The Atlanta Braves have made it clear that they have no intentions on changing their team name, according the the Associated Press.
What We Know:
- This announcement comes after both Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians and the NFL’s Washington Redskins have both announced there are talks regarding the future of their teams names and identities.
- The Atlanta Braves, who moved to Atlanta in 1966, have held on to the name ever since inception when the team resided in Boston starting in 1871.
- The Braves made a statement regarding their connection with current Native Americans tribes and said, “The Atlanta Braves have a meaningful commitment to honor the Native American community and we are excited about working together to ensure this happens.”
- Since the Braves moved to Atlanta, fans have participated in a in-game spectacle called the ‘Tomahawk Chop’, which is accompanied by a presumed Native American war chant.
- The chant can be seen as offensive to Native Americans, and while the Braves aren’t the only team to partake in the chant they did previously promote the chant at all of their home games.
- According to Kevin Rosenthal of The Athletic , although the Braves have no intention on changing their name they have had discussions about wether or not they will continue the use of the Tomahawk Chop.
The Braves will have ample amount of time to determine if they want to continue the use of the Tomahawk Chop since fans have not been allowed back at the ballparks yet. Until then, the Braves have seemed to dodge the overwhelming pressure to change their branding that many other sports teams have faced this year.
