The Bent Musket roundtable: The case for and against a new logo

MLS is reaching an interesting point. After celebrating their 25th season the league has established that it is here to stay and looking to grow. As one of the founding members of the league, is it time for the New England Revolution to get an update?

We have already seen clubs like the Columbus Crew and D.C. United get a new look. Also in recent years we have seen the Chicago Fire get a new logo.

The changes look like they aren’t stopping anytime soon. With more expansion teams entering the league we are seeing modernized logos and new looks.

So the question is do the Revolution need a new logo? The staff here at The Bent Musket gives our thoughts.

Sam

I don’t know what it is about that crayon flag but I love it. It might just be nostalgia but I smile every time I see it.

If the Revs were to update their logo, they would have some challenges. They would have to ensure that they don’t look like a USMNT knockoff. Due to their colors and logo that could be quite difficult.

At the end of the day if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The Revs current logo makes them standout and shows that they are one of the founding MLS teams. Why would you change things up?

If you modernize the logo it will just make them look like every other team. Why would you want to do that?

LONG LIVE THE CRAYON FLAG!

Josh

Look, I appreciate the crayon flag. In a league that has seen a multitude of changes since its formation in 1996, it’s been nice to have something like the crayon flag stay consistent. However, I hope it was drawn with a washable crayon because it is time for it to go!

For me, the crayon flag seems mediocre. Now a new logo will not change anything about the club’s on-field operation but I believe having a new and stunning logo could be a psychological wake-up call for the rest of the league regarding how the New England Revolution are hungry. Again, the logo’s do not make the team, but they most certainly help with their perception.

Regardless of where we all stand on the issue, I know we all share one thing in common if we were to rebrand, and that is to NOT pull a Chicago Fire…

Seth

The Revs have one of the best names and logos of the MLS originals but change can be a good thing. Let me start by saying that I don’t support changing the team name, even if they relocate. The Revolution is uniquely New England and I don’t want to see it abandoned in favor of City Name FC.

As for the logo, I don’t think it looks good on merchandise, so I’d like to see it replaced with something that’s simplistic and distinct. LAFC, Minnesota, and Portland are good examples. Those logos look good on jerseys, hats, and more.

I will say that I’m afraid of what a rebrand attempt might produce. I’ve seen so many designers fall short of creating a new image for the club. It’ll be especially tough to replace the Crayon Flag because it’s so beloved. With this in mind, it’d probably be a good idea to seek input from supporters if the club is looking to adopt a new look.

Jake

Blasphemy. Shun the non-believers. How dare all of you who do not bask in the glory that is the Crayon Flag.

The league’s trend towards European style circle/shield/etc. badges is a blight and those who approve of such things might as well be British sympathizers in Boston circa 1775 and should be expelled from the region. Why MLS thinks copying Europe and having blanket cookie cutter jerseys league wide is a good thing instead of allowing epic creativity is beyond me but I am not having it.

Looking around the league the crayon flag (and last year’s crayon stripe home jersey) are among the few unique things left in a league that shifting towards homogenization when they should be embracing the weird. We remember the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the mutant bat, the Wiz and the Burn, and the Hard Hat Guys of Columbus who could not be here today to remind us that standard boring things are just that.