Why are Sports Logos so important? Why do sports teams use logos?
A name and logo are the key assets when an entity in the field of sports strives to build in-depth relationships with its fans. Fans are the life of a sport and they tend to generate buzz around the sports entity and thus become responsible for the revenue streams through various business categories, e.g. merchandise sales, ticket sales, etc.
The responsibility of a sports logo is that it provides identity to the specific team. It makes it look professional, memorable, and easy to recognize. The team’s desire was that their logo design must be presentable which is why their sports logo designs are simple, compact, and brief.
A logo is not just an icon that is placed on tournament tables and products (caps, T-shirts, mugs, etc.). It is a strategic decision to judge how your team is being perceived by fans or players.
An emblem works both ways. It sets a kind of mood inside the team and also influences the way your team is seen by other people.
A logo that is well thought out expresses your commitment to your cause and urge to be taken seriously.
It can make your team look distinctive. With a good logo, your chances to get an invite to a major league or find sponsorship shoot up greatly.
Best Sports Logos
Dallas Cowboys
The blue star logo of the Dallas Cowboys is the representative of the state of Texas as “The Lone Star State”. The design was created by Jack Eskridge in 1960 and in 1964, he added a white outline to give it a 3-D effect. The logo is famous for its simplicity and the choice of its colour. The colour choice was strategic, depicting calmness and representing the nature of the approach of the team.
Texas Longhorns
William Andrews designed the logo of the Texas Longhorns. Texas historian J. Frank Dobie explained the significance of the logo – The head symbolises strength, power, and freedom.
Major League Baseball
In the year 1968, Jerry Dior, an American Graphic designer created the logo for Major League Baseball. The logo was based on a series of magazine photographs. The reason to choose the silhouette was due to its ambiguity. The player’s nationality and the way he plays – right-handed or left-handed – were not revealed, representing a great social message. The design – a white silhouette flanked with red and blue colour blocks, has influenced many other sports.
Detroit Red Wings
The winged wheel logo was inspired by the first team who won the Stanley Cup in 1893- the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association’s Winged Wheelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Republic Steel of Cleveland suggested the Steelers consider the Steelwork as a helmet logo to honour the steel heritage of Pittsburgh. It is a circle enclosing three diamonds with inward-curving edges known as hypocycloids.
Create your own Logo
After knowing the benefits of the sports logo and evaluating the logos of different teams, it is time to know the steps on how to create one of our own.
1. Generate ideas
An icon creates a unique image for your team, so it is important to make the impression you want to leave. You should associate with your team, such as the native town, stadium, nicknames of players, etc.
2. Learn from others
Always take inspiration from the other teams’ logos. Always be on the look for creative ideas used by the other teams and encourage yourself to work harder for a better result.
3. Consider different kinds of options
Logos come in different types – Abstract compositions, or feature words. A graphic element is very important for the success of your logo. If the logo only features the team name, it may not evoke emotions and associations.
4. Explore different fonts
In logo design, fonts are very complicated and deserve special attention. A font can make or break an emblem. Fonts are of all forms and sizes.
5. Create sketches
If you already have an idea in your mind, do not procrastinate otherwise that idea would fade away. Put it down on paper without worrying about your drawing skills. These ideas are a part of the rough draft and not the final product. Do not criticise your artworks and as many sketches as you want and can, even if they are similar to each other. The more choices you have, the better. Later shortlist the best option and refine it. A good logo must be efficient both in colour and black-and-white.
6. Make your list
By this time, an idea of the icon’s appearance is clear. Next comes the selection of the variants that speak to you. This decision can be tough and so ample time must be invested to analyse each sketch. The logo must be informative, easy to perceive, one-of-a-kind, and relevant. Sometimes intuition can guide you in the right direction. Ideally, you must narrow it down to three sketches in your list.
7. Ask for input from others
Asking for other people’s opinions is always a good idea. Your artworks are perceived with a fresh pair of eyes, and they can point out mistakes or suggest some robust improvements. Teamwork contributes to building trust and support within the team.
8. Add the final finishing touches
The logo is a way of communicating with the world. People will not connect with a poorly designed emblem. They desire cool sports logos. So a balanced design, both in terms of meaning and visual style is highly pivotal.
9. Share your logo with others
Share the visual portrayal of your team. Creating a logo is just halfway done if you do not know how to connect it to the people. Use your marketing strategy and personal preferences, and advertise your logo on a variety of platforms, like clothes (T-shirts, sweaters, etc.), stationery, your official website, and letterheads.
Final Words
A clever, powerful sports logo is the best spokesperson for your team. It is feasible to take the region’s iconic landmarks and colours into consideration, as they add layers to your team’s logo, paving a great way to get noticed and reach out to everyone. By being active in the logo creation process, you can make an icon a realistic reflection of your team.
