What should the name of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants be when they move to Noblesville?
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Indiana Pacers' minor-league team, are planning to move to Noblesville for the 2024-25 season.
A name change is planned, so what are some options?
Here are 5 possibilities, some logical, some completely illogical.
Cast your vote in our poll below or send us a suggestion at nat.newell@indystar.com.
(Reggie) Millers
Noblesville High School is the Millers and with the most famous Pacer being Reggie Miller, it's a natural.
According to the Noblesville High School athletic website, C.B. Jenkins of the Noblesville Milling Company bought the school new uniforms in 1925 in exchange for using the nickname Millers. Grain milling was an important industry in Hamilton County dating to the 1850s due to the White River.
Roundabouts
While Carmel is known as the roundabout capital of the world (at least around here it is), the rest of Hamilton County, including Noblesville, loves the alternative intersection as well. Almost 300 roundabouts have been built or are planned, according to a March 8, 2022, IndyStar article, with 34 in Noblesville and another 13 planned.
Hamilton County Musicals
Tap into the hugely successful Broadway musical "Hamilton" by Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the 2004 book "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow about the American founding father. It has the fourth-most revenue by a Broadway show at more than $800 million.
Speed
The Indianapolis area is, of course, known for the Indianapolis 500 and naming this team Speed would fit that motif and pair with the Indy Fuel, a minor-league hockey team based in Fishers.
Deer Creeks
Deer Creek, in addition to being, of course, a creek, was the original name of the concert venue in Noblesville. It's currently Ruoff – and is down the street from the proposed local of the new basketball facility – but has gone through many names and there are plenty of people in the area who still refer to it by the original name.
IF POLL DOES NOT APPEAR, click here to vote.
Slicks tops nickname suggestions
The most popular suggestion has been the Slicks, in honor, of course, of Slick Leonard, the coach who led the Pacers to their ABA titles, saved the franchise with a telethon in the early NBA years and served as a long-time radio analyst.
Other suggestions included: Tenderloins, Pacers, Boom Babyze, Racers, Hickory, Red Barons, Viscounts, Marmon Wasps, Prairie Dogs, Nobles, Trotters.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What should nickname be the Pacers' minor league team in Noblesville?
