Iowa Wild Unveil Logo and Sweater
Monday · Apr 22 · 2013 | 1:48 PM PDT
Relocated AHL franchise holds press conference
That happened fast. Today, the Iowa Wild (still known as the Houston Aeros until the Calder Cup Playoffs end) unveiled their new logo and home jersey for the 2013-14 season. And it looks familiar.
Iowa Wild jersey via TwitterThe new logo is not surprising. It's based on the script font found on both the Minnesota Wild and Houston Aeros third jerseys. It was shown off today on their new website.
It's really not that great of a uniform or logo design so I'm a little stumped as to why this organization keeps coming up with new versions of it. What worries me is that the NHL Wild are working on a new road (white) jersey for next season. Is this a preview of what's to come for them?
I'm also a little annoyed at the name change. I don't mind Iowa Wild the way some folks do. What I mind is them using "Wild" in the first place as now every time we mention the name we'll have to specify NHL or AHL.
At least with the other instances of the NHL/AHL name duplication, there are easy ways of distinguishing them — B-Sens, P-Bruins, Baby Pens (though I know a lot of folks hate that). But with this team? The I-Wild?
It's also disappointing that one of the great minor hockey identites of the last two decades is going away. We'll miss the Houston Aeros and I'm not sure anyone would miss the "Iowa Wild" even if they'd been around 20 years.
All right, enough complaints from me. I'm just disappointed by the lack of creativity of this team's new branding. I'll get over it, but first I'll take out my frustrations by whining here on the blog.
What do you guys think of the new look of the Iowa Wild? Am I being too hard on them?
Reader Comments (33)
horrible name horrible logo just horrible all over
Not being hard at all. It's a rather boring jersey, and I'll be very disappointed if this is what the big club uses for their new whites. Would rather see a little bit of red in the logo, and in the jersey (not counting that stupid collar thing).
There is a complete lack of color and creativity here. Are the colors going to be green and beige? Guess they had to do something fast.
I like these whites a lot, simple clean, though the logo is not my favorite. Also, to stop any speculation, Russo (MN Wild beat writer) said in his blog today that these whites are NOT the new whites the big club are switching to next season.
Iowild
I don't know, I don't hate "Iowild".
Looks kind of weird. Vintage white in the logo, white on the jersey. Weird.
But I think it's super lame. Disappointing that a great team is gone.
I agree with the dislike of the name. I don't like when teams use the same names. Colour schemes, fine; but pick a different name.
As a long time follower of the AHL it's downright depressing how unoriginal AHL franchises have become with team names and uniform designs. It's gotten to the point where almost every AHL team looks like a cheap knockoff of their NHL affiliate and there are barely any teams like the Hershey Bears who their own 100% unique identity.
I'd rather have a hideous uniform that is completely unique (*cough* Beast of New Haven cough) than some boring copy of an NHL team.
I don't like the new name either.
Pretty obvious that they only did this for monetary (less travel between Iowa and Minnesota) reasons.
I've never thought of Iowa as a hockey state.
Could have atleast incorporated the wild's red and yellow/gold in there to tie it back in with their parent club. Thhe vintage white on crisp white looks very strange. It's almost like they didn't make a big enough commitment to a colour scheme. It just looks plain wrong.
Totally agree with both of you. I'm worried we will see this for the M-Wild (ew...) and see the simplified logo. It would give us back a green home sweater, but the bear logo needs to stay.
I was already sick of that script font before this rebrand. This is just disappointing and boring. I hope to god the Minnesota Wild do something entirely different with their new road jersey for next season, and hopefully features the regular primary logo as the crest.
I'm not a huge fan of either the name or the sweater, but I am grateful to have professional hockey in my city so I can't complain too much. I think the jersey is more or less temporary, given how quickly it was unveiled ( the team was only officially relocating on Friday), so I'm sure they will have something different relatively soon.
As for the name, I know it's really important for the team to establish a brand identity, and the easiest way to do that is simply associate it with the NHL club as much as possible. I would've liked it if they were called the Iowa/Des Moines Oaks, as there's some history with that name (a AAA baseball team in Des Moines used it), plus they could still use the Wild's colors. Oh well, still better than the Iowa Chops
I agree that this rebranding is lame and they should have went with something more unique, but I disagree with the dislike for the Minnesota green, scripted unis. I would love to see the new white jersey be a white version of that.
I know I'm in the minority, but I just don't get the love for the Wild's primary logo. I think it's overdone; I prefer something more basic and therefore iconic (see: the old North Stars logo, all Original Six team logos, Penguins, Flyers, Devils, Blues, Oilers, Flames... you get the idea). I think the scripted unis at least give the Wild a classic look, which is what Minnesota deserves.
They may not of come up with a great jersey, but at least it is not a "bad" jersey like so many Minor League Hockey jersey;s tend to be these days. I've gotten so that when I hear about a new jersey (football also)being unvieled, I immediately hope it's not too bad, rather than wonder if it will be great. I guess that's too bad on my part, but understandable.
From what I've heard, the Aeros couldn't afford the rate hike that was coming their way to continue using Toyota Center, and Toyota Center wasn't willing to come down to a level the Aeros could afford.
It should be interesting to see what the primary home jersey will look like. Realistically it could just be a color swap of this, but I am betting it will be a whole new logo that's going to take longer to create than the script logo seen here. They wanted to jam something into stores as quickly as possible. Not sure when these would go on sale however.
While I agree its a shame that the Aero's are no more, I would bet the Wild decided to abandon the name as a gesture to Houston. I expect whenever another Hockey squad finds their way there they could become the next edition of the Aeros.
Wi-I-ld
Iowild's probably the best you're going to get there. The big club can still just be the Wild.
It's too bad they couldn't come up with something connected to Iowa instead. I suppose you should be careful what you ask for though, because Iowa Chops was the worst ever. Still, there could be a much better middle ground in between the hideous Chops and the utterly uncreative Iowa Wild.
I liked the Aeros version of this white jersey they are wearing this year as an alternate, as the script "Aeros" suggests in a small way skywriting, but with this design completely recycled for Des Moines, it leaves me flat since there's nothing new about it and makes me wonder what the Minnesota Wild's new whites for next year will be. Yet another rehash of this design or a completely new take?
How about Baby Wild? Des Mowild (Moild) (as in Des Moines)? The Slightly-less-Wild? Wild South?
I also like Bobby's suggestion for Iowild.
If Houston wants an NHL team this is there chance to make a bid for the Phoenix Coyotes, if they are really serious in wanting pro hockey in H-town for the fall. Just saying as there were talks of them getting an NHL team years ago.
Iowa Stars had a great AHL jersey/logo. This one is just okay. I don't hate it.
iWild?
I like the nickname "Iowild"
There wasn't a fine justification for the Toyota Arena's rejection (i.e. missing out on significant revenue), which has resulted in rumors about Houston's potential to bid for the Phoenix Coyotes; since Houston is in the Western zone, it may have a leg up over Quebec City, Hamilton, and Markham (burbs of Toronto). Given the history of the Aeros, it would make sense for the name to remain in Houston, as can it serve for the NHL (where we have a dogfight between Jets and Aeros).
As for the Iowa Wild name, I am a disappointed by the choice. But Des Moines has not shown the ability to support an AHL team for a significant period; I do hope the Wild name will be a good name recognition along with the close proximity to MN can contribute to hockey growth in Iowa.
Holy crap, I thought this was Minnesota's new road sweater at first. Thank goodness it's not... well, not yet as far as we know.
My first exposure to a non-plural team name came from the old WLAF (World League of American Football), when the creative minds behind the teams' branding came up with such gems as "the Montreal Machine" and "the Sacramento Surge". Since those regrettable choices, we have witnessed a steady creep of these unfortunate names for teams such as "the Avalanche" (almost called "the Rocky Mountain Xtreme" - yeesh, can you imagine?), "the Lightning", and, most recently, "the Wild." Please stop.
I cannot properly put into words my aversion to such monikers. Can anyone else? What exactly is the problem with them? I'd like to pass this off to a proper wordsmith out there...
I personally see the use of this jersey in Iowa is a 100% GUARANTEE that Minnesota WON'T be wearing it next season. Do you seriously think they're gonna unveil a brand new jersey that their farm team has already announced?
I don't really mind the identity. I understand why they did it and I don't think it looks bad - it's just not new or unique or creative. And I wish the yoke was a solid colour instead of a piping outline (same goes for the green version).
Nickname suggestion: Drop the "Io" and call them the "WaWild." Kinda like Wario and Waluigi?
I suppose it isn't the most creative jersey ever designed, but I actually think it is kind of sharp looking. It pleases my eyes anyway, unlike the multitude of jerseys featuring huge, roaring logos of some beast or another.
Hershey Bears have the idea. Make your own name! The Baby sens the baby pens. That needs to stop. Even the Wilkes-barre logo is a recycling of a old ide for the old Pittsburgh logo.
Locally our MiLB team is the Iowa Cubs, aka the I-Cubs. Iowa Wild will most likely will be the I-Wild, which is ok by me. Yes I would have loved to see an original name, but the track record here is not the greatest...CHOPS. I still cringe even now saying it in my head. As for the Jersey, it's just a quick re-logo of the Aeros Alt whites, but I like it, its clean, rather simple. Maybe needs some red piping around or inside the logo, and maybe go with the wheat color rather than the bright white. And I really wouldn't mind seeing our darks the same as the home clubs Greens. Overall I'm just glad to have AHL back in Iowa, even if they were called the Iowa S**t Kickers, I'd still be happy to see some quality hockey.
how about giving Iowa the name "Wild" altogether and changing MN back to the North Stars! The Wild sucks, embarrassment of a name, that logo is so ridiculous and those red sweaters are the worst in the history of pro sports, freakin' christmas elves, yuk! I love MN hockey and I hate the Wild!!!