The New Britain Rock Cats, the Double A baseball team associated with the Colorado Rockies, currently plays in New Britain, but is slated to move to Hartford in 2016. In preparation for the move, the team ran a contest to come up with a new name, and Hartford residents responded with ten monikers, which have now been cut down to the final five.
The finalists are Yard Goats, Whirlybirds, River Hogs, Praying Mantis, and Hedgehogs. The people who came up with the names explained what they meant.
The Yard Goats, for instance, was suggested by Anthony Castora, who says the term is the name given to switch engines that get a train ready before another locomotive takes over. The name honors the rich history of railroading that Hartford enjoys.
The Praying Mantis, suggested by Jackson Grady, honors the state insect, while Julio Concepcion's ‘River Hogs’ refers to a river flowing under Hartford. The Hedgehogs, suggested by Ashley Picard, refers to Hartford's insurance industry, and Keith Timme's ‘Whirlybirds’ pays tribute to the city's helicopter manufacturing industry, and the helicopter school located here.
The winner will be announced at a press conference scheduled for March 18 at the Wilson-Gray YMCA. People can vote on the internet, but the final winner will be chosen by team officials.
They might consider working with a banner printing company to create a piece for the announcement that displays the new name.
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