"Red Claws"?!

by portland dleague on Apr 14, 2025 9:46 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

Curious as to what some D league fans think about the name for the Maine team. I for one am not a huge fan, but the list of potential names didn't offer too much anyways. Another question, which city is a better fit for the C's now that Springfield has announced a team as well? Now that there is another team in New England, i'm sure the Celtics organization is looking into it.

Poll

Which City would make a better Celtics D league team?

Portland, Maine

19 votes

Springfield, Mass

16 votes

35 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

As you said

The options were limited. I didn’t prefer any of the options.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 14, 2025 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would think

that the Springfield team would be more accessible for the Celtics and their fansbase. It’s a mere 1.5 hours away from Boston, and the team would more than likely be bolstered by Celtics fans, especially if Celtic rookies/players are down there rehabbing or developing.

Also, Portland is closer to 2 hours north and I’m not sure what the fanbase is like up there.

by IcemanCometh on Apr 14, 2025 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing that Portland has going for it

Is the front office people - a prime investor is the owner of TD Banknorth, where the Celtics play.
Jon Jennings, a former Celtics assistant, is also running the show, which helps them out.
Proximity isn’t much of a difference, a half hour, but I’m not familiar with the fan bases of the cities either.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 14, 2025 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm interesting,

I wasn’t award of the ownership connections. You may be right then…. it all depends on what the Springfield team gets named. If it’s the Peach Baskets, then there is no way the Celtics can turn a blind eye.

by IcemanCometh on Apr 14, 2025 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the other hand

Springfield is also more accessible to the non-Boston Northeast teams, and at least until Harlem or Trenton or both gets a team, It would be more of a travel hassle for movement between Maine and, say, NJ, if any were to occur. Also I’m pretty sure Maine has its share of Celtics fans, unless they’re Raptors fans, which I doubt.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 14, 2025 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maine Minor Leagues

Maine has fantastic fans. They have supported many minor league teams, currently the Portland Sea dogs, a Red sox minor league team, among others.

Also the fans in Maine seem to be Boston Fans on steroids in many cases. So starved are they for professional sports, they come out in force to support their minor league teams, and follow all the Boston Major league teams extremely closely. Portland, Maine will without a doubt support the Red Claws.

On the other hand, Springfield seems to be a dying city. I don’t have any information to back this up, but while the team in Portland seems to fit in nicely with the culture of minor league teams there, the team in springfield seems to be an attempt to revive the city, that currently is suffering both economically and socially in many areas.

Not sure how recent this list is…

http://www.statestats.com/cit05pop.htm .

Springfield is the 18th most dangerous city, while Portland is the 17th SAFEST metropolitan. What exactly this all has to do directly with the new D-league teams, not sure, but it doesn’t sound good.

by Jirimania on Apr 15, 2025 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was some in depth research...

we’ll see how this plays out. But I suspect you’re right. The Maine team will more than likely flourish.

by IcemanCometh on Apr 15, 2025 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This isn't that far off

The Basketball HOF synergy was also there and that’s really the main reason they wanted to have a team in Springfield. It seems kind of odd that you can go to Springfield and not actually see a basketball game. This is good for Springfield and I voted for Maine. Portland’s whole team is full of Boston Celtic’s people.

by hkf on Apr 15, 2025 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I found the halftime entretainment for the Red Claws...

this will be at the first home game

by IcemanCometh on Apr 14, 2025 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oops.... broken link

try here

by IcemanCometh on Apr 14, 2025 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Behind the scenes...

This is a good point. I have talked to Jon Jennings and even been in the Maine D leagues front office. It is all green and white with Jon’s Celtics Jersey’s decorating the walls. It is clear who he believes will pick this team up….

BUT i just feel like it is more sensible to have a team in Mass, where the C’s are and the HOF. Im pulling for Maine though….

by portland dleague on Apr 15, 2025 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It would be more sensible

I’ll agree on that point. Jon’s commented here before, and I was hoping he’d weigh in. Regardless, I read an interview (can’t find the link) that said that the owner of Springfield joined, knowing that Boston wasn’t really an option.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 15, 2025 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like that you guys erased the informational Red Claws post

total lurker.

by IcemanCometh on Apr 22, 2025 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I figured

That we’ve already covered that the Red Claws will be beginning to play in the D-League next season and that the D-League is a development league. If they want to bring something additional to the table, I’m okay with it, but I don’t think there was anything included that we haven’t already covered.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 22, 2025 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ticket prices starts at $10!!!!!!

or something like that…first 100 kids (under 12) will get a free lobster claw hot dog!!!

by IcemanCometh on Apr 22, 2025 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

I didn’t delete it, just hid it. If you think it’s worthwhile to leave up, please send me an email expressing your concerns and I’ll forward it to the powers that be. I am kind of afraid of doing anything with these 2 new teams after the lashing I got for not taking the Springfield naming process seriously.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 22, 2025 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs