Worcester Red Sox representative rebuffs quick name change after John Oliver offer; outlines public naming process
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Summary
A team representative told the commission that while the club would entertain banter from 'Last Week Tonight,' it does not plan an immediate name change; the representative described the public process that produced the Worcester Red Sox name and noted MiLB/MLB approvals would be required for any change.
A representative for the Worcester Red Sox told the commission on May 14 that the club was not pursuing an immediate name change after a May 4 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver segment offered to rebrand minor-league teams.
“We'd rather him talk about our name and get people talking,” the team representative said, describing the segment as free publicity and noting the club’s willingness to “banter” about it. The representative told commissioners the club values the connection to the Red Sox identity in the region and described the public process the organization used to pick its name.
The representative said the city and the club solicited public input when the team moved from Pawtucket, receiving more than 1,000 submissions that produced about 218 distinct names and a selection process that narrowed entries through multiple rounds. The representative noted the organization also uses alternative, novelty names on promotional nights — for example, “Wicked Worms Night” — that allow the team to sell specialized jerseys and merchandise.
The representative cautioned that changing the team’s name would not be a simple or immediate step. “It's also a major process,” the representative said, noting approvals would be required through Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball.
Commissioners did not take action on the matter; the discussion was informational and prompted by a commissioner sharing the John Oliver segment and asking staff about potential interest from the team.
