![]() ![]() ![]() How much longer will the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Blackhawks pretend that change isn’t inevitable? The NFL, MLB and NHL must urge these franchises to stand on the right side of history.”Ĭleveland’s new name does have local resonance four art deco sculptures called the Guardians of Traffic flank the Hope Memorial Bridge across the Cuyahoga River near Progressive Field. Both Cleveland and Washington are proof that it’s not a matter of if mascots can change, it’s when. It is a major step towards righting the wrongs committed against Native peoples, and is one step towards justice. “Cleveland’s leadership was the first to begin the process of not only eliminating harmful mascots and team names, but also proof that eliminating the use of Native American imagery in sports is possible. “Cleveland’s announcement today that they have officially changed their team name to Guardians is a welcomed one,” said Crystal Echo Hawk, executive director and founder of Native American advocacy group IllumiNativ. Even in 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season when games were played entirely without fans, protesters took up their posts. (The team reduced the mascot to “secondary status” in 2014 and retired its image from use in 2019.) Since the 1970s, the team has faced multiple unsuccessful legal challenges to its name, and protesters have congregated at every Cleveland home opener since 1971. The name change comes after five decades of public demonstration against the team name and its former mascot, Chief Wahoo, a racist caricature of a Native American. “The new name, and I do not know what it is, will not be a name that has Native American themes or connotations to it.” “We are not going to take a half-step away from the Indians,” Dolan told the Associated Press after the initial announcement. (Washington will not announce a new name until 2022.) Unlike the Washington Football Team, which abandoned its prior name in 2020, Cleveland did not adopt a temporary name for the 2021 season. “We also spoke to local civic leaders who represent diverse populations in our city and who highlighted the negative impact our team name has on our broader population and on under-represented groups across our community.” “Hearing firsthand the stories and experiences of Native American people, we gained a deep understanding of how tribal communities feel about the team name and the detrimental effects it has on them,” team owner Paul Dolan said in a statement in December. Last year, in the wake of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder of George Floyd, Cleveland ownership and leadership began to contemplate a change away from a name that has drawn criticism for its racist roots for years. The name was met with mixed reactions across the internet, but it unequivocally represents a step forward for the franchise, called the Indians since 1915. R5FnT4kv1I- Cleveland Indians July 23, 2021 How this move impacts both attendance and the bottom line remains to be seen.Together, we are all. ![]() An earlier start means that those burgers and beers would have to be consumed inside the stadium-perhaps at their new, two-story bar in right field-rather than one of the neighborhood bars or restaurants, ultimately leading to a higher revenue-per-fan metric. Not to be overlooked, however, is the financial impact on local establishments who would otherwise be serving dinner and refreshments to those attending a game that would start two hours after the end of a typical work day. game typically saw the final pitch occur around 10:15 p.m, meaning that these earlier starts could see a completion right around a mid-summer sundown. ![]() It’s safe to assume that the team is experimenting with these start times to make games more feasible for families, something likely born from focus groups and various trends in fan-behavior. The standard five-after time slots have also been adjusted to reflect a new 10-after start time across the board. starts, including Opening Day, Memorial Day, and their July 4 game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. These earlier start times are running alongside several 3:10 p.m. The Indians are trying something new this season, with six weeknight games in April and May being designated with 6:10 p.m. Once they return home, however, is when things get a bit interesting. The next two games in the series will be played at more traditional times, accounting for the different time zones. The Tribe’s first game of 2015 will take place in Houston against the Astros, staring at 7:10 p.m. The Cleveland Indians, with the help of their opponents and MLB scheduling, will have a host of games starting at earlier times this coming season, with an announcement as to why coming in the next few days according to ’s Zach Meisel. starts may have to adjust their schedules a bit or 2015. Baseball fans who are used to those 7:05 p.m. ![]()
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