The new Athens minor league hockey team is set to hit the ice next season with a name that echoes the city's legendary music scene. Introducing the Athens Rock Lobsters—a nod to the Athens-born band The B-52s and their hit song "Rock Lobster." As FOX 5 Atlanta reports, the team will be part of the expansively ranged Federal Prospects Hockey League and has the full support of the band behind its crustacean-themed moniker.
"Athens, Georgia is our birthplace and where we started our journey 'down the Atlanta Highway' to spread our homegrown groove out to the universe," said The B-52s in a snappy statement that would make lobsters everywhere snap their claws in approval. "‘Rock Lobster’ was one of our very first songs and we can testify that millions in the galaxy have gone wild to this deep sea surf anthem. We are truly honored to have our hometown hockey team named the Rock Lobsters. As the song declares 'Let’s rock!'" The accolades for an originality and certain zaniness of the team's name also comes from where the B-52s delivered their final show in January 2023—a 5,500-seat arena at the Classic Center complex—now home to the skating crustaceans themselves.
According to WABE, the team's name was result of a fan vote with over 8,000 entries. The Rock Lobsters managed to edge out "Classic City Panic," another music-inspired name referencing the Athens-based rock outfit Widespread Panic. "The name ‘Rock Lobsters’ struck a chord with our fans, blending music, creativity, and a touch of humor. It’s the perfect identity for our hockey team," conveyed Britton Briley, the team’s director of marketing.
While REM's legacy as an Athens musical legend wasn't tapped for hockey name fame, the choice honors an ethos of fun and quirky creativity that's synonymous with the university city, and sparks a connection between the puck-slinging action on the ice and the harmonious vibes of a band that's still rocking residencies in Vegas. The Rock Lobsters, set to join the eleven existing teams of the FPHL, are poised to bring a wave of enthusiasm and maybe a new twist on the, ahem, power play, as their games commence in the league's 2024-25 season.
