Hull City to be Known as the Hull City Tigers in Controversial Rebranding

August 9, 2013

Premier League newcomers Hull City AFC are to rebranded as the Hull City Tigers by the start of the 2013-14 season, in a move that could upset fans.

Hull will lose the Association Football Club (AFC) moniker which has been a part of the club since their formation in 1904.

Club owner Assem Allam (pictured) told the Hull Daily Mail: “Hull City is irrelevant. My dislike for the word ‘City’ is because it is common. City is also associated with Leicester, Bristol, Manchester and many other clubs.

“I don’t like being like everyone else. I want the club to be special.

“It is about identity. City is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long.”

According to the report in the Hull Daily Mail, Allam will market the club as Hull City Tigers locally and Hull Tigers internationally.

Supporters vote against

The move has not been received well by fans, with a poll on the official supporters’ club website showing that 89.17% of 120 votes were against the rebranding.

Allam’s son and the club’s vice-chairman Ehab Allam, defended the decision though, calling the AFC part of the club’s name ‘redundant.’

“We have dropped the AFC as it is something which has become redundant,” he said.

“The identity of the club is the Tigers, the stripes, and the colour scheme of amber and black, which remains.

“We just feel that, now being on the international stage, we need to strengthen the brand identity.

“AFC is redundant, it is not used by the club, the fans never mention AFC, nor do the media.”

The club will continue with the same crest which has AFC on it for the forthcoming season, but will change during the 2014-15 season.

Allam, and Egyptian-born businessman took over the club when the Tigers were relegated in 2010 and is credited for saving them from a potential financial crisis.

{jcomments on}