The Utah Hockey Club is moving on from its planned “Yeti” nickname after the US Patent and Trademark Office rejected the name due to a likelihood of confusion with the Yeti Cooler Company. The team will now allow fans to vote on three options: Utah Hockey Club, Mammoth, and Wasatch.
According to Mike Maughan, an executive at Smith Entertainment Group, the team attempted to negotiate a coexistence agreement with Yeti but was unable to reach an agreement. As a result, the team has decided to move forward without the “Yeti” name.
The new options for the Utah Hockey Club’s nickname are inspired by Utah’s geography and local culture. The Wasatch option is seen as a nod to the mythical snow creature, with a focus on its connection to the state’s mountain range.
Fans will have the opportunity to vote on the new nickname during the team’s next four home games, which will take place from January 29 to February 4. This marks the third round of voting for the team, following an initial fan vote and a second phase of voting that resulted in “Utah Hockey Club” as the interim identity.
While this process has been complicated, the team is committed to finding a permanent name for the upcoming season.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-hockey-club-scraps-permanent-yeti-nickname-due-to-copyright-dispute-with-cooler-company-233559308.html