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Discontinued North American Team Names

Can you guess the team names in the four major North American leagues that have been discontinued since 1990?
Counts names that no longer exists, even if the team itself lives on
Gold indictates a minor name change
Doesn't include the Black Hawks, now the Blackhawks
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: February 3, 2022
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First submittedFebruary 8, 2013
Times taken15,336
Average score46.2%
Rating4.10
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MLB
2021
Indians
2007
Devil Rays
2004
Expos
NFL
2021
Football Team
2019
Redskins
1998
Oilers
NBA
2014
Bobcats
2008
SuperSonics
1997
Bullets
NHL
2011
Thrashers
2006
Mighty Ducks
1997
Whalers
1995
Nordiques
1993
North Stars
44 Comments
+1
Level 85
Aug 22, 2013
What about the NBA's Charlotte Hornets?
+1
Level 92
Jan 23, 2014
Seconded. Unless another team has picked up the name?
+2
Level 84
May 4, 2014
Bobcats are going back to Hornets next year. So then Bobcats should be added to the list.
+2
Level ∞
Aug 12, 2014
Bobcats are now on the list
+1
Level 47
Nov 7, 2014
Also until the hornets relocated back to charlotte the Hornets mascot was used by New Orleans
+2
Level 28
Nov 8, 2014
The Atlanta Flames and the original Ottawa Senators are missing in the NHL category. Also, I wouldn't put the Mighty Ducks there, they just went from Mighty Ducks to the Ducks, they didn't really move or disappear...
+5
Level 81
Nov 8, 2014
but they did discontinue use of the name "Mighty Ducks." I even remember when that happened.
+3
Level 89
Aug 3, 2018
Emilio Estevez and I shared a good cry.
+19
Level ∞
Dec 30, 2020
I remember very clearly. I was on my way to work and I stopped to pick up lunch at the grocery store. The clerk said to me "did you hear that the Mighty Ducks just changed their name to the Ducks". At first I didn't realize the magnitude of the event. I just paid for my lunch and left.

Back at the office, everyone was gathered around a large screen TV that had been set up in the lobby. For hours, people were watching ESPN, slowly taking in the massive event that had just unfolded. Eventually, it was decided that people could leave work if they wanted to spend time with their families.

That day felt like the end of an era. It would take decades for the wound to fully heal.

+3
Level 77
Aug 30, 2023
this is the first time i've ever seen quizmaster open up about his trauma. Thank you for sharing this with us, quizmaster. We're here for you
+1
Level 68
Mar 8, 2024
Wow, the check out person actually conversed with you?
+2
Level 85
Jul 27, 2020
I guess Redskins should be added to the list - even though their new name hasn't been announced yet, the old name has been officially retired. They are, temporarily at least, the "Washington Football Team."
+8
Level ∞
Dec 30, 2020
It would be very meta if they end up going simply by "Football Team".
+3
Level 87
Dec 30, 2020
Washington FC
+1
Level 62
Dec 31, 2020
or The Footballers
+2
Level 92
Mar 11, 2021
I hope they choose something like 'Socceroos,' just to mess with people.
+2
Level 45
Mar 24, 2021
The best one I've heard is The Washington Name Redacteds.
+6
Level 78
Jan 3, 2021
The should just go as Washington Team Football, or simply WTF...
+1
Level 77
Dec 30, 2020
Baseball's Washington Senators should be here, too.
+2
Level 93
Dec 30, 2020
The quiz starts in 1990. The last incarnation of the Senators left in 1971 to become the Texas Rangers in Arlington TX.
+1
Level 77
Dec 30, 2020
Oh. missed that clarification! My bad.
+1
Level 76
Mar 24, 2021
And it is a discontinued name, but my understanding is that the Senators' nickname, or short form, was the "Nats" - which played a major role in naming the relocated Expos the Nationals. At least so said the woman sitting next to me the only time I went to a game there.
+1
Level 89
Dec 30, 2020
Kind of funny Vancouver's hockey team goes unblemished.
+3
Level 69
Jan 3, 2021
Canuck isn't an offensive term.
+2
Level 70
Dec 31, 2020
NHL Kansas City Scouts-New Jersey Devils; MLB Seattle Pilots-Milwaukee Brewers
+1
Level 93
Jan 1, 2021
See my comment above re the quiz starting in 1990. There have been many team relocations/name changes prior to that date.
+2
Level 85
Mar 24, 2021
Between being the Kansas City Scouts & the New Jersey Devils, the franchise was the Colorado Rockies.
+1
Level 73
Jan 2, 2021
what about the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA?
+1
Level 59
Jan 25, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies. City changes are a different topic.
+1
Level 64
Mar 24, 2021
really don't think we should be including offensive racial slurs in this quiz, even if it was the teams name. (this is coming from a fan of the WFT btw)
+2
Level 24
May 6, 2021
shhh people dont want you to talk
+1
Level 70
Mar 24, 2021
There are teams that really should change their name but haven't. The most glaring, though, is the Utah Jazz. When I think of jazz, Salt Lake City has never once - in my entire life - come to mind. With all the natural beauty in Utah or even the rather unique history of the LDS, surely there's a name far more emblematic for the team.
+1
Level 89
Mar 24, 2021
They should trade straight across with the NFL team from New Orleans - The Utah Saints, the New Orleans Jazz. This would almost certainly lead to world peace! ;)
+1
Level 79
Mar 24, 2021
Another one that comes to mind is the Los Angeles Lakers--they went from the "state of 10,000 lakes" to an area with zero lakes.
+1
Level 56
Mar 25, 2021
The team was originally the New Orleans Jazz. I agree they should have picked a new name when they moved.
+1
Level 71
Mar 24, 2021
What about the New Orleans Hornets changing to the Pelicans in 2013?
+1
Level 56
Mar 24, 2021
Discontinued names which have been picked back up haven't been included. Technically speaking, Browns and Jets should appear as well.
+2
Level 76
Mar 25, 2021
Team names that should have been discontinued:

Jazz (New Orleans, fine. Salt Lake City - really?)

+1
Level 66
Mar 31, 2021
I don't know, Joseph Smith was pretty adept at improvisation.
+1
Level 30
Jul 31, 2021
What about the Cleveland Barons and the California Golden Seals in the NHL?
+1
Level 74
Mar 23, 2023
Not too bad, I scored 11/13. Thanks for the quiz!
+1
Level 78
Jun 28, 2023
There was a team called the Thrashers as recently as 2011? I guess I really don't follow the NHL.
+1
Level 91
Sep 2, 2024
Yeah, I only tend to follow the NHL in the postseason and if you had asked me when the Atlanta Thrashers ceased to exist, I probably would have guessed 1993.
+1
Level 55
Aug 7, 2024
Time to add Coyotes for NHL!