TOUCHDOWN! The Jammers, Eau Claire's newest athletic team, will kick off its inaugural season in June 25 as part of The Arena League.

Unveiled at 3pm on Thursday, July 18 – the first day of Country Jam, one of the area’s annual music festivals – Eau Claire’s newest athletic team officially has a name: The Jammers. The team is poised to enter The Arena League in its 2025 season, beginning that June, and will play five home games in the new 3,200-seat arena at The Sonnentag Event Center. (The new UW-Eau Claire facility will celebrate its grand opening in September.)

Hints of the new name were delivered two days prior to its unveiling at Country Jam: The first clue, a guitar pick. The second, a jar of jam. Earlier this spring, Chippewa Vallians were encouraged to submit their ideas for the team’s name, colors, logo, and mascot, and close to 1,000 entries were received.

Suggested names included The Rockers, Lumberjacks, Lumber Barons, The Blue Oxen, and The GoldBlues. The Jammers was suggested, and it was off to the races! UW-Stout alum Ryan Foose of Fooser Sports designed the logo: a bearded Country Jammin’ guy wearing a patriotic headband and red-white-and-blue plaid shirt while carrying a guitar in one hand and a football in the other.

Two variations of The Jammer's logo, created by UW-Stout alum Ryan Foose (Fooser Sports).

The Arena League was founded in 2023, and plays games on a field that’s 50 yards long and 85 feet wide. The Jammers will have six players on the field. With no kicking team either, players need to “go for it” on the fourth down, and go for one- or two-point conversions rather than kicking for extra points. The result is a faster and a higher-scoring game. 

For more info, visit the Eau Claire Jammers on Facebook or go to The Arena League’s website, where you can also purchase season tickets.