SPRINGFIELD, MA – Blue Sox team officials announced today that they will be changing their team’s name from the “Holyoke Blue Sox” to the “Valley Blue Sox” effective immediately.
The move, the team says, will help better position their brand heading forward.
“We want fans to know that we’re the Valley’s team,” said Blue Sox President Clark Eckhoff. “We’ve got dozens of great communities in our region, and by changing the name, we’re sending a more inclusive message: We want to be the Valley’s summer destination for fun, affordable, family entertainment.“
The newly minted Valley Blue Sox hope that the move will help them significantly expand their overall footprint in the Pioneer Valley as well as positioning the team as community partners.
“Changing the name allows us to cast a much wider, more inclusive net on a variety of fronts,” said General Manager Hunter Golden. “It allows us to connect with the large number of local youth baseball leagues, nonprofits and organizations; all of which provides us with a better opportunity to integrate our brand into the community.”
While the Blue Sox are looking to continue to expand their brand south of Holyoke in traditionally populated markets like Chicopee, Springfield and West Springfield, the team will also set its sights north towards Hampshire County and beyond.
“I think one of the things that works to our advantage is that we play our games in Holyoke, so it allows us to reach a big audience, both north and south of the city” said Golden. “Yes, we feel like the name change will help us gain more traction in the Springfield’s, Chicopee’s and West Springfield’s below the line, but it also opens up a world of possibilities for us north of the line – in communities such as Northampton, Hadley and Amherst.”
For the Blue Sox – it’s all about bringing more people to Holyoke.
“At the end of the day, it’s about reaching as far as we possibly can,” said Eckhoff. “We have a tremendous advantage being in Holyoke geographically and for families looking to have an affordable, entertaining night out at the park, we have an outstanding product. We hope the name change will help encourage them to come up to Holyoke and give us a try.”
About the Blue Sox:
The 2014 season will represent the Blue Sox 7th season in Pioneer Valley, playing at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. The Blue Sox have been a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL www.necbl.com) since 2008. The NECBL is funded in part by Major League Baseball and is comprised of 12 teams throughout all 6 New England States who recruit the elite athletes and premier pro-prospects from around the world.