Jump to content

What do you do as a fan when you strongly dislike your team's branding?


Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, JonBoy said:

I really don't like the uniforms for either of my two favorite teams, the Orioles and VCU Rams.

 

For the Orioles, I don't really like the cartoon bird.  I can live with it, but I absolutely hate the white-paneled home cap.  The road look is much more tolerable and I wouldn't mind if they went all black for the road and moved the road to the home.  Just get rid of the white panel.  The "O's" hat is another thing that I can't stand.  Lastly, the orange jersey has flaws and inconsistencies that bug me.

 

For VCU, I really dislike their entire rebranding from a few years ago.  The "horned" V wordmark, the shield logo, the font, changing the color of the ram, treating the wordmark as a logo, the white letters on all uniforms...all of it.

 

To answer the OP's question, I either don't buy any of it, or as little as I can with the logos I don't like.  Or like Akronite said, fantasize about fixing it. 

 

Wow this is amazing to me because I like both of those identities a lot! The Orioles, especially at home and especially with their white-paneled cap, look gorgeous to me. The cartoon bird has grown on me and at this point I think I prefer it to the real bird.

 

VCU has a generic look for their uniforms, but I like the horn on the V and can at least live with white letters.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 88
  • Created
  • Last Reply

For me, both the Timbers and Blazers have elements of their official team identities that I can't stand.  My solution (obviously) is not to buy anything I don't like.  I'll wear Timbers jerseys (although I haven't bought one in a while), but the Blazers addition of the thin silver stripe on the sash has kept me from buying a jersey since 2002.  I was really hoping they'd fix that with the Nike update, but they didn't.  

 

For the Timbers, it's less the logo and identity than the really bad design of adidas' fan gear.  I literally haven't found a t-shirt or sweatshirt that I liked since they jumped to MLS.  It's all trash.

 

For both teams this has pushed me to finding "unofficial" team gear from local sources.  The Timbers Army does an especially great job with their No Pity Originals store and rotating locally designed gear.  Trillblazin is another local company that makes great Blazers clothes.  I love supporting my local artists and designers in this way and still repping my local teams.  Sometimes good stuff pops up on Cotton Bureau, too. Besides, Nike and Adidas don't need my money anyway.

 

https://trillblazin.net/

https://nopityoriginals.com/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I appreciate everybody's comments about minor quibbles they have with their favorite teams' uniforms, but I think the idea behind the original post was less 'I don't like the silver stripe in their home uniforms' and more 'What do you do if your team adopts uniforms that look like the love child of the Oregon Ducks' worst day merged with the Buccaneers all red color rush uniforms, and you have no choice but to have to deal with it for at least five years, and probably much longer.'

 

I've thought about this issue with my Jets upcoming change and I honestly don't really know what I'll do. Football isn't really a sport I follow a lot, but the Jets have irrationally been one of my favorite teams in sports and the one I most identify as a stereotypical fan, cataloging tragic loses for 30+ years and finding heartbreak and frustration in every season. I know an all military, silver/grey/black/neon green uniform with stencil letters and an all green American flag on each shoulder with a Nike logo slapped onto it for good affect is a horrifying thought that really would turn me off to the team as a whole. Will I actually follow them anymore? I don't know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me, I'm an Arizona sports fan. Overall I believe that the looks for all the teams were near perfect in the late 90's early 2000's. I still support and watch them all but these days it is a little bit harder considering they are all terrible teams for the most part. The issues that I have with the Identities don't really bother me a whole ton, I tend to buy old stuff as opposed to much of the new stuff. If there was a major departure from the identities of the current teams my support would wain and I'd probably watch less but luckily the teams that have departed from their original identities have been consistent with throwbacks.

 

For the Diamondbacks, I'm not a fan of their current look. If anything I will only buy merch that uses teal. Also, I really only wear the throwback colors with hats or jerseys. Really believe the purple, teal, and copper was a superior color scheme.

 

For the Suns, their current Identity is okay. They tried to emphasize more orange and black a few years ago but recently back on the purple and orange scheme again. If anything I've only bought throwback gear or current stuff that's only purple and orange.

 

The Cardinals, their current identity is fine with me. Maybe too much piping going on with the uniforms but they don't bother me too much. I've boughten jerseys and other merch throughout the years.

 

The Coyotes, I only buy stuff with the throwback logo. Which for a while, that meant using the secondary markets to find gear that I liked. Really glad they brought back the Kachina jersey as a third.

 

ASU Sun Devils, I really prefer Sparky to the Fork logo. Its a lot harder to find gear with the Sparky logo these days so when available I get that over the fork.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't really had identities I hate for my teams.  They've disappointed me with downgrades at times.  The worst thing is the "Wild" name.  I don't think it's a key reason in why I have yet to embrace them like I did the North Stars...but I really do hate that name.  I don't like any T-Wolves looks between the inaugural look and the current look. And I don't really have much T-Wolves gear, but I did buy a t-shirt with the current look because I like it.  Also have a throwback T. So like some of the others, when I don't like an element of my team's look, I probably don't buy merch.  But it does not impact my following of the team.

 

It does kind of impact my affinity for other teams.  I used to kinda like the creamsicle Bucs, 1980s/90s Bengals, Christmas Devils, and others.  When they downgrade (in my opinion) they sort of just become other teams, but they're not really "my team," anyway, so it's neither here nor there.  This also comes with age, as I really stopped having second-favorite teams, etc.

Disclaimer: If this comment is about an NBA uniform from 2017-2018 or later, do not constitute a lack of acknowledgement of the corporate logo to mean anything other than "the corporate logo is terrible and makes the uniform significantly worse."

 

BADGERS TWINS VIKINGS TIMBERWOLVES WILD

POTD (Shared)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, schlim said:

I appreciate everybody's comments about minor quibbles they have with their favorite teams' uniforms, but I think the idea behind the original post was less 'I don't like the silver stripe in their home uniforms' and more 'What do you do if your team adopts uniforms that look like the love child of the Oregon Ducks' worst day merged with the Buccaneers all red color rush uniforms, and you have no choice but to have to deal with it for at least five years, and probably much longer.'

 

As a Duck fan, I've rationalized a lot of hideous uniforms over the years.  I generally like 90% of what Oregon rolls out, but there are definitely some things that make my stomach turn.  The thing I always fall back to is "sure, it's ugly, but a least it doesn't have an orange beaver or a purple W on it." 

 

That thinking will carry you a long ways when your team makes changes you don't appreciate.  Sure, it would suck for the Jets to come out of the tunnel in neon green NASA flight suits, but that is still better than having a silver helmet with a flying elvis on the side, right?

 

My other suggestion still stands. Don't buy ugly gear just because you like the team.  Find unofficial gear, hang on to throwbacks, etc.  Vote with your dollar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, schlim said:

I appreciate everybody's comments about minor quibbles they have with their favorite teams' uniforms, but I think the idea behind the original post was less 'I don't like the silver stripe in their home uniforms' and more 'What do you do if your team adopts uniforms that look like the love child of the Oregon Ducks' worst day merged with the Buccaneers all red color rush uniforms, and you have no choice but to have to deal with it for at least five years, and probably much longer.'

 

I've thought about this issue with my Jets upcoming change and I honestly don't really know what I'll do. Football isn't really a sport I follow a lot, but the Jets have irrationally been one of my favorite teams in sports and the one I most identify as a stereotypical fan, cataloging tragic loses for 30+ years and finding heartbreak and frustration in every season. I know an all military, silver/grey/black/neon green uniform with stencil letters and an all green American flag on each shoulder with a Nike logo slapped onto it for good affect is a horrifying thought that really would turn me off to the team as a whole. Will I actually follow them anymore? I don't know.

 

I don't know how long you've been a member here, but those who know me know how I got my screen name (and what it used to be). And to those of y'all who fit that bill: aside from the currently-running Buccaneers thread in this forum, when's the last time y'all saw me mention anything Buccaneers? That should tell you all you need to know! 😁

 

Okay, the longer answer...I was already being turned off to my Buccaneers during the Greg Schiano's regime...but when these alarm-clock disasters coupled with the now-current logo came out, that was curtains for me--i pretty much quit my fandom after that.

 

And one would think that would be enough...but nooooo, because then, after having finally latched onto becoming a fan of the team after having moved to Nashville a few years back, the freakin' Tennessee Titans Snatit had to go and pull the okie-doke on me too! Thankfully they didn't change the logo or wordmarks, so I can still buy team-branded apparel. (And I like Columbia blue.) But I ain't about those uniforms, though--not one single solitary bit. My son and I do and will still rock our Mariota jerseys in the previous style, though. I really like those.

*Disclaimer: I am not an authoritative expert on stuff...I just do a lot of reading and research and keep in close connect with a bunch of people who are authoritative experts on stuff. 😁

|| dribbble || Behance ||

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Knicks - I was never a fan of the “modern era” uniforms. The silver adds nothing and new wordmark have the letters way to close to each other. Hopefully they bring back the championship era jerseys from the 70s and early 90s. 

Jets - I wish they stop wearing their green pants so often. They hardly used the white pants for away games when that’s suppose to be their primaries.  

Rangers - They’ve done almost everything right except the wordmark. It looked horrible under Reebok. They had the letters way too close and vertical. I think Adidas fixed it slightly but could be my eyes messing with me.

Mets - Probably the most perfect team in terms of uniforms and logos. One tweak, bringing back the Mr. Met patch for the blue alternatives but I can live with what they got. Aside from that, they’re almost perfect. 

XM4KeeA.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, Buc said:

 

I don't know how long you've been a member here, but those who know me know how I got my screen name (and what it used to be). And to those of y'all who fit that bill: aside from the currently-running Buccaneers thread in this forum, when's the last time y'all saw me mention anything Buccaneers? That should tell you all you need to know! 😁

 

 

I've been reading these forums for a long, long time (15+ years), and I wasn't trying to single anybody out, I just threw out two uniforms that have vaguely (for this board, that means a bunch) reached a consensus about being examples of ugly.


Thanks for the replies, Buc and Duck_Duck. It's responses like yours that make these boards really worthwhile.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a Dolphins fan who has never fully embraced the uniforms introduced in 2013.  Their all-white combo is the only look I find tolerable, so I've only bought white jerseys.  I typically buy more throwback stuff than current gear.  Lastly, I frequently remind myself that we're still the best dressed pro football team in the state of Florida.  🐬🐬🐬

"Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Dennis Miller

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, DG_Now said:

I waited until I could get this bad boy on sale for $30 and have it proudly in my closet and never on my body:

Buffalo%20Sabres%20jersey.jpg

 

Remember when we lived in a world where that existed??

 

As an addendum, I ordered this bad boy on sale today:

ff_3342875-2fa637a7c4bae96a30dbalt1_full

 

Heaven help me, the look is growing on me.

1 hour ago, ShutUpLutz! said:

and the drunken doodoobags jumping off the tops of SUV's/vans/RV's onto tables because, oh yeah, they are drunken drug abusing doodoobags

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Bucs fan, here (I know, surprising. It’s not reflected in my board name or anything). And I’ll give you a run down of what you do when your team’s branding is trash. 

 

1. Cry

2. Trash it to everyone you know

3. (here’s the only really good part) buy a :censored:load of gear from the previous set for dirt cheap. 

4. Cry some more

5. Lose almost all interest in the team

6. Buy select pieces of gear that you don’t mind (I have a Hat Club cap with the current ship on it)

7. Scour eBay for old gear

8. Try to add to any focus groups the team has asking if fans like the current look (Bash that #2 button HARD with this one).

9. Listen to them on the radio instead. While crying. 

10. Get so trashed during games that you can’t even see what they look like any longer

11. Repeat steps 1,4, and 10

12. Die miserable and alone

spacer.png

On 11/19/2012 at 7:23 PM, oldschoolvikings said:
She’s still half convinced “Chris Creamer” is a porn site.)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/5/2018 at 9:38 PM, BrandMooreArt said:

make mean tweets at the team. if there's enough and they're funny, the Dolphins won't ever wear an orange uniform again. i think it was the circus peanut comparison that really sold it

The saddest news ever...

I didn't even mind that shade of orange, because it showed as much bolder and vibrant on the glossy helmet decals and embroidery thread, but the dull matte uniforms made it look horrible, and correcting to the new orange make for a great "color rush" (although, I'd prefer it be worn with white pants).. that's even a situation where the "dark aqua"/"blue" might have been useful.. maybe..

Plus, I somewhat grew up with them wearing orange for certain big games, and FREAKING LOVED IT!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, JonBoy said:

I really don't like the uniforms for either of my two favorite teams, the Orioles and VCU Rams.

 

For the Orioles, I don't really like the cartoon bird.  I can live with it, but I absolutely hate the white-paneled home cap.  The road look is much more tolerable and I wouldn't mind if they went all black for the road and moved the road to the home.  Just get rid of the white panel.  The "O's" hat is another thing that I can't stand.  Lastly, the orange jersey has flaws and inconsistencies that bug me.

 

For VCU, I really dislike their entire rebranding from a few years ago.  The "horned" V wordmark, the shield logo, the font, changing the color of the ram, treating the wordmark as a logo, the white letters on all uniforms...all of it.

 

To answer the OP's question, I either don't buy any of it, or as little as I can with the logos I don't like.  Or like Akronite said, fantasize about fixing it. 

I almost disagree completely on the Orioles.. I'm a big Orioles fan and love the cartoon bird and the white panel cap.. I also really like their orange jersey.. I'm with you 100% on the "O's" cap though.. it's very unnecessary and tries too hard.. it's just  too gimmicky for me

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the Sabres, my choice is to buy very little post 1996 except for vintage lines.

 

Any 'secondary' teams I usually drop my casual fandom if they change to sub par logos/uniforms.

 

"Just when I thought you'd said the stupidest thing, you keep on talking" - Hank Hill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/5/2018 at 9:38 PM, BrandMooreArt said:

make mean tweets at the team. if there's enough and they're funny, the Dolphins won't ever wear an orange uniform again. i think it was the circus peanut comparison that really sold it

Well if the orange color rush jersey at least matched their orange and didnt look like Tennessee Vols orange it would be a start.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When the Islanders changed to the Gorton's Fisherman which I despised then and still do to this day I bought nothing with the logo on it, sticking with the vintage gear I had.  Though I'm not a Mets fan I also refused to buy anything during their "Mets In Black" BFBS era as well including as gift items for family who were fans of either at those respective times.  At the end of the day as consumers, the only real power we have if we don't like something (unless you're rich enough to buy a team and impose your will on them) is to vote with our dollars and hope enough others have the same view to cause a team to get the message that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.