HJK buys team in Korea!! (Expansion team idea)

[Dtayl 104]

Seoul - Today, South Korean professional hockey player Han Jae-kuk announced the creation of a new hockey team based in Seoul in which the young star owns 10%. HJK partnered with Korean chaebol (that means conglomerate) Hanhwa who will own the remaining 90% of the team. In his statement about the team, HJK has stated he will be one of the team's brand ambassadors but will remain otherwise out of operations as long as he continues to play hockey in the VHL. 

 

As for the team itself, for now they will be playing in the Korean Hockey League, a minor league in South Korea. However both HJK and Hanhwa have said that they anticipate the team moving up into a more competitive league in the future. Specifically they are hoping that they can work with the VHL to incorporate the team into either the VHL or VHLM as an expansion team when the time is right. HJK has been outspoken about trying to include Asian teams in the league's expansion so this seems to fit his personal goals. Here are Han Jae Kuk’s words on where he sees the teams future: 

 

“I fully expect this team to be very competitive in the Korean Hockey League, we have put a lot of time and effort into creating a very strong roster. Of course I think that the future of the team will be in a bigger and more competitive league. The fan market in this city is huge and I expect that once our profit margins are revealed after the first year the viability of this team in Seoul will catch the eye of some big leagues. The market for pro teams in Seoul and other Asian cities are huge, and in hockey they are relatively untapped. What we are doing here in Seoul is tapping into that Market. When the VHL or VHLM opens up for expansion again we are 100% going to submit a bid for Seoul to be one of those expansion teams. I just can’t see a reason why hockey refuses to expand into the Asian market, honestly it makes me sad that the sport is so ethnocentric so we’re trying to change that.”

 

Following the comments by both HJK and Hanhwa the name and logo of the team was revealed to the public for the first time. The chosen name for the team was the Seoul Royals, a name that is owed to the history of Seoul as the capital of the Joseon Dynasty which ruled over Korea for over 500 years (1392-1897). Seoul is also still home to the surviving members of the Korean royal family.  The logo features a golden tortoise which pays homage to one of the unique royal seals of the Joseon Dynasty. The tortoise is also a nod to the famous turtle warships which were used by the Joseon dynasty in the royal navy. The logo also features a crown with the name of the city, Seoul, in Hangul (Korean). Overall the media and public reacted well to the unveiling of the logo in Korea. 

Word count: 513

Inspired by @Emi 

[Emi 229]

i love that i inspired someone to make a idea like this!

[BuildHelpAnum 2]

That’s big brain

 

[NickSunderbruch 392]

I love the idea of expanding hockey into Asian markets, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Not only is it a smart move socially, but financially too. I really like how you created a team like this, you really did your research on Korean history and I give you props for that. The logo could use a little touching up on, but then again it can always be improved, the work you put into this was astounding and I'm glad you did. 9/10