Kent Predators now Seattle Timberwolves

KENT -- The Kent Predators indoor football team is changing its name to the Seattle Timberwolves.

Tom Dowling is the latest owner since the Predators joined the Indoor Football League last year. He promises stronger marketing -- including the name change effective Friday.

"We're going to regionalize the team a lot more and make it more attractive for everybody in the Puget Sound region to attend the games," Dowling told KIRO-TV.

Fan Carole Keller applauded the name change, saying, "Maybe, being female, I don't like the name 'Predator' much."

But another fan, Lucy King, saw no need to change "Kent" to "Seattle."

The team will continue to play at Kent's ShoWare Center. KIRO says the team has been averaging about 2,000 fans per game.

Kent is coming off a 60-42 loss to the Tri-Cities Fever and is just 1-5 in the IFL.

This story was originally published April 13, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Kent Predators now Seattle Timberwolves ."