The Edmonton Oilers are not currently changing their name. The team's name, however, did undergo a significant transformation in its early history, evolving from the "Alberta Oilers" to the "Edmonton Oilers."
The Evolution of the Oilers' Name
The initial formation of the franchise by Hunter for the World Hockey Association (WHA) saw the team established as the Alberta Oilers. This naming choice reflected an original strategy for the team to play games across two major cities: Calgary and Edmonton. The idea was to create a regional presence, hence the broader "Alberta" designation.
However, circumstances quickly led to a pivotal change. Due to financial considerations, the team's operations were consolidated. In the season immediately following their founding, the franchise moved solely to Edmonton. To accurately represent their new, singular home base, the team's name was then tweaked to the Edmonton Oilers.
This historical adjustment solidified the team's identity with the city of Edmonton, marking a key moment in the franchise's development from a multi-city concept to a dedicated Edmonton-based entity.
