The new logo ... almost
It isn't the final design but it apparently is close enough that you can get a good idea of what the "modernization'' will look like.
Go to this web address: http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32791&hl=Tampa+Bay+Lightning
Follow the Lightning through the season with beat writer Damian Cristodero and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Let me be the first to say - Yuck! Did they get a third grader to design it? You are kidding right?
Posted by: Nan | July 13, 2007 at 07:41 PM
Why? Looks like someone spent a lot of money to put the same logo back on the jersey. How much did they pay for this? I could do a better job.
Posted by: MsEngineer | July 13, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Agree these look like garbage. Plus I see no reason to change from the current logo. Only reason I could see them attempting to change the logo is generate extra revenue from merchandise.
Either way, if they switch to this proposed new logo, I'll just have to make sure to take care of everything with the current logo. No way I will wear anything with that piece of crap on it.
Posted by: Geo | July 13, 2007 at 08:32 PM
If the Lightning paid to have the new logo designed they got riped off BIG TIME. Come on guys - if you want a new logo use some imagination or leave it alone.I believe a second grader would do better.
Posted by: Jim | July 13, 2007 at 08:38 PM
There is but one word that can be used to describe it, and Nan stole it. YUCK!
Seriously, what did they do, remove "Lightning" from it and change the font? Come on!!!!! I'm not a graphic designer, but maybe the fans should make some suggestions. Clearly, the team the Bolts hired should be fired.
Posted by: Mike13 | July 13, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Add my big YUCKO to the pile.
The Bucs did better after trading the gay orange for pewter.
Perhaps we could best emulate our nickname with colors reminiscent of a bad storm: grey/black with yellow/blueish-white lightning strikes.
Who cares about ugly anyway, (Right Buffalo?) we just want to roll onto the ice to rain on the other club's parade through hard play and sixty minutes of intense EFFORT.
Go Bolts!
Posted by: F.T.B.S. | July 13, 2007 at 09:56 PM
Total Garbage, Try again
Posted by: HockeyBay.com | July 13, 2007 at 10:20 PM
What did they change..... it looks like crap. Geez - let's get a 5th grade to redesign the Bolt for us.... Sure hope they did not pay for this junk yard re-do
Posted by: goldenbolt | July 13, 2007 at 10:26 PM
I don't know. Damn thing looks good to me as it is. I understand a little tweaking here and there. No problem. Change the font, change the scheme around a little, and even remove the name "Lightning." I'd rather the Lightning name stay there. Actually I'd prefer it. But if that happens I could live with it.
What I don't get is the designs with the likeness of the state of Florida on them. Who was the genius who came up with that? It's a hockey team logo not a freakin license plate. It's embarrassing. It really is. I guess it's for people who are unsure of where Tampa Bay is. Seeing that made me cringe.
I'm proud of this teams logo. It's had a few tweaks over the years. Not all that uncommon. Why mess with a good thing? Oh wait........I just figured out why they removed the word "Lightning" from the bottom of the logo. It's to make room for the slogan "Sunshine State." Why not add a big yellow sun and a few oranges to it too?
I really, really hope they s#!+can that idea. Change the font, move the colors around a little, remove "Lightning" if you absolutely must, but for everyone concerned, keep the state of Florida image of the logo. Don't use it. Just don't. Not only will it ruin a great logo, it's embarrassing!
Posted by: SarasotaBill | July 13, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Apparently whoever designed this didn't get anyone else's input. Geez, just add a yellow shade or something in between the main bolt and the now blue shaded edge. I am not a graphic designer either but I have to reiterate my Yuck from above! I was so appalled when I first saw it that I just frankly didn't know what to say. I think I gave whoever did it too much credit saying this was from a third grader. More like someone from Kindergarten.
SarasotaBill, you must be right about removing the Lightning Logo, they are going to surprise us by adding the name Sunshine State there instead. What is with that state outline being there? That is just awful! But, I think they should have a Palm tree there instead of the Oranges. Oh wait, lets add water in the background with a sailboat. No, that wouldn't be good. How about a picture of the Sunshine Skyway? Okay, I am getting carried away.
I am definitely going to take really good care of my current jerseys as I won't be spending any of my hard earn money on this trash!
Posted by: Nan | July 14, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Need to add something to my prevous post. The current jersey that the players wear have a smaller logo on the upper arm that has the lightning bolt over the outline of the state. So it looks like the only changes is to the font, removal of the Lightning name at the bottom and changing the color of the bolt shade and maybe the diagonal of the bolt changed some too. Must be the Lightning couldn't spend enough money to jazz it up anymore.
Posted by: Nan | July 14, 2007 at 10:10 AM
You guys got me all hyped-up by your comments. My luck, the site is down for "regular" server maintenance, or maybe your comments have hit a nerve with someone. I will add my comments when the site is back up. Nothing like a little potential change to stir the pot. You have to remember, who we are all dealing with here. A committee of mainly hockey guys, who hired some design/marketing types; and my guess it that they have sooooooo much in common that the chances of coming up with something good is -0%.
Posted by: Lightning rod | July 14, 2007 at 11:27 AM
The Lightning have had the worst uniforms in the league for a LONG time now. The organization tried to improve them.......and failed. MISERABLY.
The Lightning organization had a PERFECT chance to re-brand themselves into something new and exciting. They had a chance to really grab hold of the city with new, sharp uniforms(just like the Bucs did). Well, they failed in every way possible.
What they did was put a band-aid on the problem. It looks like the designer started well, with the new Lightning bolt(more blue!)....and then had a brain freeze and started throwing all the "old stuff" back on it. Almost as if he had a deadline to meet.
1) There is NO reason for "Tampa Bay" or "Lightning to be included in the primary logo. NONE. It looks "minor league". Give us an iconic lightning bolt.
2) The designer's solution was to take "Lightning" out of the logo...but keep the "tampa bay". Um, WHY? It makes the entire logo look unbalanced and the "tampa bay" looks forced. Stop shoving it down our throats please.
3) There is NO reason for the state of florida to be included in the logo. It took away from the old logo and it looks even worse in the new one. Now, we have a state of florida........that doesnt look like the state of florida. Again, the state should never have been included in the first place, and somehow, they even made THAT look bad.
Need an illustration?
On the left is the new logo.....and on the right is what the logo SHOULD look like.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/bigshoop/Lightning/sidebysideNew.png
The ONLY positive that I've gathered from the new logo is the higher emphasis on the color blue. Our old jerseys were basically black and white. There was no real color in them to make them stand out. More blue/silver was a must, and they incorporated it nicely.
Posted by: Shoop | July 14, 2007 at 12:38 PM
You got to be kidding me. Let’s be a little more creative then that and come up with a new logo that looks flashy and sells.
Posted by: Manny | July 14, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Just bad...the worst thing since the Islanders' "Old Man of the Sea" Jersey a couple years back.
Posted by: STHRich | July 14, 2007 at 03:14 PM
It seems like the new logo was taken down...haha. The things I would like to see on the new lightning jerseys would definitely be more blue and silver/gray trim and such. I like the black home jerseys because black is the scariest to me, even worse than red, making them blue might visually make them seem less scary? Just my thought... However, I agree with all the comments on why they threw away "lightning" but kept "tampa bay". I think since we won the cup, we at least are known enough to have a simple bolt logo. People know we're in Tampa, they already did just a logo in columbus and 9/10 people in the USA don't even know that they have a hockey team. As long as they actual jersey doesn't look thrown together like the third jersey from the 90's I'll be happy. Give me some minor changes, sleeker and streakier design, more silver and blue and I'll be happy.
Also I'm happy as hell we got Brad Lukowich back!
R.I.P. Ruslan Fedotenko
Go Bolts
Posted by: shane | July 14, 2007 at 03:37 PM
The Bucs obviously needed a change in 1997 but the Bolts have no need of a change. The old logo is professional and elligant and in no need of modification. Besides I don't want to spend another $180.00 on a new sweater.
I'm with everyone else....yuck!
Posted by: Tim A | July 14, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Why is everyone whining? There is so little change that we can all keep our curren jerseys and no one will be able to tell the difference!!!
On a less serious note... at least we know Feaster has been busy doing SOMETHING!
Also, whatever was paid for this design change could have been paid to Artyukhin to produce some real results for the upcoming year.
At least our owners will be able to recoup their millions in losses over the years through new sales of this awesome logo!
Go Bolts!!!
Posted by: Brent | July 14, 2007 at 07:36 PM
Talk about a fool's errand!!!
Posted by: Joe | July 15, 2007 at 10:08 AM
As hockey logo, the first 2 aren't to bad. The rest I don't like. Logo changes in the NHL have been a bust the vast majority of the time. Again, the lightning appear to be no different.
Posted by: Lightning Rod | July 15, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Ick!! What happened to the State of Florida on the primary logo? This is after all sorta where the team is! The secondary is not too bad - actually not really that different - but the word and the font on all of them is just bad! The font reminds me of the Rays (and really why would any other sports team even want to remotely go there!) and what happened to the lightning going through the middle of the word mark??? I mean otherwise it is just an ad for the city after all there are three other teams (Rays, Bucs and Storm) that start with Tampa Bay! This is NOT an improvement. I have always liked the logo - just because we now have to spend almost $400 for a jersey doesn't mean we need "new and improved" logos too!
Posted by: Geografer | July 15, 2007 at 01:24 PM
well without the state sillouette there, it could be a palm tree or a ....pelican instead:)
Posted by: | July 15, 2007 at 02:15 PM
Here the truth. our logo as it stands right now, sucks!, it was drawn in a bar on a cocktail napkin one night by Phil Esposito (True Story). Don't get me wrong I love the colors and maybe the jersey could be updated a little, but the logo is embarrassing. With a name as powerful as the lightning, we should have something that really kicks butt!. I have always imagined something like what Marc Denis has on his mask, the god of thunder and lightning; Thor with a lightning bolt in his hands, something like that without being to cartoonish. We have great colors, we just need a butt kicking logo and an updated jersey. BTW, I actually think the new concept logo is very slightly better, it's just missing a little something.
Posted by: Rob | July 15, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Let's go pub crawling with Espo again...
Posted by: F.T.B.S. | July 15, 2007 at 03:58 PM
I wouldn't wipe my butt with that logo.
Posted by: Michelle Lee | July 15, 2007 at 08:54 PM
Atrocious. Seriously, I work for an advertising agency in the creative dept. The art directors are appalled at how uninspiring and unimaginative this logo is. You could take away that horrible font they changed to and simply have a lightning bolt on the jersey and it would be 50 times better than that waste of polyester. Utterly infuriating. Shame on whoever designed that.
Posted by: James | July 15, 2007 at 09:35 PM
I agree. This was and still is the worst designed logo in the NHL. No balance. No craft or finesse. It feels like a student in high school with little knowledge of design put this together. Tell you what, I am a creative director at one of the leading agencies in town. Please email me. I am will to do a logo design that will look 100 times better for free. Serious. Email me.
-john
Posted by: John Stapleton | July 15, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Someone please email John Stapleton. Please!!!!
Posted by: James | July 15, 2007 at 09:50 PM
Damian, please. For the love of all that is hockey. Hook up John Stapleton with the folks in the marketing depatment for the Bolts!
Posted by: Mike3 | July 15, 2007 at 10:25 PM
Yes, please e-mail John Stapleton!
Posted by: Rob | July 16, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Let's take John Stapleton along on a pub crawl with Espo...
Go Bolts!
Posted by: F.T.B.S. | July 16, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Oh man ! these are so ugly. The sad thing is that we have a really original team.......the lightning......sooooo much could be done with it but instead we are setteling for this crap?! I know that the Lightning are trying to keep expenses to a minimum but this is crazy! I have a 2nd grade daughter who would be happy to come up with somthing.
Posted by: Sadie | July 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM
I'd like to see other options, and remember guys this isn't final, so dont complain just yet. I haven't seen anything better?
Posted by: pete | July 16, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Positives: the lightning bolt looks better and got rid of the word "Lighting", useless when it's beside a lightning bolt.
Negatives: nothing symetrical. chosen word font is aweful
Posted by: 74 | July 17, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Scroll down and see what this guy did with this logo on the new jersey, it actually looks awesome when you see it on this jersey.
http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32791&hl=Tampa%20Bay%20Lightning&st=15
Posted by: Rob | July 18, 2007 at 04:22 PM
i won't be buying any of those...i thought ....besides the blackhawks....we had the coolest jersey in the nhl already....i have a zillion hats...shirts....jackets.... bedspreads....posters...and welcome mats....to last a life time...count me out of buying any new logo items........ p.s. i have a new jeep and am trying to buy a custom lightning spare tire cover....18" wheels....i found a white cover....but it was mickey mouse....i want a black cover with the "old" awesome lightning bolt....come on blog gang.....find me one!!!!
Posted by: mike babnik | July 18, 2007 at 06:47 PM
I might be a bit late on this, but had to get my 2 cents anyways. I don't like the new logo, but personally, I really don't care for the current jerseys. Well, my beef is more on the color scheme than anything. Surely, there are worse jerseys: current Preds jersey is terrible, Charlie Brown's Canucks jersey has to be the worst of all time, and who can forget the short-lived Bolts 3rd team jersey. Anyways, there is hope. Just look at the Caps new duds...
I really like the new Capitals jerseys. They brought back the old school 1975 logo, but jazzed it up with a unique raspberry red. I think the Bolts should do something similar. First off, get rid of the black and focus on the blue and white, maybe throwing in some yellow to make it interesting. Maybe change the blue to a more electric blue. Sounds like last year's San Diego Chargers jerseys? I'm making suggestions here, but the new logo is pretty lame. I kind of like the current logo. It's puzzling, but I agree with Sarasota Bill, get rid of the "Lightning" part. There's no quick answers for any of this stuff...
I think you have to be like Washington or Vancouver and screw up a couple of times to get it right. Some teams just get it right the first time. My personal faves are Edmonton and Toronto. Their duds are just cool. Leafs have a traditional, conservative, yet great look that translates well on the ice. Oilers' duds have a great color scheme and all three jerseys are among my favorites...
So, that's it for this topic. If nothing concrete comes from these proposed changes, then leave them the same. It's not a terrible jersey and the team is pretty cool as well. We'll see...
BC Fan
Posted by: Bolts Canucks Fan | July 19, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Okay, so I was bored at work and decided to draw up an alternate logo. I keep reading about that dude John but haven't seen anything, so whenever I get free time I'm gonna keep coming up with new ideas. Post your comments on here if you guys like or not like it, and keep in mind ill keep making more just because it's fun for me, haha
http://fsu.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=38986507&id=5230904
Posted by: Shane | July 25, 2007 at 06:10 PM
I gotta a comment for you.....screw you! Post a picture if you want but don't ask me to sign up to anything that will do nothing but add more junk e-mail to my server.
Nice try D!(#
Posted by: SarasotaBill | July 25, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Shane: Post them somewhere where we can see them, not sign up to see them.
Posted by: Downtown Wine Guy | July 25, 2007 at 08:17 PM
sorry, i didnt know facebook made you sign up to see...does anyone have an idea where i can post it for free? i made a total of 4, sorry!
Posted by: shane | July 31, 2007 at 08:55 PM
Maybe TampaBay.com could lend some help here. Hey Damian, how about it? Can the SPT set up something basic that allows fans to post some TBL logo suggestions?
Posted by: Mike13 | July 31, 2007 at 09:17 PM
Are you kidding me??? That logo would be more of a laughing stock then when the Islander's went with the "Morton's Fisherman" design. Heck, even the ridiculous gear & drop of oil that Edmonton has (that the average person can't figure out what it is), is better than this. If that is where we are heading, I will be sticking to my good old Lightning gear. At least you can wear it with pride. Trash the design, it is aweful!
Go Bolts! GO AWAY NEW DESIGN!!
Posted by: Rob L | August 02, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Awful! Looks very minor league.
Posted by: Jen L | August 02, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Over the years I've always been proud of the Lightning for not succumbing to the impulse to change their jersey every 2 years like most teams are doing nowadays. The Lightning uniforms have a solid, straight-edge look about them, just as other timeless jerseys do -- Blackhawks, Redwings, Canadians, etc. The logos don't change, nor should they. The Bolts won a cup with this logo, and that should be something every new player is proud of as he puts the jersey over his head. There is no 'modernizing' something that should be timeless. Make a 3rd jersey if you must sell new jerseys, but leave the Lightning uniform be.
Posted by: JB | August 06, 2007 at 03:33 PM
mathiu faker
Posted by: | October 11, 2008 at 01:55 PM