Glad we got that settled.
New owner Jim Crane ended a week of speculation and rare attention on a national level and anticipated backlash among Houstonians, saying he would not change the name of the club – a possibility he floated last week.
“You asked for change and we added several fan friendly initiatives last week and we hope you like them,” Crane said in a video message to season ticket holders. “We will continue to listen, and to look for additional ways to improve on and off the field.
“One thing that we are not going to change is the name. We received strong feedback and consensus among season ticket holders and many fans, and we will not change the name Astros. The Houston Astros are here to stay.”
Crane said he would consider the franchise’s second name change last Monday at a press conference to announce lower ticket prices and the end of the ban on outside food at Minute Maid Park.
You can watch the video here. I had said this wouldn’t go over well, and an unscientific Chron poll confirmed that fans were strongly against the idea. Of course, if the real idea was to remind people that they did still care about the Astros, then mission accomplished. Just don’t do it again, OK?
I don’t think it was ever an actual desire. I suspect it was just to prove “everything’s on the table”, while also being media savy: “talk about me for free”. Glad it he didn’t let it linger. A week is about all it’s worth to milk before actual backlash happens.