Athletes and their fans are quite superstitious people. And if they get so worried about their routine and equipment details before an important match, then changing the logo is practically blasphemy. However, nothing in this world is permanent — changes come as quickly as Neosurf Casino instant withdrawal. That's why we researched the most famous sports logo redesigns and found out how they affected the teams themselves.
The three most successful logo changes in sporting history
The team logo is its talisman. A successful combination of symbols can reflect the identity of a sports club, its ideology, status, and much more. And the initial version may not always be able to cope with such tasks — sometimes it is necessary to revise the elements of the coat of arms so that the club can move forward.
Manchester City
Today, players will easily recognise the emblem with a ship and a rose. England's leading football club has reflected its history in its logo, and fans have welcomed this return to its roots as an excellent idea. The ship symbolises Manchester's trade, while the rose represents Lancashire. This demonstrates the team's identity much better than an eagle behind a shield.
Paris Saint-Germain
Its original logo featured the Eiffel Tower and the royal cradle. However, the club's owners wanted the team to be as closely associated with the Parisian lifestyle as possible. The word Paris became the main element, and only the heraldic lily was left instead of the cradle. It is this logo that has become a world-famous superbrand.
Toronto Raptors
This Canadian basketball team also changed its logo at one time. The athletes simply outgrew the old emblem, even though their dinosaur was quite funny. Now, fans see a serious logo — a basketball with traces of huge claws. Interestingly, with the new image, the team won its first NBA championship.
Three total failures in the logo change
When a logo change is dictated not by the development of the club's identity, but by commerce or whim, it rarely turns out well. We have selected three of the most telling stories of when such a redesign completely failed and the teams returned to their old emblems.
Cardiff City
This English football team can be found under its traditional emblem of a bluebird. However, the club's owner once tried to radically change it in an attempt to attract the attention of Asian sponsors. The bird was made inconspicuous, and a red dragon took centre stage. This move angered fans and destroyed the club's identity, prompting the old logo to be quickly restored.
New York Islanders
In some cases, the opposite happens, and attempts to emphasise the team's origins fail. We will surely remember how the New York Islander's team changed their logo from a map of Long Island to an image of a fisherman in a yellow raincoat. The idea was generally correct — to highlight the marine culture of the region. However, fans ridiculed the implementation, and the club refused to use the new emblem.
Milwaukee Bucks
Although this basketball club has never been a leader in the NBA standings, it has a rich history. At one time, the club's management tried to promote it as a family- and child-friendly brand. They implemented this noble idea by replacing the proud deer with a cartoon version. This decision was ridiculed by everyone — fans, other teams, the media — so today the athletes compete under the old logo.
The most successful teams that have never changed their logo
So, for contrast, we decided to mention three teams that have not changed their emblem since their founding:
- New York Yankees — even those who know nothing about baseball know this logo and this team, which has become a legend not only in sport but also in cinema.
- Los Angeles Lakers — another example of a highly successful logo that has remained unchanged for decades and is recognisable on any basketball court.
- Real Madrid — a famous football club whose crest remains unchanged even now, despite its pretentiousness and fine details.
Each of these teams is a legend, each of these logos is a symbol. Yes, the overall appearance of the emblems has been slightly adjusted with the development of technology for the sake of digitalisation and merchandising. Still, the meaning of the logo has always remained the same.
The power of a logo — truth or fiction?
So, we know about teams that have never changed their logos and are recognisable even to those who do not follow sporting events. We are aware of those who have redesigned their brand, which has catalyzed a new phase of growth and development. And, of course, we know about those whose decision to change their emblem was a failure. Do logos influence the success of clubs? Undoubtedly, the fighting spirit and desire to win depend on the self-identity of the athletes and the support of the fans. Perhaps this is why such changes are rare — teams prefer not to risk symbols that bring good luck.
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