Why Columbus Clingstones will play part of this season with a new team name
The Columbus Clingstones have announced that the club, the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will participate in Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative in 2026.
For three games during the season, the Clingstones will play with an alternate identity, changing their team name to the Columbus “Refrescos de Fuente,” which translates to “Fountain Drinks” in English.
The Copa de la Diversión is “designed to connect teams with their local Hispanic communities through culturally relevant identities, enhanced ballpark experiences and community engagement,” the news release said. One club will be recognized as the Copa de la Diversión champion at the end of the season.
“Inspired by Columbus’s historic nickname, ‘The Fountain City,’ and the creation of popular sodas in the area, Refrescos de Fuente celebrates the city’s rich connection to fountains and soda culture,” the Clingstones said in a news release. “Columbus holds a unique place in the history of American soft drinks, with deep ties to the early development of fountain beverages that would go on to shape the industry nationwide.”
Columbus is known as The Fountain City for its numerous public fountains throughout the city. And it was also home to Coca-Cola originator Dr. John Pemberton and various sodas made by Nehi and Royal Crown Cola.
The Clingstones will play May 14, June 23 and July 11 home games at Synovus Park as the Refrescos de Fuente in specially designed jerseys and caps, along with on-field branding and themed in-game entertainment to celebrate the Copa de la Diversión, or “Fun Cup” in English.
The Clingstones will give a Refrescos de Fuente flag to the first 1,000 fans May 14 and a Refrescos de Fuente “shirsey” (a hybrid T-shirt and jersey) to the first 1,000 fans July 11.
The Clingstones open their second season April 3 at Synovus Park against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
