Goodbye, placeholder: Cream City’s professional soccer club will soon net its official name and crest.
Milwaukee Pro Soccer has partnered with Cramer-Krasselt, a Milwaukee-based marketing agency, to create the future USL Championship franchise’s brand identity.
This announcement comes after the community submitted more than 4,000 team name ideas and 200,000 total votes during a tournament-style competition that narrowed down to 10 candidates: Milwaukee Tall Boys, Milwaukee Barons, Goodland, Milwaukee Brigade, Lake Effect, Fresh Coast, Milwaukee Iron, Cream City, 1846 Milwaukee and Milwaukee Industrial.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The franchise and the agency will take input from the advisory vote to develop a final name, badge and brand identity that is “representative of Milwaukee’s culture, history and ethos but also looks forward to the city’s bright and vibrant future,” Milwaukee Pro Soccer officials said.
“From the beginning of this process, we’ve worked to engage the community, our fans and soccer lovers from across the region in choosing a name that’s reflective of our shared values,” said Conor Caloia, Milwaukee Pro Soccer chief operating officer. “After extensive interviews with the top marketing and branding firms in Milwaukee and the surrounding area, the team at Cramer-Krasselt best reflected the values and vision we have for this club and the experience we want to deliver our fans.”
Milwaukee Pro Soccer will play in the USL Championship, the second-highest tier of professional soccer in the United States.
“With a 125-year history in Milwaukee, we are passionate about our city,” said Betsy Brown, Cramer-Krasselt executive vice president and managing director. “We’ve worked with some of the most iconic brands in Milwaukee, and we know how important that deep-rooted understanding is to make a meaningful connection. It takes an agency that knows Milwaukee culture to deliver something that truly embodies the people, the fans. And we’re thrilled to help Milwaukee Pro Soccer bring their brand to life.”
Planning and work also continue to move forward on the Iron District Milwaukee development and an 8,000-seat stadium that will be home to the future USL franchise, in addition to Marquette University’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams.
“We want to deliver a stadium that our fans will enjoy and be proud of in a world-class development,” Caloia said. “That work is ongoing, but it takes time, especially in an environment of rising interest rates and construction costs.”
Milwaukee will join 27 other clubs in the USL Championship, including Miami, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Detroit and Indianapolis.
