Show us your logo

You wanted it, you got it. In response to readers' complaints over early images of the Lightning's new logo, we're inviting you to design your own Lightning logo and send us a picture of it. Send them to submit@tampabay.com, and we'll post them on our site at a future date.

Here are the images of the new Lightning logo.

View a gallery of reader-submitted logos here.

Comments

[steven]

Need to keep original text of the TAMPA BAY. Be creative don't try to copy the sharks. Maybe include the image of florida more. The lighting bolt looks to much like it was an after thought.

[Michelle]

Add the word 'Lightning' to the logo.

[Debbie]

Maybe I'm just weird, but I like the original logo. I honestly dont think it needs any changes.

So what if we use two different fonts? That makes us special.

[hyjyljyj]

No no no. The whole idea of a really choice logo is, LESS IS MORE. "K-I-S-S." No more stupid blue state of Florida--we're not the $%&*# "Florida" team anyway. No more dopey script necessary. We won the Cup already--they know where we are. Just the meaner, sharper looking bolt in all our colors says it all. And have it coming OUT of the circle like before. Sweeeet!

[cakcak75]

I'm with Debbie...keep the old logo. This is not an improvement.

[John Stapleton]

If you think the old one is better, you are correct. If you think the old one was a good logo, you are dead wrong. This logo needs to look as professional and polished as all the other NHL team logos. No exceptions.

[James Rosene]

I agree. This logo could be so much cooler than what it is. And hopefully this is real because we're taking a shot at a new logo here at our ad agency. And if this is just an exercise in futility and they move forward with this logo, shame on them and shame on whoever wasted their time conjurring up this, dare I say, "logo".

[Richie]

KEEP the current logo - there in NOTHING wrong with it. If it ain't broke - don't fix it!

[Mike13]

Hopefully, people are submitting logos to the email address noted. Please post something if you are and let us know what it looks like!

Shane / John? You guys out there?

[Shane]

Hey guys, Shane here. So I made 3 logos and sent them in. I basically threw everything away and started as if I was simply given the task "Make me a Lightning logo!"
Everyone please keep in mind that I have mild artistic experience in respect to classes I take on creative design and advertising at FSU as a part of my arts degree. I also made these in my down time during my day job with a pencil, black sharpie, and blue pen being that's all I could find. This is basically me getting my two cents and creativity out there to maybe spark inspiration to an actual company, maybe the one John talks about. However I have all 3 notarized and signed by me so if a Lightning logo comes out looking just like on of my 3, I'm going to pursue legal action to at least give me some credit! But I don't think that will happen, everyone here seems like they want a common goal of finding a new logo everyone loves! Thanks for all of your interest!

If you guys want to see them before sptimes puts them up, email me at skb05c@fsu.edu and I'll send them to you. Take care, go bolts, and rock on!

Shane

[Mike]

I sent in my ideas for a primary logo, word mark, alternate word mark, and jerseys (home, away, and alternate). Actually, I think the alternate design is my favorite. I like the away uniform I designed too.

I'm lagging behind in learning Photoshop, so I designed everything freehand using Publisher, so it lacks the professional luster you'd expect from an NHL logo. I've kept black and blue as the main colors but also introduced some yellow for the bolt and accents. I've scrapped almost all the original design cues from the original Lightning logo and the new revamped one in favor of a cursive letter L that ends in a lightning bolt.

I think that in a professional's hands, it could be made to be reminicint of other great letter logos like the flaming C for the Calgary Flames, the flying P for the Philadelphia Flyers, or even the avalanche A for the, well duh, Colorado Avalanche. Still, I hope it's unique and stylish. I think it works as a hockey logo.

If you'd like to see before it's posted, shoot me an e-mail: mvshaw@gmail.com and don't be too harsh, I'm just an amateur with an idea.

[Thunder Dome News]

Keep the current logo, the ones I have seen thus far stink, and are not good enough to be on a junior teams sweater much less the new logo of the Lightning.

Why do we need to follow the other NHL teams and change our logo, its fine the way it is and should not be changed.

[shane]

nobody is putting down the original logo, we all seem to like it just fine, I know I do. The SPtimes is just asking us what our ideas are, do you think any NHL franchise would sign off on my sketches of paint shop ideas? They are simply artistic renderings of what thought processes people are having in hopes that maybe it sparks something better than a simple "upgrade" or "modernization" to what we already have. personally it doesn't matter what the lightning put on the shelves, i'm gonna buy it because I support my team

Shane

[Jenna]

No Thanks on the new logo.
Keep the original text of "tampa bay lightning".
The bolt is okay ..but i like it better right now.

[JP]

All you people who say the old logo looks fine, please stop huffing glue. The current Lightning logo looks like a grade-school line drawing made with Clip Art and Microsoft Word in about a half-hour.

These arguments about how we don't need to change the logo -- especially the comments pointing out we're just following a trend in the NHL -- need to get off it. Even the Sabres' latest is pretty good, and if we wanted to go cheesy/retro, the least we could do is ape something like Igloo from Pittsburgh, which is probably the coolest logo in the league right now.

The Lightning are a decent team, and Lightning fans are a pretty good group. We all deserve to be wearing cool jerseys, not the train wreck that the current logo makes them.

As for the new one, I chalk it up to an incremental improvement. Maybe in another decade they can cook up something that's actually impressive, but for now we finally get to ditch the awful Tampa Bay script and let the bolt speak for itself.

looks like the lightning are already confirmed on going with the logo everyone's chatting about, figures

[James]

Got a new logo if anyone wants to see it? We submitted it and have placed a trademark on it. Just email me at jrosene@westwayne.com

[Mike13]

James,
Send it to submit@tampabay.com so we all can see it.

[James]

I did send it. It should be there. Did you not receive it?

[Mike13]

James, Damian added a link above to the logos that they have so far.

http://sptimes.textamerica.com/?_ctgry=26986

Hey Shane, I think your Lightning "T" logo has an interesting foundation. It would definitely need to be developed into a more professional look though.

[Mike13]

To those who think having "Tampa Bay" or "Lightning" on the logo looks bad or un-hockey-like...

I would direct your attention to the Rangers jersey. No symbol at all. Just text, "Rangers". They are an Original 6 team and no one is bashing their logo.

How about the "Washington Capitals" logo? Again no bashing, in fact I remember seeing praise for their logo.

Take a gander at the Islanders logo. Yep, you guessed it, it says "NY Islanders" on it.

The Kings jersey says "Los Angeles" on it.

Toronto's maple leaf has their full name on it too.

Edmonton's says "Oilers".

So, my point is the fact that ours has "Tampa Bay" and/or "Lightning" on it is not such a weird thing. There are many examples of other teams whose jerseys follow the same pattern.

I'm on the fence when it comes to whether or not there should be a new logo. I'm just fine with it staying as is. But if the team is going to do something, it needs to be cool. I think most people probably feel the same way.

[James]

I sent him the logo but it is not up on the site with the other logos yet. Keep checking. I think you guys will dig it.

yeah i sent 2 other logos along with the "T" logo that aren't up either. I'm almost positive it's because the Lightning have settled on this new logo already and were just being nice by letting us have our fun by developing logos. I read Phil Esposito's book, "thunder and lightning" and even there he says he himself picked the name "lightning" for the team, and then told the papers to have a contest but it wouldnt matter cuz they would just lie and say the "lightning" is the winner anyways even if it wasn't picked. I'm sure this is the same thing, it's not necessarily a bad thing, but they probably are simply saying "well, we personally didn't see anything better than what was presented, so we're going with what we got."

Also, maybe these logos that aren't being put up have been turning their wheels and they are making new word marks or shoulder patches???... This way they can surprise even us?...Just a thought

[James]

if anyone wants to see the logo we did just email me at jrosene@westwayne.com

[James]

Alright I'm not waiting for them to upload the logo, if they ever do so I published a web page so you can visit it.

http://web.mac.com/rosenes/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

[SHANE]

CHECK OUT THAT SUBMISSION ABOVE!!!! THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! If I had a logo department I would green light this logo all the way! Great work!

[F.T.B.S.]

Bitchin' logo, thanks for the link, James...

[shane]

just want to say word is out that they are painting the new logo on the floor of the sptimes forum. So just for fun, whoever is supposed to put all the logos on that link that fans sent in, can you put the rest up? I've personally been emailed some interesting ideas i think everyone might at least wanna see for future reference, thanks!

[Mike13]

Good work on the logo James. It looks very nice.

I just tried to launch Arenavision and it is down. How convenient. Seems to lend credibility to Shane's statement.

[Thunder Dome News]

The new logo is gawd awful, it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. My Lightning fan group, Thunder Dome News, has a poll open regarding this new logo, so far its 19-0 in favor of "Hate It".

I don't know about you all but I'm spending my ticket money on a truck load of Lightning gear with the old logo. I refuse to spend money on the new logo, and you should too, let them hear your voice by saying no to the new logo!

[James Rosene]

OK so we did another logo rendering. Go here to see it:

http://web.mac.com/rosenes/iWeb/Site/Welcome%202.html

[Mike13]

Looks pretty cool and all, but it's not something that would work great on a 3rd jersey, IMHO.

[LA]

James:
Beautiful redesign; though I didn't see all the submissions, if they wanted something different and, well, PROFESSIONAL, either of these would work.
Shane:
Either you're proud of your work or you're not. If you are, never make excuses for crudeness or talent. If you're not, don't post them for others to critique.
Mike13:
Agree with you on not having the word "lightning". Having an icon that says lightning is much more efficient. A picture is, after all, worth a thousand words.

[Nan]

Great design James! I think the newer one with the puck at the top is too wide for a logo on the front of the jersey isn't it? It would be great for sign purposes though.

I have to say James, that of the two with the hockey sticks turning into Lightning bolts at the end, I like the one on the right better. The one on the left that has the skyscraper background doesn't do much for me because those skyscrapers could be in any city. Much better work than what the graphic designer for the Lightning put out.

We will see tomorrow if they came up wih something different from what we all originally saw when Damian posted it. If it is, I am saving my money and boycotting the new product.