In 2016, the Staten Island Yankees, the New York Yankees' A-ball affiliate, ran a competition to rename the team for five games to drum up some interest in its minor league play, but the winning entry, the Staten Island Pizza Rats, shows the power of a good meme. The new team name, which is being put into effect for five games throughout July and August, has created a huge buzz around the team, with Pizza Rats merchandise dramatically outselling the traditional Staten Island Yankees apparel.
To refresh those who might forget, the Staten Island Pizza Rats are inspired by a viral video from 2016 in which a rat in the NYC subway was filmed dragging a full slice of pizza down a flight of stairs, metaphorically representing how we all feel all the time. The team's embrace of the meme includes its name as well as some excellent branding provided by sports logo design team Brandiose.
Meme-Inspired Minor League Logos
The Staten Island Pizza Rats will Play Five Games This Season
Trend Themes
1. Meme-inspired Sports Logos - Opportunity for sports teams to embrace viral memes and create unique merchandise that generates buzz.
2. Crowdsourced Team Naming Competitions - Opportunity to engage fans in a meaningful way by offering them a chance to contribute to team branding and create a more loyal fanbase
3. Nostalgia-based Branding - Opportunity to create a new take on classic branding that appeals to consumers who may feel nostalgic for simpler times.
Industry Implications
1. Sports - Sports teams of all levels can utilize viral memes and crowdsourced naming competitions to increase fan engagement and drive merchandise sales.
2. Marketing - Marketers can help brands tap into nostalgia-based branding approach to differentiate themselves from competitors and tap into consumer's emotions.
3. Apparel - Apparel companies can leverage viral memes and nostalgia-based branding to create unique and trendy products that resonate with consumers.