Vote for the new OKC Thunder logo

[metro]

OUAdonis, I think out of all them, the Yahoo poll and comments are really telling. Over 20,000 participants and 58% don't like it at all and another 24% voted Meh. I understand the values of "trying to stay positive", but that is still telling. We aren't thinking large enough folks. We have a national and international brand PBC bought whether we like it or not. Basically this whole ordeal reminds me of the old Oklahoma license plates "Oklahoma is OK!", yeah we're okay, but not great mindset! This logo/color scheme doesn't exude greatness, just average. I personally think we are a GREAT city with HUGE potential and we still settle for mediocrity on so many levels.

[OKCMallen]

OUAdonis, I think out of all them, the Yahoo poll and comments are really telling. Over 20,000 participants and 58% don't like it at all and another 24% voted Meh. I understand the values of "trying to stay positive", but that is still telling. We aren't thinking large enough folks. We have a national and international brand PBC bought whether we like it or not. Basically this whole ordeal reminds me of the old Oklahoma license plates "Oklahoma is OK!", yeah we're okay, but not great mindset! This logo/color scheme doesn't exude greatness, just average. I personally think we are a GREAT city with HUGE potential and we still settle for mediocrity on so many levels.

Yup, and all the apologists are making it worse.

[BDP]

these are the same people that will vote the freaking Olive Garden as the best Eye-talian in the Oklahoman's Best of OKC.

Sooooooooo true.

The thing is that I bet you could get 1/3 of the same sample to give the Olive Garden an F. Basically, when it comes down to it, in most things like sports, politics, design, etc. 30-40% of the people will fail anything that is not their idea. Everything sucks, but what they like.

Case in point: you had people calling in and writing to rip Thunder as the name, but then they would say that Barons or Outlaws would be A+ names.

The reality is that this logo is basically nothing. It's about as neutral as you can get. You can look around the league and find much goofier and cheesier logos and names:



I agree it is not that inspiring, but an F? No way. It doesn't project a bad or even goofy image, it translates easily to media and merchandise, and it doesn't try and prove a point or reinvent the nature of sports logos. I can understand why some who feel every new thing has to be a NEW thing, but I can't understand on what level it completely fails. Personally, I'd give a C, but also like the fact they didn't overreach with this. I give it points just for not being gawdy and not just being a cartoon image of a mascot. I guess what I am saying is that average in this case may be a good thing.

[n8ison]

You can look around the league and find much goofier and cheesier logos and names:

At least they (and every other professional sports franchise) were smart enough to put the City Name before the Team Name. Our crappy logo reads THUNDER- OKC... ridiculous.

[BDP]

Over 20,000 participants and 58% don't like it at all and another 24% voted Meh.

That's probably the standard for internet polling. Disgust and indifference dominate much of the discourse. Add the fact that you're talking about sports then pretty much, with a few exceptions here and there, most will hate anything any other team does. So, lack of approval from 80% of the voters wouldn't surprise even if they'd come up with an award winning design.

Yup, and all the apologists are making it worse.

Yeah and the knee jerks are doing so much to help the situation.

Some are just trying to give some perspective and point out that, while they didn't come up with the best design in the league, there's is nothing about it that warrants the violent reaction.

[MsProudSooner]

Some are just trying to give some perspective and point out that, while they didn't come up with the best design in the league, there's is nothing about it that warrants the violent reaction.

It's a tempest in a teapot.

I looked at the logos of every NBA team. None of them strike me as being really impressive. With some of them, you have to study it really hard to figure out which team it represents. There was one that doesn't mention a team at all!

[OKCMallen]

That's probably the standard for internet polling. Disgust and indifference dominate much of the discourse. Add the fact that you're talking about sports then pretty much, with a few exceptions here and there, most will hate anything any other team does. So, lack of approval from 80% of the voters wouldn't surprise even if they'd come up with an award winning design.



Yeah and the knee jerks are doing so much to help the situation.

Some are just trying to give some perspective and point out that, while they didn't come up with the best design in the league, there's is nothing about it that warrants the violent reaction.

Spouting random numbers don't make them true.

[Platemaker]

Spouting random numbers don't make them true.

58% don't like it at all and another 24% voted Meh.

58+24 = 82%... BDP said 80%

I thought you agreed with that poll?

[Rover]

Funny. Guess I am not cool. But, I have a lot of direct experience, including 10 years as a retail marketing consultant for large chain store companies, and nearly 20 years as a VP of Sales and Marketing for large manufacturing/marketing companies. And, I happen to like it, as do many of my peers I have shown it to.

Being 20 and living downtown and hanging out at the cool club doesn't make anyone a graphics or marketing expert. And, believe it or not there are rights and wrongs to design techniques and positioning. This is conservative and safe, but not bad. Is it what I would have done? No. Is it reason for the gnashing of teeth and lobbying that is going on here?...absolutely not. Face it, some people like being hysterically negative.

What I do love is how passionate the public now is about OUR team

[BDP]

Spouting random numbers don't make them true.

Yes, but they are true between 12% and 36% of the time with a 5% margin of error.

58% don't like it at all and another 24% voted Meh.

58+24 = 82%... BDP said 80%

I thought you agreed with that poll?

Maybe he meant that I should have done a more scientific study to determine what "true" percentage of negative or indifferent responses in a sports related internet poll would surprise me. That's fair. I have started a spreadsheet and will rate my surprisedness of all internet poll results going forward so that I may not subjectively represent my opinion again.

[DelCamino]

... And, I happen to like it, as do many of my peers I have shown it to.

Being 20 and living downtown and hanging out at the cool club doesn't make anyone a graphics or marketing expert. And, believe it or not there are rights and wrongs to design techniques and positioning. This is conservative and safe, but not bad. Is it what I would have done? No. Is it reason for the gnashing of teeth and lobbying that is going on here?...absolutely not. Face it, some people like being hysterically negative.......

Exactly right, Rover. While the logo may not be the greatest the world has seen, it's far from one that should be evoking all this 'sky is falling' temper tantrum.

These things are subjective - some like it, other's don't. Many posters have boasted this board contains several examples of better logo's, but I sure didn't see any. These mostly looked like something drawn from an old Justice League of America comic book and yet, many of the outcryers think they're better than what PBC unveiled. I agree that in time, this logo will age well and look just fine. In about 6-8 years, it will be adapted....just like the majority of the other NBA logos.

And you're also right in saying that many of these self-proclaimed hipsters think that because you may have a different thought or outlook on these things, then you're an out of touch. Part of being successful is having the understanding there are lots of different people out there, even some who just might know a little bit more about certain subjects than themselves.

Now, back to basking in the glow of our city having an NBA franchise of our own....

[metro]

I think you all are missing the point, it's not JUST THE LOGO's, it's the failure to deliver on the public's expectations, as well as the fact the logo says nothing that relates to Thunder. Clay painted a picture of the colors and symbolism in a bright cheery sunset sort of way, which again, does not say Thunder. Typically people associate dark colors with Thunder, not bright and cheery ones. According to the polls 82% of the public internationally don't like the new logo. Read the comments and the majority doesn't even like the name and color scheme. I think everyone is upset about the collection of not living up to expectations on all fronts. With that in mind, why the heck did PBC not advertise more and create additional hype on a local, state, national and international level about the upcoming announcement of the name and logo. Yes, all is not lost, but much more could have been gained with better planning. Look at Clay's comments from yesterday (especially the Yahoo article). It's like he's Bubba Gump and didn't expect everything would be such a big deal. How could you not know? New or "like new" pro sports franchises and their initial launches are always a big deal. They usually garner and did somewhat, international press. Just think if they would have advertised and hyped this thing up with TV commercials, internet and radio ads, etc. etc. Especially if they did an ARG marketing campaign that would have possibly sent millions of otherwise uninterested (and many interested fans) to websites trying to figure out the clues to the new name and color. Or even with the intentional leak, they could have played of that through PR efforts. I think that is what us "naysayers" are getting at, is the blown expectations and PR exposure that could have been. Oklahoma is OK! as the old saying went. A catchy slogan, but not great. Don't get me wrong, I'll still be going to games and cheering, just won't be buying anything with that logo or color scheme.

[Blairman]

"F"

Just think this is the first of many Blunders by Clay, just proves money cant buy everything. For all of the build up I am totally amazed about the logo, looks like something from 10-15 years ago....

[OU Adonis]

"F"

Just think this is the first of many Blunders by Clay, just proves money cant buy everything. For all of the build up I am totally amazed about the logo, looks like something from 10-15 years ago....

You have spent $500 million and this is what you are going to get to represent that investment?

[CuatrodeMayo]

IClay painted a picture of the colors and symbolism in a bright cheery sunset sort of way, which again, does not say Thunder. Typically people associate dark colors with Thunder, not bright and cheery ones.

Something like this guy proposed:

[metro]

Although not my top choice, that top logo and color scheme would have been MUCH better than the official one.

[Platemaker]

I think you all are missing the point, it's not JUST THE LOGO's, it's the failure to deliver on the public's expectations, as well as the fact the logo says nothing that relates to Thunder.

OH WELL!!! Now that you've underlined it!

[U]Don't get me wrong, I'll still be going to games and cheering, just won't be buying anything with that logo or color scheme.

Tell me metro.... what color is a Thunder?

[Platemaker]

Although not my top choice, that top logo and color scheme would have been MUCH better than the official one.

Really large size and in print maybe or high resolution on a computer screen... but see how good it looks when you try to embroider it on a ball cap. All those little trendy details don't come out looking that crisp.

[BG918]

Something like this guy proposed:

MUCH better. Thunder to me should be black and silver, like storm clouds, with OKC in yellow (lightning). I really hope the uni's are black and I'm buying a black t-shirt.

[Karried]

I think a lot of people are getting caught up in the Thunder and Lightning aspect.. maybe the designers were focusing on the sound and noise definition and didn't want to associate it with a storm - ie distance themselves from the WNBA Storm ?

Definition:


[n] a deep prolonged loud noise

1. [n] a booming or crashing noise caused by air expanding along the path of a bolt of lightning
2. [v] utter words loudly and forcefully; "`Get out of here,' he roared."
3. [v] to make or produce a loud noise; "The river thundered below"; "The engine roared as the driver pushed the car to full throttle."
4. [v] move fast, noisily, and heavily; "The bus thundered down the road"
5. [v] be the case that thunder is being heard; "Whenever it thunders, my dog crawls under the bed"

Synonyms: boom, boom, roar, roar, roaring See Also: howl, move, noise, shout, storm, thunderclap

[MadMonk]

I have to say that I like the one CuatrodeMayo posted a lot.

[DelCamino]

[U]I think you all are missing the point,.......

No, I'm not missing the point. I understand perfectly what you're saying.

I don't agree with you.

[DelCamino]

I have to say that I like the one CuatrodeMayo posted a lot.

That's just it.....no offense, but I don't like any of these. It's very predictable, font is elementary, and colors are way too dark to market successfully - wouldn't look good on posters, banners, the court, et al.

It is what it is. I think the new Thunder logo is fine and will age well. I'll even buy an extra tee-shirt to compensate for those who are stomping their feet. ; )

[sooners83]

I am pretty sure I heard BBJ or someone else say last night (live) that this is the secondary logo until they release the mascot mid-season

[Saberman]

I am pretty sure I heard BBJ or someone else say last night (live) that this is the secondary logo until they release the mascot mid-season

I see this as more of a favicon type logo. One that is recognizable and can be used when you need a small logo.

Once the team uniforms come out and we see the mascot developed, we are going to see something more to the liking of most people. Everyone needs to just wait and see. It would be a good idea to share our ideas with the team and let them know what we want to see in a more complete logo that we can get behind. We also have to understand that not everyone is going to like what is developed either way.