Names on Jerseys

I've noticed in recent pictures of the KHL playoffs that player names are printed on jerseys in Latin script (i.e., what we use here) rather than Cyrillic.

Is this new for the KHL? Any reason for the change?

I read that vice president of KHL said that Latin will be on jerseys next season. Reason? maybe Tv rights... I do not know

Yup, all names will be in Latin text next season. Most likely due to the fact that the playoffs, and now the KHL channel are available in North America. Makes sense. They also said they are going to improve/standardize the jersey quality throughout the league, which most likely means they're going to mandate that teams use Reebok, like they tried halfway through season one. Good to see. It was sad seeing guys earning more than some NHLers wearing cheap sublimated jerseys.

y, u r right those Lutch Jerseys r terrible ))

This is ridiculous. Our league should think in our people, not in other markets. We are the ones who support the teams, who buy the jerseys, who watch the games...

This is ridiculous. Our league should think in our people, not in other markets. We are the ones who support the teams, who buy the jerseys, who watch the games...

They're trying to be an international league though, not Russian, and that means that you have to appeal to the majority of the markets, which in this case does not mean the majority of fans. There are a lot more people in Europe who read Latin letters than Cyrillic, so it's something they must do, especially if they still hope to attract Swedish, Finnish and Czech interest, and eventually teams.

This is ridiculous. Our league should think in our people, not in other markets. We are the ones who support the teams, who buy the jerseys, who watch the games...

Because no one else outside of russia participates in fanship of the khl (sarcasm). I live in canada and probably have a bigger russian jersey collection, and watch as many games as the average russian hockey fan.
Its about TV deals and globalization, not pleasing some small minority of picky russian hockey fans!
Very happy to see new reebok jerseys in english. It would definitely look more professional and I will definitely buy one.

It looks weird.
Not a bad idea although they should at least have the Latin text consistent with proper pronunciation.

Frankly speaking, I don't like it.

I find it a bit weird. You are trying to sell khl outside of Russia, but hate this tiny detail. Which, frankly speaking, is not gonna change almost anything for you. But at least people outside Russia who don't understand those letters, will be able to do something highly underrated, like being able to read the names of players

I don't like this. The vast majority of KHL's existing and potential fanbase is Russian. Even if they want to expand their reach to Europe and North America, Russian is an international language. It's not too difficult for non-Russian fans to learn a few cyrillic letters... they might as well get some intellectual and cultural benefit from being hockey fans!

I don't like this. The vast majority of KHL's existing and potential fanbase is Russian. Even if they want to expand their reach to Europe and North America, Russian is an international language. It's not too difficult for non-Russian fans to learn a few cyrillic letters... they might as well get some intellectual and cultural benefit from being hockey fans!

Very well said

I don't like this. The vast majority of KHL's existing and potential fanbase is Russian. Even if they want to expand their reach to Europe and North America, Russian is an international language. It's not too difficult for non-Russian fans to learn a few cyrillic letters... they might as well get some intellectual and cultural benefit from being hockey fans!

I agree with you, my friend didnt speak a word of Russian before he got into the KHL and started to look into it. After awhile he can now read all the clubs names, some of "more popular" player names and get around the website pretty well.

I wish KHL would just stay in Cyrillic, maybe more people will turn out like my friend and learn a little something or two.

I agree with you, my friend didnt speak a word of Russian before he got into the KHL and started to look into it. After awhile he can now read all the clubs names, some of "more popular" player names and get around the website pretty well.

I wish KHL would just stay in Cyrillic, maybe more people will turn out like my friend and learn a little something or two.

me the same. I did not know russian before khl. But I wanted to know the names of players, so I had to know some cyrillic letters (now I can read russian texts very well)

I suppose to be used both

In moving towards a mean, you sometimes lose something that is special.

I don't like this. The vast majority of KHL's existing and potential fanbase is Russian. Even if they want to expand their reach to Europe and North America, Russian is an international language. It's not too difficult for non-Russian fans to learn a few cyrillic letters... they might as well get some intellectual and cultural benefit from being hockey fans!

i agree, plus i would rather own a jersey with the names in Russian then in Latin even though i understand very little Russian

In moving towards a mean, you sometimes lose something that is special.

Absolutely

I can understand why Russians may dislike this move, but it is something that is necessary if the KHL wishes to market itself in and potentially expand into Western Europe.

today in an interview Medvedev states that KHL will become a part of a Pan-European league of about 50 teams (24 KHL and 26 best European teams) Another stupid brain-fart?

I can understand why Russians may dislike this move, but it is something that is necessary if the KHL wishes to market itself in and potentially expand into Western Europe.

Well I don't know. The NHL will most likely play some games in Russia. I don't think NHL teams will have names written in cyrillic (it would be stupid as well, tho)

today in an interview Medvedev states that KHL will become a part of a Pan-European league of about 50 teams (24 KHL and 26 best European teams) Another stupid brain-fart?

Yeah, he projected it for 2012-13. I wouldn't mind it if the KHL-proper keeps its existing regular season format with only CIS teams and then the playoffs combine the best teams from all over Europe. But having regular season matches like Amur-Davos or Barys-Lulea is just nonsensical. It would ruin established rivalries in each of the domestic leagues.

One of the coolest things about Russian jerseys is the Cyrillic names. I don't like it.

I dont like this either, but I guess it makes sense if they are going to do a pan-european league; interleague matchups would be a mess with 2 character sets on the ice

I dont like this either, but I guess it makes sense if they are going to do a pan-european league; interleague matchups would be a mess with 2 character sets on the ice

Write all names in Cyrillic alphabet then :sarcasm:

I don't think it'd be a problem. Players have numbers, and names can be translitered to match guides/TV if needed. It would make the other team feel more like the "away" team if you can't even read the names on their backs :D

I dont like this either, but I guess it makes sense if they are going to do a pan-european league; interleague matchups would be a mess with 2 character sets on the ice

There are already 2 character sets on the ice. When clubs visit Riga they still have their jerseys in Cyrillic, the only time Dinamo Rigas jersey is in Cyrillic is when we go on the road.

It dosnt make a big deal anyways.

What a stupid decision :shakehead

It's bad enough that Russian team jerseys, not to mention Ukr Blr and Kaz, are not in cyrillics because some people can't be arsed to learn it (or are too stupid to), now they do it in their own league as well?

What's next, announcements and interviews will have to be in English?

There are already 2 character sets on the ice. When clubs visit Riga they still have their jerseys in Cyrillic, the only time Dinamo Rigas jersey is in Cyrillic is when we go on the road.

It dosnt make a big deal anyways.

agreed

its only a big deal on the internets. we'll forget about this in a years time and find something new to ***** about ;)

agreed

its only a big deal on the internets. we'll forget about this in a years time and find something new to ***** about ;)

You missed my point, the two character set is not a big deal as it already happens in the KHL, I do not agree with the Russian clubs moving away from Cyrillic.

i like cyrillic ... real pitty !! i have russian jersey ... i bought some for my son.
by wearing them, he made the fashion in his school ... many other kids have jersey with cyrilic on it now. (we are in Switzerland)

++

the world gets standardized ...

everyone should keep its features.

What's up with our identity ?? world ! wake up !

watch ramstein .... we are living in america ! so sad and so true.

we should fight for that !!! keep our identity.

morality : keep our identity

PS : keep our identity

Another casualty of globalization. Pity. At least my collection of Russian jerseys in Cyrillic just got cooler!

i like cyrillic ... real pitty !! i have russian jersey ... i bought some for my son.
by wearing them, he made the fashion in his school ... many other kids have jersey with cyrilic on it now. (we are in Switzerland)

++

the world gets standardized ...

everyone should keep its features.

What's up with our identity ?? world ! wake up !

watch ramstein .... we are living in america ! so sad and so true.

we should fight for that !!! keep our identity.

morality : keep our identity

PS : keep our identity

amen! switzerland is one of the few countries left that still has respect for itself and nationalism

amen! switzerland is one of the few countries left that still has respect for itself and nationalism
Nationalism is retarded.

Nationalism is retarded.

you are in confusion!

Love the world ... but be yourself !

you are in confusion!

Love the world ... but be yourself !
Since when do you have to be a nationalist to be yourself? :shakehead

he wasn't talking about "being yourself" in the individual sense...

he wasn't talking about "being yourself" in the individual sense...
Neither was I.