Ah, the names that might have been....

While we wait for Philadelphia to decide on a name we look back on some attempts to name or rebrand current MLS clubs.

Yes we all laughed at Penn Jersey Independence FC but there are other names which could have stuck elsewhere around the league.

Most dedicated MLS aficionados know of the aborted attempt to name Houston Dynamo, Houston1836, indeed it was a near certainty until something unfortunate happened...

Lesser known might be that Toronto FC was to be named Inter Toronto FC, or the Colorado Rapids rebranded as Arsenal Colorado FC to coincide with the link between owner Stan Kronke and London's Arsenal FC.


While digging for more dirt to get you through that last day at work before the weekend we uncovered the following domain names were also registered by the league:


Instead of 1836 or Houston Dynamo, how about:

HOUSTONLONESTAR.COM

Registrant:
Major League Soccer LLC.
420 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US

Domain Name: HOUSTONLONESTAR.COM

Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :
LLC, Major League Soccer
john.sullivan@mlsnet.com
420 5th Avenue
7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US
Phone: 212-450-1263

Record expires on 16-Dec-2009
Record created on 12-Feb-2007
Database last updated on 25-Jan-2008


NOTES: MLS Liked this name so much that even after the Dynamo won MLS cup they registered the domain the following February.

Alot of MLS fans dislike the name Real Salt Lake. We think it is perfectly fine but MLS might have gone instead with:

FCSALTLAKE.COM

Registrant:
Major League Soccer LLC.
420 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US

Domain Name: FCSALTLAKE.COM

Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :
Major League Soccer LLC.
john.sullivan@mlsnet.com
420 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US
Phone: 212 450 1200

Record expires on 18-Jun-2011
Record created on 18-Jun-2008
Database last updated on 18-Jun-2008

NOTES: What do you think? Would FC Salt Lake have been a better choice than Real?


Red Bull New York, New York Red Bull, New York Red Bulls, whatever you chose to call them MLS covered all bases but one domain name reveals the full name of Red Bull NY, or what it might have been...

REDBULLNYSC.COM

Registrant:
LLC, Major League Soccer

420 5th Avenue
7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US

Domain Name: REDBULLNYSC.COM


Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :
Major League Soccer LLC.
mwhitehead@mlsnet.com
420 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US
Phone: 212 450 1200

Record expires on 08-Mar-2012
Record created on 08-Mar-2006
Database last updated on 25-Jan-2008

NOTES: Well "SC" fans rejoice! It appears that someone at MLS or Red Bull liked the "Soccer Club" abbreviation enough that it almost became part of the official club name.

So much so that MLS and or Red Bull went to extreme lengths to buy up domains with it:

//Other_permutations/
# Sc-redbullnewyork.com
# Sc-redbullnewyork.net
# Sc-redbullnewyork.org
# Sc-redbullny.com
# Sc-redbullny.net
# Sc-redbullny.org
# Scredbullnewyork.com
# Scredbullnewyork.net
# Scredbullnewyork.org
# Scredbullny.com
# Scredbullny.net
# Scredbullny.org

And of course DC United was once going to be:

Word Mark	WASHINGTON D.C. UNITED
Goods and Services	(ABANDONED) IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: printed matter, namely, posters, stickers, trading cards, programs, tickets and magazines concerning soccer. FIRST USE: 19960101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960101 (ABANDONED) IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: wearing apparel, namely, T-shirts, shirts, shorts, pants, jackets, sweatshirts, hats, sweaters and footwear. FIRST USE: 19960101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960101 (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: production of television and radio programs on professional soccer games and exhibitions. FIRST USE: 19960101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960101
Mark Drawing Code	(3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code	03.15.01 - Eagles 26.17.13 - Letters or words underlined and/or overlined by one or more strokes or lines; Overlined words or letters; Underlined words or letters
Serial Number	75005315
Filing Date	October 13, 1995
Current Filing Basis	1A;1B
Original Filing Basis	1B
Published for Opposition	July 9, 1996

Of course the league itself at one time was going to be called Major League Professional Soccer (MLPS) rather than MLS:

Owner	(APPLICANT) MAJOR LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 2029 CENTURY PARK EAST SUITE 400 LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90067
Attorney of Record	EDWARD T GOINES
Disclaimer	NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "WASHINGTON D.C." APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark	TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register	PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator	DEAD
Abandonment Date	November 3, 1997