Gloucestershire could Rebrand as Bristol

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club are considering a rebrand which would see them be known as Bristol in next season’s T20 Blast.

New CEO Will Brown is keen on the initiative and is adamant the move will lead to an increase in membership at the club. However, the move is expected to be strongly opposed by current members, who are being asked to give their opinions on the matter.

The only other side to have a different name in the T20 Blast are Warwickshire, who changed their name back in 2013 to the Birmingham Bears. The went on to win the competition in 2014 in their first season playing under the new name.

Gloucestershire enjoyed a successful limited overs season in 2015. The won the Royal London Cup, their first trophy in over a decade. Despite the success in the 50-over competition, Gloucester failed to make an impression in the T20 Blast and had to settle for a mid-table finish in the second division of the County Championship.

The ECB are currently though to be considering having a city-based T20 franchise system in the hope it will improve crowds and boost the game’s profile. However, this has met been met by staunch opposition by the counties and fans who fear the move could end up only benefiting counties with Test grounds. If Gloucester did follow Warwickshire in re-branding, this would be seen as another step in the direction of franchise cricket.

A decision is likely to be made before the start of the new season but if Brown stays true to his word and listens to the members, it seems unlikely that the move will be pushed through.