I worked on some of the early local advertising for the club back in 1996. Here's what we were told:
The name and logo were chosen by a design team at Nike that created all of the original MLS team logos and uniform systems. People (including us at the ad agency) initially assumed that it followed the same the pirate lineage as the city's NFL franchise, the Buccaneers. Since the logo didn't look at all "pirate-y" we pressed for clarification, as did others. I remember the eye-rolling throughout the agency when it was announced by Nike that the name was futuristic and referred to "a group of mutant beings" -presumably like the figure on the team's crest. When further pressed as to how this creature could play soccer, the design team at Nike, in one of the most contrived responses of all time, stated that as a mutant he controlled the ball with his mind.
Too bad he couldn't control the minds of the fans, who despite the team's early success, never fully warmed up to "the bat" as we used to call him, or the franchise for that matter.
Tampa Bay Mutiny was created in 1995.
Tampa Bay Mutiny ended in 2002.
After the unsuccessful bid to name the team the Tampa Bay Tampons, the new name was agreed to be the Tampa Bay Douchebags.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers established in 1976. This coming from a dolphin fan
Tampa is the name of the primary municipality in Hillsborough County. Tampa Bay is the name of the body of water that separates the City of Tampa from Clearwater and St Petersburg FL. Tampa Bay is also a reference to the Tampa Bay Area which includes the afore mentioned cities and the surrounding suburbs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are located in Tampa, and the Tampa Bay Rays are in St Pete, but all share the name and common geography.
Stephen Killow, Glasgow, Scotland
Tampa Bay Mutiny achieving a record of 4-21-2 (14 points).
Tampa Bay Bandits.
Tampa Bay comes from where Tampa is. They call it the Tampa Bay area because it is right near the bay of the Gulf of Mexico. I know this because I live in Pinellas County which is right below Tampa
The Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny are the only 2 defunct MLS teams.
Mutiny on the Bay was created in 1982-03.
Tampa Bay Rays