Wakefield Trinity and if we need any sort of nickname; Dreadnoughts.

Wakefield Trinity and back to the Fleur de Lys badge.

I don't disagree with the sentiment of Wakefield Trinity as the name. To be honest, it always has been for me.

However, the Wildcats name and then effectively the brand and Daddy Cool are all used as our main marketing thrust.
As a name Dreadnaughts is great and holds with history but not that easy to market.

I remember last time I sat in the stand and seeing DC coming out. I just turned back to talk to my dad and noticed the family next to me going nuts about him. The kids, especially the small ones, were breaking their necks to see Daddy Cool. So just because it doesn't mean anything to the old(ish) guys like me doesn't mean he won't be missed by others. The work they do in the schools get great reviews.
Can't see a big fluffy boat doing the same thing.

So a rethink on badge and mascot is needed.

I'd be happy with Wakefield Trinity as the name. Trinity in the press when they want to shorten it. The Dreadnaughts can be the official nickname and used on the merchandise. I'd like to see a funky design of a badge. I know some don't but I like what they've done at Widnes, but either way, something recognisable but something that can be on leisure shirts without being too much in your face.

And the mascot? Well to be honest, Daddy Cool can stay. He isn't actually a wildcat by name so not a problem, but if we want to move away from the previous image, and move to the future while holding a torch for the past.......we ought to either have a Big Johnny T character, or a Fox! As long as it is designed well, kids will go with it......same guy inside though. I like the big leap off the old dugout!

Belle Vue Trinity for this year

Oakwell Tornadoes for next 3 years

Newmarket Natterjacks when you get into new stadium

My issue with Wildcats is firstly that they're hardly a species of wild animal associated with the area. I don't mind monikers, but, for me, they need some sort of tangible relationship with the club or area for it to work. Otherwise it just becomes a hollow, Americanised marketing scheme that has little integrity. Dewsbury Rams is a great use of a moniker.

My second issue is that I don't think the brand identity has been marketed very well. It seemed at the time that the name was added more to please the RFL when we got into SL than to use it as a rebranding exercise for the club to exploit a previously untapped market. Since then any use of Wildcats in marketing and such like has been a bit slapdash. To me anyway.

I know the young 'uns like Daddy Cool and I'm sure the character helps in the schools, but when it comes to the match day experience I wonder how much of kids excitement of Daddy Cool is to do with the Marketing scheme or the energy and personality of the guy inside the costume.

I think you can can go back to calling the club Wakefield Trinity while still keeping the nickname of "The Wildcats". So as part of a club badge and or logo you could revert to Wakefield Trinity "The Wildcats". In fact the you could have a club badge/crest and logo and run them alongside each other. So on the Jersey's you could have a club badge (like Wigan do) saying Wakefield Trinity and then have a separate "The Wildcats" logo for other merchandise and use both. Leeds Rhinos introduced some retro leisure wear a few years ago under a separate merchandising contract called the '10 Yard Range' and went back to using the old Leeds RLFC logo and '1895' as sub-brands. It has sold really well and they bring out a new range of t-shirts and stuff every year now... you could do something like that possibly?

I also think that 'Daddy Cool' is a very strong mascot and should definitely be kept. Along with Ronnie Rhino, Bull Man and Bull Boy and Wolfie, he is one of the strongest brand mascots in SL for me.

Anyway, that is my opinion!

gascat hes got plenty cash but might spare abit

In terms of brand names that have something to do with the club or the area I'm not sure how many Rhinos there are in Leeds but that seems to work for them.

I understand the point but short of Coal Miners or Rhubarb farmers there isn't a lot else.
What Rhinos and Warriors do for the brand is imply big tough images. Same as Dragons. I'm not against mythical creatures but this season, looking at our pack, we may be the Hobbits.

I'm ok with the Wildcats, but just as the point was made in a previous post, if it isn't marketed well, it doesn't really matter. It will only work if used correctly.
Daddy Cool markets himself very well......but the club don't market the Wildcats brand very well.

Point in case......the High School Musical big thing at the moment (or at least for the past couple of years) play for the Wildcat basket ball team. They are even mentioned in a song, whichw e have played before the match....I'd have used that all the time. Encouraged people to identify with the Disney brand as if it were our own. The cheerleaders could easily have worked with that........and I'm in IT! A marketeer should have been able to work wonders with that, on a low budget, without having to infringe on the Disney brand.....as we already have the name.

i think the wildcat head coming out of the fleur de lys... no words just the image

Yes please .....& with the fleur de lys badge too .

will we keep the kit we have for this season?

Just a suggestion but i think Wakefield Wizards has a good ring to it.The wizards

Isn't there a Warrington Wizards RL? Too similar perhaps.

And the mascot? Well to be honest, Daddy Cool can stay. He isn't actually a wildcat by name so not a problem, but if we want to move away from the previous image, and move to the future while holding a torch for the past.......we ought to either have a Big Johnny T character, or a Fox! As long as it is designed well, kids will go with it......[usame guy inside though. I like the big leap off the old dugout!'"

Of all the problems we have at the moment both on and off the field, this should be the one that is easiest to solve. No doubt at all we need to continue as the Wildcats, dropping it, or worse changing it, would only undo hard work establisihg the brand in the community.

When will people realise that the 'Wildcats' isn't aimed to impress existing supporters it is to target the kids. It doesn't matter 1 bit if you don't like it, its going to be a petty fan who stops going becuase of the name whereas you might get the next generation of fans buying into it because of the name. You try asking a 6 year old does he want to go watch the Giants, the Rhinos, the Tigers or Trinity and I would bet the answer the overwelming time isnt Trinity. The kids go rugby training for their junior clubs, they call themselves Sharks, Wolves, Raiders, Knights etc, they dont call themselves Shaw Cross, Westgate, Oulton or Normy - the concept of the nickname works.

Like it or not we need to accept it, and just do what most of us do and refer to them in the club or pub as Trinity and leave the younger generation calling them Wildcats.

There aren't any Giants in New York, Magic in Orlando, Bulls in Chicago, any 49's in San Fransisco, any Bronchos in Brisbane etc but it doesn't stop them from being some of the biggest sporting brands on the planet.

Hull FC and St Helens have no issues attracting young supporters without a daft nickname. Wildcats is now synonymous with failure, it’s the right time to ditch it. The brilliant work the community team do will still proceed, and it won’t be poor for the lack of the Wildcat moniker, beside, the club could retain daddy cool as a mascot.

We have enought issues attracting supporters without adding one to them in my opinion.

It wouldn't be my choice for the nickname, and I have only every refered to my team as Trinity, except when talking to my son about them and then they are the Wildcats. I think whatever your thoughts on the name (I would have gone for dreadnaughts every time) we have made our bed now we have to lie in it with 'Wildcats' and any change to this would do more harm than good.

Do you agree with the point about kids and 'their team' or not?

I have no idea what the kids call their own teams so I will accept you point.

Exactly. I would imagine all the kids that watch RL know the nicknames. How many would know Dreadnoughts & Loiners. None of them. Wildcats has to stay.

I think Wakefield Nil has a nice ring to it.

Absolutely spot on; it's a brand that may not have been marketed especially well, but a brand nontheless - the new regime could have a field day with it, given some proper marketing brains.

I guess it's not the gaining of 'Wildcats' so much as the loss of 'Trinity' that bothers me. The name 'Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' is too long and is inevitably shortened in the press, on TV and even at the club! to 'Wakefield Wildcats'; which I hate. This is why, to protect the 'Trinity' name, 'Wildcats' must be relegated to a nickname (or even promoted to a nickname). It's a subtle change but I think the players could take more pride in a proper crest and a traditional, historical name.