SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Memphis RiverKings take pride in listening to the opinions of their fans.  After years of receiving comments and suggestions on the team’s name since the move to the DeSoto Civic Center, the RiverKings will allow the fans to voice their opinion, and ultimately, have the chance to change or keep the name.   The team will accomplish this through an on-line survey that all fans can participate in.    

“The ‘RiverKings’ portion of the name is not going to change,” RiverKings Director of Business Operations Dave Mattice said.  “We are asking the fans if they would like to keep the “Memphis” name or if we should change to one that would more reflect the regional nature of the organization.”  

The team has been the “Memphis” RiverKings since its inception in 1992.  The team played its first eight seasons at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, TN before moving to the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, MS prior to the 2000-2001 season.               
 

“Fans ask us often about a name change ever since the team moved to Southaven.  Here is their chance to vote if they would like it to change,” Mattice said.  “We could remain the ‘Memphis RiverKings’ if the fans vote that way or we could have a new name beginning with the 2007-2008 season.”  

The voting for the possible name change will occur exclusively on the team’s website, www.riverkings.com.  On the right-hand side of the site’s front page, there will be a poll where fans will be able to select from five possible names.

The choices will be: Desoto RiverKings, Memphis RiverKings, Mid-South RiverKings, Mississippi RiverKings and Southaven RiverKings. 

Polling will begin tomorrow (Saturday, June 9) morning on the website and continue through June 30.  An announcement of the name with the most number of votes  is planned to take place at a news conference on July 2.   

The RiverKings’ 2006-2007 season ended on May 8 in the Northern Conference Finals with a 4-2 series loss to eventual President’s Cup Champion Colorado.  The club’s 39 wins were the most since the 2002-2003 season and third most in team history.