nearly so altruistic.

Remember AFC Wimbledon, rebranded and moved to Milton Keynes ... and for what? So Peter Winkleman's consortium, backed by Asda and IKEA, could have THEIR stores to be built as part of a mutually beneficial arrangment. All about the dollar. Nothing to do with club.

Despite Milton Keynes already having a non league side, Winkleman needed an established club to make the deal worthwhile. Did it benefit the fans? Did it fuck.

A clubs tradition might count for fuck all when they're in debt in the eyes of its owners but its rarely the case for the supporters. Just look at Aldershot town, my mate Andy's dad was the chief liquidator that put them out of business all those years ago, the fans rallied and got the team up and running. They've done pretty well since.

When a club rebrands or holds it to ransom for change it wants for its own commercial interests, who is it really benefiting? The fans deserve a little more respect. They after all established the clubs.