The city of Cleveland is well known for its sports teams and the loyal fan base behind them. Within the past few years, the city’s MLB team the Cleveland Indians had been receiving major backlash for the team’s name and its Native American reference.

The rebranding of the Cleveland Indians dates back to 2018 when the team announced they would stop using their signature Chief Wahoo logo. In the heat of the Black Lives Matter movement, the team announced its plans to completely change its name.

The team conducted more than 100 hours of interviews and received input from over 40,000 fans on what the new name should be. In the summer of 2021, they announced the new name of the Cleveland Guardians. The name is a direct connection to the iconic Cleveland landmark of the Hope Memorial Bridge.

Through this podcast, our hosts look into what has gone into the rebrand on a public relations standpoint and what we can learn from the brand.

Hosted by: Kenzie Johnston, Cari Tetlow and Madison Knaack

For more information on the rebranding of the Cleveland Guardians:

https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/07/23/goodbye-indians-hello-cleveland-guardians/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/07/23/cleveland-guardians-mlb-name-change/

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/cleveland-guardians-release-new-gear-rebrand-digital-and-social-media-platforms/