(LEAD) SSG Electros? Shinsegae applies for trademark on potential new baseball team name

▲ This image provided by Shinsegae Group on Feb. 1, 2021, shows Electro Man, the brand character for the group's home appliance shop, Electro Mart. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Members of the SK Wyverns train at Kang Chang-hak Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, during spring training on Feb. 1, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ Members of the SK Wyverns train at Kang Chang-hak Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, during spring training on Feb. 1, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ This composite image provided by E-Mart on Jan. 26, 2021, shows the logos of E-Mart (L) and the South Korean pro baseball club SK Wyverns. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) baseball club-name

(LEAD) SSG Electros? Shinsegae applies for trademark on potential new baseball team name

(ATTN: ADDS details, comments in last 6 paras, photos)

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Searching for a new nickname after purchasing a professional baseball club, South Korean retailer Shinsegae Group said Monday it has applied for a trademark on a name inspired by its home appliance shop.

Shinsegae said it has sent in a trademark application for Electros, taken from its Electro Mart chain.

Shinsegae acquired the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in a surprise deal announced last Tuesday. E-Mart, the country's biggest discount store chain run by Shinsegae, will take over from the No. 1 mobile carrier, SK Telecom, for 135.2 billion won (US$121 million).

KBO clubs are mostly owned and run by large business corporations. Their parent company's name comes in front of the nickname, with the SK Wyverns themselves being an example. Under the new ownership, the team will get an entirely different name.

SSG is expected to be the company name in front, taken from Shinsegae's online mall, SSG.com.

Shinsegae said it felt it needed to get Electros trademarked during its discussions for a new team name. One Shinsegae official said talks are ongoing and the group is open to all possibilities, including maintaining the current name.

The Wyverns opened their final spring training under the current name later Monday on the southern island of Jeju. The team's general manager, Ryu Sun-kyu, said two Shinsegae executives in charge of the baseball club acquisition visited with the team earlier in the day.

"They talked to us about why Shinsegae Group decided to purchase our team and the group's philosophy behind the move," Ryu said. "Our players and coaches have high expectations about what Shinsegae Group can do for us."

The two Shinsegae executives also told the team that "Electros" is one of the candidates for the new name and that nothing has been finalized.

"We told them our fans love our red uniform and black hats because they're the symbols of our dynasty," Ryu added, referring to the Wyverns' run of winning three championships in four seasons from 2007 to 2010. "But Shinsegae will make the final call."

The transaction will be finalized on Feb. 23.

Ryu said the team will start wearing a temporary, non-SK uniform starting with unofficial practice games on March 5. The goal is to have the new Shinsegae uniform ready by the start of the exhibition season, around March 20.

(END)

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