Hurry! You have a little more than a week to submit a Hagerstown baseball team name

Dave McMillion, The Herald-Mail
·2 min read

What will be the name of the new minor league baseball team that starts play in Hagerstown next spring ?

Will it be tied to the region's history? A clever play on words?

Chuck Domino of Domino Management Consulting Co. has helped sports teams come up with names before. And he said when the public is involved in the effort, like the one currently underway for the new team in Hagerstown, it's often something the club never expected.

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"We're anxious to see if that's the case again," said Domino.

Domino is helping Downtown Baseball LLC come up with a name for its new baseball team that's expected start its first season next spring when the Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility at Baltimore Street and Summit Avenue is completed.

How do I enter the contest?

Project officials decided to let the public name the team through an online contest at Herald-Mail Media. By clicking on the link for the Name the Hagerstown Baseball Team under the "Extra, Extra" heading at www.heraldmailmedia.com, people will be directed to the contest. After giving their email address, participants will submit a name and will have the opportunity to describe the reason behind it if they wish, Domino said.

This architect's rendering shows the Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility that is under construction downtown, looking from West Baltimore Street toward Summit Avenue. Downtown Baseball LLC is seeking the public's help in naming the new Atlantic League of Professional Baseball franchise that will play in the new stadium once it's completed next year.

The link went up on the website Monday and as of late Tuesday afternoon, about 100 names had already been submitted, said David Blenckstone, general manager of the team.

Entries will be accepted until June 5 and people will be able to vote for their favorite team through the link between June 21 and July 7.

What are the prizes?

The winning name and its creator will be announced at a news conference on July 20, Domino said. That person will also get two free season tickets for the team's inaugural season and a team jersey and hat.

Four random entrants will get two tickets to opening night and a team jersey and hat, and 10 random entrants will get two tickets to opening night.

Close to $70 million in state funds have been secured to build the stadium, which will also be used for community events and festivals.

Earlier this week, the stadium authority released an architect's rendering of the facility, which shows where its main entrance will be off the Hagerstown Cultural Trail behind center field.

The stadium design features a variety of seating, from high-top table configurations to fixed grandstand seats, club suites, a kids zone and a VIP area that gives a unique close-up feel to home plate action, said Al Tyler, vice president of a capital projects group for the Maryland Stadium Authority, which is overseeing the project.

Tyler said foundation work is under way and he anticipates that steel will start going up around July.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Downtown Baseball LLC turns to the public to name Hagerstown team