The moniker Royals was also used because Seagrams was known as Canadian royal whiskey. But in 1942 Rochester wanted to be a dry community and not support liquor. So for the next two seasons, they became the Rochester pros. In 1945-46 they joined the NBL as the Rochester Royals.
by Coryjduggins
5 Comments
1923-24 season was their first.
Allan Eber, first sponsored the team in 1923.
In 1936, Eber Brothers, primarily a produce distributor, obtained the Seagram’s franchise
for Rochester and used that division of their company as the basketball team sponsor.
The team was known as the Rochester Seagrams from 1936-37 to
1941-42. In 1942-43 they
were the Rochester Eber/Seagrams but that season the city of Rochester wanted to be a
dry community and not support liquor. In 1943-44 and 1944-45 they were known as the Rochester Pros.
In 1945-46 they joined the NBL as the Rochester Royals.
That’s still kind of a headscratcher considering 1923 was the middle of Prohibition, but I guess they figured something out.
It’s fitting, because between 2006 and 2022 I needed to consume copious amounts of Seagram’s to stomach the basketball I was watching
Id be down to change our name back so that we arent copying the NHL Kings name
And fun fact about Seagrams, the family money that came from the company went on to greatly fund the cult NXIVM, aka east coast scientology as two of the heiress were deeply under the thrall of founder and noted volleyball lover Keith Raniere.