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Hull City AFC change name to Hull City Tigers

Last updated on .From the section Hullcomments687

Hull's current KC Stadium sign

Hull City AFC will be renamed Hull City Tigers, says club owner Assem Allam.

The "Association Football Club" part of the Yorkshire club's name, which has been in effect since their formation in 1904, will be scrapped.

Any references to AFC on club branding will be phased out, but will remain on the shirt crest during their first season back in the Premier League.

Allam wants to market the club as Hull City Tigers locally and Hull Tigers to national and international audiences.

He told the Hull Daily Mail:external-link "In the commercial world, the shorter the name, the better. The more it can spread quickly.

"My dislike for the word 'City' is because it is common. I want the club to be special.

"It is about identity. 'City' is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long."

Egypt-born Allam, who moved to Hull in 1968 to study and has since set up a multi-million pound company in nearby Melton, took charge of the club in December 2010.

"I have always used short names in business. It gives you power in the science in marketing. The shorter, the more powerful the message. In Tigers, we have a really strong brand."

Allam's son and vice-chairman, Ehab Allam defended the move to drop AFC from the club's name after 109 years.

"AFC is redundant, it is not used by the club. The fans never mention AFC, nor do the media," he said.

The club issued a statement to clarify the situation, which began: "The business name at Companies House had its 'Association Football Club' suffix removed in the spring of this year, leaving the club to be named 'Hull City Tigers Ltd'.

"This will now be used in official club statements, regarding any of our commercial operations.

"The Tigers brand, with its powerful imagery, will be used in international markets to attract new interest and attention in both Hull and the East Riding from a worldwide audience.

"As has always been the case, supporters remain free to refer to the club as they wish, whether that be Hull City, City, Tigers, Black and Amber, or indeed any other variant of the club's name. For many, the club will continue to be known as Hull City, as it has been from its inception.

"A new badge, to be used from the 2014-15 season, will be designed and created in consultation with fans over the coming months."

Bernard Noble of the Hull City Official Supporters' Club admitted he had mixed feelings about the decision.

"My personal opinion is I'm disappointed because I'm a bit of a traditionalist," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"But this guy saved us from liquidation and administration and it's his club. I will still say 'I'm going to watch City', 'I'm going to watch the Tigers', 'I'm going to watch Hull'. I will still say that and so will many other people.

"As far as Hull City Tigers is concerned, the fans - the 25,000 people who will be there for the first home game against Norwich - they'll say 'I'm off down to watch City'."

Managing director Nick Thompson, meanwhile, urged supporters "to judge it in the fullness of time".

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687 comments

  • Comment posted by Mr B, at 10:22 9 Aug 2013

    Welcome back Soccer fans. We are now entering the latter stages of the 3rd quarter with Hull City Tiger's offence scoring another net strike to lead Everton Turbo Toffee's by 5 to their 2.

  • Comment posted by DPC77, at 09:55 9 Aug 2013

    I think the name sounds 'grrrrrreeeeeeaaaaaaat'!

  • Comment posted by TheChad, at 11:03 9 Aug 2013

    for years I thought they were called Hull City Nil

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 10:02 9 Aug 2013

    "Hull Tigers" Oh dear, it sounds like one of those made up names on Pro Evolution Soccer to get round the licensing issues.

    What next, a bid for Robin Von Mistelroum!

  • Comment posted by Pagster, at 10:49 9 Aug 2013

    Assem Allam - "In the commercial world, the shorter the name, the better. The more it can spread quickly"

    Good thinking Mr Ass All

  • Comment posted by NeeleyDunn, at 10:09 9 Aug 2013

    Hope Spurs don't do anything like this, Would be a bit dodgy watching thousands at every game shouting " come on the cocks".

  • Comment posted by nhsufc, at 12:11 9 Aug 2013

    It's horrible to continuously see generic, faceless owners refer to hundred year old football clubs as 'brands' and a 'business'.

  • Comment posted by whatsthemata, at 09:59 9 Aug 2013

    Kind of surprise Mike Ashley hasn't attempted something like this.

    The Newcastle Zebras @ Sports Direct @ St James' Park does have a certain ring to it

  • Comment posted by BristolJJ, at 14:08 9 Aug 2013

    Tried to order some tickets for Hull City Tigers' first home game in the Premier League and got through to their operator. 'We've sold out' he said. I said 'I know, but I'd still like some tickets please'...

  • Comment posted by tomwright09, at 10:04 9 Aug 2013

    If Hull fans like it then ok but if they haven't been consulted (story makes that seem likely) then I feel sorry for them.
    I'm a Newcastle fan and we had to put up with Sports Direct Arena for a year or so purely because money comes before tradition sadly. Cardiff red shirts another example.
    Do owners not think their 'brand' is best served by caring about fans at home rather than China/Japan etc

  • Comment posted by northbank123, at 10:20 9 Aug 2013

    Where do these people get the idea that the likes of Hull and Cardiff are going to become an international marketing brand?

  • Comment posted by Shark Attack, at 09:57 9 Aug 2013

    Is this going to be the way forward?

    Are Americanism's going to take over our national game?

    Before you know it we'll be we'll be talking double teaming, team uniforms and shut outs!

    I don't think you'll ever see Man U changing their name to Manchester Devils or Man City to Manchester Blue Sox.

    I'd be livid at any prat who thinks he has the right to change the history of my club.

  • Comment posted by Icarus21, at 10:11 9 Aug 2013

    The way I see it is if clubs like Cardiff and Hull want to resist the change of chairmen then STOP GOING TO THE MATCHES. If these clubs started getting attendances of a few hundred they'd soon revert to traditions. The fans have all the power in numbers, use it.

  • Comment posted by spinal tap, at 10:03 9 Aug 2013

    We were born Hull City AFC. That is who we are. That is what we are.CITY 'TILL I DIE. I'M CITY 'TILL I DIE. I KNOW I AM, I'M SURE I AM, I'M CITY 'TILL I DIE!!

  • Comment posted by U14183559, at 09:56 9 Aug 2013

    It's an abomination, really angry about it. He is meddling with the clubs identity and making us a laughing stock. He might think the Tigers thing will go down well in Asia, but that is all just guessing.

    I can live with it, but i won't be calling them Hull City Tigers, if in a year or two he drops the 'City' part of the name, i will be dropping them all together, as it will no longer be my club.

  • Comment posted by Dantis, at 09:51 9 Aug 2013

    So will they play Football, Baseball, American Football or Basketball?

    The name suggests any of the above!

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 14:05 9 Aug 2013

    305.janopack

    Doesn't make any sense. Tigers aren't even native to Hull.
    ____________________________________

    There are a quite few cougars around on a Saturday night though!

  • Comment posted by U15799153, at 13:37 9 Aug 2013

    @310

    Being a working mans game, the game has been sold down the river....Owners who don't give two hoots about the fans, were the Hull Tigers fans asked about this?, players who don't give two hoots about the fans, television who don't give two hoots about the fans.......i'll take 80's football thank you very much.....

  • Comment posted by U13747768, at 10:45 9 Aug 2013

    What next?

    Aston Gorilla?

    I'm here all week.

  • Comment posted by Nelly, at 12:12 9 Aug 2013

    Here we go, the final nail in the coffin of English football, American style 'monickers' rather than the clubs actual name that served, for some strange reason, quite satisfactorily for a hundred years. I can't believe how lame modern fans have become in tamely accepting egotistical owners latest fads. If he 'thinks' City sounds common, then what the hell is a tacky 'Tigers' add on then?

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