Alliance of American Football - Team Names and Logos

[CaliforniaGlowin]

They had the perfect opportunity to be different and get fans' input on these.  Instead they did what they all do: "here it is, like it or lump it!".

[CaliforniaGlowin]

5 hours ago, Joe said:

 

We carefully selected, and deliberately applied color so that each team will only require one uniform. There will not be home/away jerseys or alternates.

All color vs. color!  Nice!

[jaha32]

Been following this thread since September and with the unveiling of the uniforms, there's a lot to like:

 

The whole league, logos and unis, have a cohesive look and that's the result of having the same designer(s) do the whole league. I'd rather have a league full of logos of equal quality/style compared to a league with a mixture of some amateur and some professional designs which often happens in startup leagues. Compared with the two other recent football leagues that come to mind (FXFL and UFL), the FXFL had great logos but bland, high school-looking uniforms. The UFL just had some bright colors but too many gradients on the logos, and uniforms that were over-detailed with helmets having weird center striping.

 

With the AAF, the team logos and nicknames are all well thought out. The Birmingham Iron have one of the best names - modern and fitting. Non-plural nicknames are a nice change of pace from the NFL which has 32 teams all ending in 's'. And it's about time we have a team called Memphis Express regardless of how predictable it is. San Antonio Commanders is another great name. Atlanta Legends is probably my least favorite but still solid.

 

My main gripe is the numbers on one side of the helmets as others have said. To me, some of the best football helmets are those with symmetry on both sides. I'm thinking of the way the tail of the Patriots, Cardinals, Eagles, for example, both come to points that mirror each other on the back/front when both sides are visible. The Commanders could have had this with the swords both facing forward. The Express helmet is perfect (gradient and all..did I just say that?) and it's because the way both sides meet and mirror symmetrically. I even like the two-toned Commanders helmet with the Alamo. Maybe the Iron were going for a blue-collar helmet, but just wish the they had helmet decals.

 

The fact that each team will only have one jersey is a good idea to start out. I'm assuming this might change if the league were ever to expand, but for now it allows each team to solidify a consistent look that fans can immediately recognize. It ensures a consistency that college football doesn't give anymore with different unis and helmets week to week.

[WideRight]

I believe having only 1 uniform will help with brand identity.  One clear look for each team.  But, I would expect that if the league reaches a point where they are going to expand they will then have to consider adding a clash uniform (not necessarily white, but something different from the primary).  

 

[Sodboy13]

The replica jerseys the league is selling are disappointing trash, though. Fully sublimated, no shoulder numbers, different logos on each sleeve even though most of the real jerseys don't have sleeve logos at all, and an oversized wordmark where the nameplate should be. And a $99 price tag to boot.

[Lee Noire]

Seeing the Iron uniform on a player makes me think the pants should have been grey. I get the no nonsense look and vibe they were going for so the logo-less helmet works for me, but the rest does look quite drab.

 

The part that blows my mind is that even with its shortcomings the set still works because it continues the theme of unique identities within the templated uniform design.

[Green27]

3 hours ago, Sodboy13 said:

The replica jerseys the league is selling are disappointing trash, though. Fully sublimated, no shoulder numbers, different logos on each sleeve even though most of the real jerseys don't have sleeve logos at all, and an oversized wordmark where the nameplate should be. And a $99 price tag to boot.

 

Yeah..."commemorative" or some garbage like that. 

[Lee Noire]

Yeah they are just limited run souvenirs basically. I assume the game day jerseys will be sold later.

[Gothamite]

6 hours ago, CaliforniaGlowin said:

They had the perfect opportunity to be different and get fans' input on these.  Instead they did what they all do: "here it is, like it or lump it!".

 

Sounds like a really bad idea. I’m not sure a brand-new startup league can really lay claim to any significant number of “fans”. 

[andrewharrington]

7 hours ago, CaliforniaGlowin said:

They had the perfect opportunity to be different and get fans' input on these.  Instead they did what they all do: "here it is, like it or lump it!".

 

The problem with getting fan input is that unless you can get tens of thousands of people to participate (and take it seriously), it’s nearly impossible to isolate any trends in the data. On top of that, fans are generally thinking on a reactionary “do I like it/is it what I expected” level, whereas the design work will encompass not only name, color, logos, and uniforms, but also the brand voice, extensions into other media, stadium/arena experience, architecture, merchandise, concessions, etc.

[CaliforniaGlowin]

I get all that but they started to get fans when the logos were released. A preview on social media would have gotten fan comments and input.  that's what I meant.

[WideRight]

The different Facebook pages of each team are revealing images/videos from the unveiling events and there seem to be some elements of the uniforms which the main AAF image release does not show:

 

1. Atlanta's pant stripes are a crown with a triangle stripe below it.

 

2. Orlando's shirt and pant side stripe are split as two thick stripes with a thin white stripe between them. 

 

3. The AZ pattern on the helmet stripe of Arizona is repeated on the jersey side stripe.

 

4. San Diego seems to be going with a metallic gold, not athletic gold (yellow) on the helmets, and the chevrons are the helmet design, not the Naval Academy stripes.

 

5. Salt Lake has a silver helmet, and the royal blue seems darker/flatter, making for a better contrast with the light blue.

 

 

[nuordr]

I like some of these jackets: 

 

Atlanta Legends:

 

 

Orlando Apollos: 

 

 

San Antonio Commanders: 

 

 

Memphis Express: 

 

San Diego Fleet: 

 

Arizona Hotshots: 

 

Birmingham Iron: 

 

Salt Lake Stallions: 

 

[CaliforniaGlowin]

I wish the Iron had that beveling on their uniform numbers.

[BBTV]

This league is killing it. Those jackets are really well designed. There’s a real professional feel with this whole thing that you just don’t get with any of these fly-by-night leagues or even AFL. 

 

Hope XFL is taking notes. 

[Ferdinand Cesarano]

1 hour ago, nuordr said:

 

 

 

 

 

For sure this is going to turn up on the show Atlanta, just as a poster for Atlanta United did.

 

 

 

 

[agentrygraphics]

Those light blue wings on the Salt Lake helmet get absolutely lost on that tone of silver.

[mkg74]

Needs a white helmet instead. 

[CaliforniaGlowin]

I'm slowly starting to come around to have the fleet as my second team.

 

 they could have really went off the wall and had fans submit designs for the uniforms! you know how good some of these designers are on here.

[Gothamite]

On 11/29/2018 at 2:32 AM, CaliforniaGlowin said:

I get all that but they started to get fans when the logos were released. A preview on social media would have gotten fan comments and input.  that's what I meant.

 

Do you really want “fan comments and input”

on a logo that is already complete?  That seems like a recipe for disaster.