Reno AAA Baseball Team Concept, Nor Nev Naturals

[FiddySicks]

So, first off let me just say that this was a bit of a collaboration project. While the Nickname, colors, font style, ect were all my idea, and while I physically put the concept togather the awesome fonts were all done by DirtyCurty, so thanks to him for all his help.

Since the Tuscon Sidewinders are planning on moving to Reno, NV for the 2009 season I decided to make a concept. It's a bit unique so I thought I'd give a bit of an explanation on certain details.

First off, the name. I decided against going with Reno as the city name due to the fact that narrowing down the growing market to just Reno would be a bit of a mistake IMO. I went with Northern Nevada because in this area that is a HUGE focus. While Reno is the biggest city in the area, there are a ton of quickly growing towns in the area, including Sparks, Dayton, Gardnerville, Minden, the Capitol Carson City, and of course the entire Lake Tahoe area. If you were to turn on a Reno news cast you would probably never hear the word Reno mentioned, but you would hear Northern Nevada (Nor-Nev as a common abbreviation and/or nickname) several times.

I chose Navy, Silver, and White because the colors are synonomus with the Northern Nevada area. In fact, those are the University of Nevada, Reno's colors. Another Benefit would be that anyone who is dissapointed that the name isnt Reno can take some solace in that the team uses colors that have such a strong tie to the Northern Nevada area, Reno specifically

I chose the nickname Naturals because it flows extremely well with the NN formal name. One thing that the Reno AAA team really needs to avoid is a gambling theme, it's something baseball, well, sports in general is trying to avoid, so why name a team after something you're against? I've always loved the movie The Natural, and I've always thought that the name Naturals would be a great name that sounds good and ties in memories of the game as it was played years ago. In today's world of steriods people often long for when the game was more pure, or might I say, more natural

The grey road cap was inspired by the Staten Island Yankees and their new look.

With all of that, I present to you,

THE NORTHERN NEVADA NATURALS.

C&c is MUCH appreciated.

BUTW, template provided courtesy of Swiss.

[TBGKon]

I like the idea, the colors work well together, the style is great for a western team, and the Nor-Nev script actually looks better than I thought it would. This concept could definitely work for AAA baseball.

The only problem I would have is the name. As you probably know, new minor league teams in generally come up with original names. If the Northwest Arkansas AA team wasn't named the Naturals this season, I'd say your idea is a lock. Since you're from the area, do you know of any non-gambling related names that could work the same way Naturals does?

[Fjm]

I'm not sold on the number font for readability reasons, but it's interesting. Could you show what the other digits look like?

[kewp80]

I like, but since Northwest Ark. already has that name you may be settled with finding a new one.

I love that font though, wondering what it is. EDIT: Just randomly found that font, Vanilla Whale, if anyone wants to know. I like it.

My last critique would be a stronger main logo. The NN by itself looks great, but as an alternate/cap logo. Pretty nice job on these man.

[FiddySicks]

I'm not sold on the number font for readability reasons, but it's interesting. Could you show what the other digits look like?

Unfortunately I can't. The only digits I had made up were the 5 and 6. I like them because they match the font of the uniform and are still pretty readable, but I can see your point. I'll see if theres a way to smooth out the uniqueness a bit.

[FiddySicks]

I like the idea, the colors work well together, the style is great for a western team, and the Nor-Nev script actually looks better than I thought it would. This concept could definitely work for AAA baseball.

The only problem I would have is the name. As you probably know, new minor league teams in generally come up with original names. If the Northwest Arkansas AA team wasn't named the Naturals this season, I'd say your idea is a lock. Since you're from the area, do you know of any non-gambling related names that could work the same way Naturals does?

That's exactly what me, and the people who are bringing the team to Reno for that matter, are trying to avoid. Not only would a gambling name not make any sense in a league that is worried about moving a pro team to Vegas because of gambling (In part), but it would also be a huge turn off to the people of the area. I would think that they would ahve to go with a name that is either slightly generic, like Silver Sox (which has been mentioned), or something that is unique to the area, such as the Sierras, or Alpines, or Piners, or something. But unfortunately, none of that seems to work as well IMO.

[gueman]

Not sold on the NorNev, name. Perhaps Tahoe Naturals would work better. Although naturals does have a gaming connection too, although 99% would not make the connection. Also the number font is to hard to read, just knock off the little bumps at the end.

[Braden]

I love the number font & the GRAPHITE!

[DomTheAthlete29]

Okay lets be realistic, what minor league team has 4 hats?! Right, zero. Two is definetly the max.

[TBGKon]

Okay lets be realistic, what minor league team has 4 hats?! Right, zero. Two is definetly the max.

Realistically, there is one team. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have 4. Should they??? Probably not, but they do.

Home

Road

Saturday Alt

Sunday Alt

[Cujo]

Superb work on the NorNev gear, Bufcan! I've gotta say the fonts are boss, as well as the navy and gray color setup. Fits the Reno-area tremendously.

Just to get started, I might have placed the digits on the left side instead of the right on the primarys because that's what most (if not all) teams go with when there is a full script across the front. I would also use either of the navy hats with the road uniforms, or perhaps the road alternate hat with the gray bill, simply because the use of a gray hat reeks of alternate. Aside from that, the home/road combo is stellar.

Again with the alternates, I might do away with the home alt cap and just go with the home primary. I like them, but it seems lik the white-panel hats from the 80s are more of a gift shop item these days than an actual on-field hat. Plus the that style of hat goes kinda takes away from the beauty of the vests. Love em!

Once again though, great work putting these unis together. When the times comes, I'd really like to see the relocated Reno franchise can come up with something very similar to this.

[RPimpsner]

Okay lets be realistic, what minor league team has 4 hats?! Right, zero. Two is definetly the max.

Staten Island has 5 including their BP cap.