Beavers ask fans for new name

PORTLAND, Ore. -- As part of their ongoing exploration into a potential team-name change, the Portland Beavers are inviting fans to provide feedback and rankings for a list of five names, including the current moniker, at www.portlandbeavers.com.

The list of new nicknames under consideration includes: Green Sox, Sockeyes, Thorns and Wet Sox. On the team's website, fans are able to view initial design concepts for each new name and rank them -- along with the current name, Beavers -- in order of preference.

Recognizing that fan input is integral in a decision of this nature, the team recently conducted an online survey and utilized additional methods of polling, collecting input from more than 5,000 fans regarding a potential name change for the Triple-A team. The current initiative represents the next phase in fan involvement.

"Making the decision whether to change a team name -- especially a name with significant history -- is not something to be taken lightly," said Merritt Paulson, the owner and president of the Beavers. "Ultimately, we need to hear from our community and our fans before such a decision can be made. We invite everyone to let us know what they think on our website."

The team will collect the online information for a period of one week, and an announcement regarding the status of a potential name change will be made at a later date.