Collection 29: Just a Minor Thing
Thursday · May 12 · 2011 | 2:03 AM PDTOne group that's often overlooked on the Concept page are the minor leagues. Plenty of teams could use a bit of rebranding work. Here's what some of our talented designers have come up with.
First up is my favorite. John's idea was to rebrand the AHL's Norfolk Admirals based on their NHL affiliate — the Tampa Bay Lightning. The color scheme has been cut down to blue and white and the logo has been simplified. And just like Tampa Bay's new uniforms, the road jersey bears the city's name. It's a brilliant concept and one I've been wanting to share for some time.
Mike was headed down a similar path, rebranding the Lake Erie Monsters to sync up with their fellow Ohio team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Only Mike has used the Jackets' new alternate sweater as a base.
Jake's design is for the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins — on which his design is obviously inspired. It's actually pretty clever.
Ryan, here, hasn't rebranded the Manitoba Moose so much as he's applied the existing brand to the Phoenix Coyotes. We now know that the Coyotes aren't an option for Winnipeg anymore, at least not in 2011 — but also that if the Coyotes were to move back to Manitoba, they would likely retake the Winnipeg Jets name. Still, a nice effort anyway.
And yes, I know this isn't technically a minor league design. But let's be honest, it was such a minor league design. Glen has Edge-ified the much-maligned jerseys of the New York Islanders from the mid-1990s by adding the fisherman logo to the Ducks' Edge template.
Sorry you had to see that.
Reader Comments (18)
I want more playoff-themed concepts!
Btw, totaly love those Norfolk jerseys.
Mike I love the Monsters jersey! I wish they would become the Jackets affiliate. Good work and interesting take with the 3rd jersey.
About the Islanders' concept there. not that it will, but what if that became their new third? Just wondering how people would react.
The number font on that Moose jersey? FULL OF WIN. I about lost it.
Sorry, can't give a fishticks jersey anything more than a one. Ever.
Love the Admirals design, EXCEPT for the circle (it's a thing) which I was GLAD to see was not on the Monsters jersey.
Really like the Moose concept. Also, that Innagural Season patch would work great!
Oh, no, I'm getting seasick again! ... sctually, that wouldn't be as horrible as the original, although I'd have to see how the numbers on back get treated. (Without the wavy shoulder pattern, I would assume the names would be straight, and not wavy.)
Moose design, that cheered me up a little. Of course, we'll have to see how the Thrashers situation develops, now that the Desert Dogs are staying put for one more year. True North may have the patience to wait out another year if need be, but if Atlanta Spirit doesn't get any serious buyers very soon, they may be ready to give up on the market. Some would say the market's already given up on them...
Admirals - nice and simple. Monsters - eww, no! "Vintage white" needs to be retired, not further propagated! Nailers - pretty decent; I'd love to see sleeve stripes like that on the Pens' unis, if they won't go back to the classic gold-sleeved design.
the only problem with the monsters concept, they are affiliated with the avalanche not the blue jackets
@ Tyler J ... as an Islanders fan the reaction if that was the Islanders 3rd jersey would be one of RAGE ... that logo had better never find it's way an Islanders jersey or on our minor's jersey ... BTW if this is for the minors why were the Islanders included???
@ TALKENDO
The Moose use that number font on their real jerseys.
i cant believe people are liking the Admirals concept (and the new lightning jersey for that matter.) its boring and has been done in one way or another by most of the NHL. the bruins, sabres, flames' alternate, red wings, rangers, devils, leafs, blackhawks, oilers' home jersey, blue jackets' alternate, kings' throwback, the wild's green jersey, coyotes, pens alternates, and sharks are all based of this design with a few modifications. please tell me im not the only one seeing this
STARR: "Few modifications" Yeah right, a few...
What happens if the team actually uses one of your designs?
@Majeski: Lake Erie is affiliated with the Avalanche. Springfield is affiliated with the Blue Jackets.
Also, Admirals concept is lame. Too plain/too much like other newer jerseys.
The Moose concept is just a bad version/rip-off of what the Moose have now. The current Moose jersey is pretty darn close to perfection. It's one of my favorites (in any league).
Gorton's fisherman concept is again a bad version/rip-off of a terrible jersey.
Overall, these "concepts" are pretty lame compared to the fine work that you usually post here. Most of these are just rip-offs, or slight derivations, of existing jerseys. I'm normally a big fan of this blog for all of the news and updates provided and for the (usually) high quality, well thought out concepts. These are sub-par at best.
The Wheeling Nailers are also an affiliate of montreal canadiens.
I'm aware the Monsters are the Avs affiliate.
What this concept imagines is that the Monsters BECOME the Blue Jackets affiliate.
@Charlie M Thanks for the input. Being a Pens fan, I can't quite grasp the full affect of the Gorton logo. Don't get me wrong, I hate it, I just didn't know to what extent. Would it be as hated if they would have used it only as an alternate instead of a primary? i feel that it isn't a terrible logo, it was just the the manner in which it was used.
"Inaugural" is spelled incorrectly on the Manitoba Moose patch. Oops!
@fredde yea they all are based on the elbow and waist stripes. sure some are triple stripes instead of solid and some have shoulder yokes, but they all share the same core which i find extremely boring