Springfield Cardinals rebranded as “Ozarks Springbirds”
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After more than two decades as the Springfield Cardinals, southwest Missouri's Double-A baseball team has a new name.
The club unveiled its new identity Tuesday night at Route 66 Stadium, announcing it will become the Ozarks Springbirds beginning with the 2027 season.
General manager Dan Reiter said the rebrand was designed around three goals: maintaining a connection to Springfield, representing the broader Ozarks region and preserving the club's ties to Cardinals baseball.
"We wanted to connect with our city, we wanted to connect with our region and we wanted to still be a part of Cardinals Nation," Reiter said.
The name "Springbirds" had already been used informally to describe the team. Reiter said it also creates a natural progression through the Cardinals' minor league system, with players potentially moving from the Springbirds to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds before reaching St. Louis.
The club also replaced "Springfield" with "Ozarks" as its geographic identifier in an effort to represent fans throughout southwest Missouri.
The new primary logo features a Cardinals-inspired bird and several references to Springfield and the Ozarks. A crown represents Springfield's "Queen City of the Ozarks" nickname, while three stars and a light blue background are taken from the Springfield city flag. The logo also incorporates imagery representing Ozarks trees and waterways.
