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Hull City Tigers

August 9, 2013 by · Comments Off on Hull City Tigers 

Hull City Tigers, Hull City AFC will be renamed Hull City Tigers, it has been revealed by the Egyptian-born owner who runs the risk of stoking a backlash among fans.

Owner Assem Allam has confirmed that the club will abandon the Association Football Club moniker at the start of the new season. It has been part of the Yorkshire club’s name since its formation in 1904.

Mr Allam made the announcement in the Hull Daily Mail, saying: “Hull City is irrelevant. My dislike for the word ‘City’ is because it is common.

“City is also associated with Leicester, Bristol, Manchester and many other clubs.

“I don’t like being like everyone else. I want the club to be special. It is about identity. City is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long.”

Any references to AFC on club branding are to be phased out, although AFC will remain on the shirt crest during their first season back in the Barclays Premier League, before being removed from the 2014/15 campaign.

Assem Allam celebrates after the team is promoted to the Premier League
According to the Mail’s report, Mr Allam wants to market the club as Hull City Tigers locally and Hull Tigers to national and international audiences.

“In the commercial world, the shorter the name, the better. The more it can spread quickly,” Mr Allam said.

He took over Hull City in 2010 following their relegation from the top flight and his investment is credited with saving the club from a significant financial crisis.

“I have always used short names in business. It gives you power in the science in marketing. The shorter, the more powerful the message. In Tigers, we have a really strong brand,” Mr Allam said.

Mr Allam’s son and vice-chairman Ehab Allam defended the decision to drop AFC from the club’s name

He said: “AFC is redundant, it is not used by the club, the fans never mention AFC, nor do the media. We have dropped something that is redundant, that is of no value, and is of no use.”

However, Ehab Allam admitted the club could not force people to accept the rebrand.

He said: “People have the right to call the club what they like, it’s their club.

“We are not going to fans and saying they all have to refer to us in the same way.

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