The designers proposed the Arizona Coyotes logo in the style of cubism. It depicts the club’s mascot, the coyote, after which it was named. This animal is symbolic for hockey players because it has inexhaustible endurance, the ability to surprise attacks, and cohesion, which is extremely important for team play.
Arizona Coyotes: Brand overview
Founded: | 1972 |
Founder: | Alex Meruelo, Andrew Barroway |
Headquarters: |
Tempe, Arizona |
Website: | nhl.com |
Meaning and History
The Arizona Coyotes is a professional ice hockey team. She is part of the NHL, where she competes in the Western Conference, as a member of the Central Division. It was founded in 1971 under the name Winnipeg Jets. Since 2019, it has been solely owned by billionaire Alex Meruelo.
The club was formed in the early 70s of the last century and was originally part of the World Hockey Association. After the WHA disbanded, it became one of four franchises that joined the NBA and received official membership in June 1979.
Moreover, the team has three names. She made her debut as Winnipeg Jets, became Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 after moving to Phoenix, and Arizona Coyotes in 2014 due to moving to Arizona. All this was reflected in the emblem, which changed many times (presumably five). Hockey players are expected to return to the Central Division in 2021 when the Seattle expansion franchise joins the league.
What is Arizona Coyotes?
The Arizona Coyotes is a hockey team that was called the Phoenix Coyotes until 2014 and was known as the Winnipeg Jets before 1996. Initially, it was a franchise of the WHA but later had to join the NHL. One of the team’s greatest achievements was winning the division title in the 2011-2012 season.
1972 – 1973
For one year, the Arizona Coyotes played at the WHA under the red badge. On the crimson field was a hockey player with a hockey stick swinging to make an accurate pass. The figure of the athlete, along with the ammunition, was drawn schematically in alternating blue and white strokes. A wide strip ran under the player’s feet, which, narrowing, turned upward towards the blue plane. HOCKEY CLUB was written on the white line. A couple more words were posted above: “WINNIPEG” and “Jets,” where “J” was played in the form of a hockey stick. All the elements were in a circle that looked like a puck.
1973 – 1979
Continuing with WHA, the team received a new logo. Essentially, its elements remained the same but were regrouped. The developers further emphasized the similarity between the club and the “J,” connecting the upper parts of the letters “E” and “T,” enlarged and curved the “S.” The word “WINNIPEG” was placed below “Jets,” and “HOCKEY CLUB” was removed altogether. The designers embodied the theme of sky flights on an airplane on a red hockey puck. A dark blue circle with red edging served as a background.
1979 – 1990
The initial version of the logo refers to the first period of the club’s existence. It features a dark blue airplane in a red circle, white “Jets” with a hockey stick instead of “J” and the burgundy word “Winnipeg” below. The background used is dark blue with a red border. All elements are in a large circle.
1990 – 1996
In 1990, the management decided to change the logo, adding clarity and light to it. As a result, a logo with a white backing appeared on the background of which the club and its name are located. Now the words “Winnipeg” and “Jets” are reversed: the first is at the top, and the second is at the bottom. Moreover, the designers added original details, using a common hat for the letters “ets” and depicting “J” in the form of a large club, extending beyond the edging circle. In the places of its intersection with the red line, stylized red shadows are visible.
1996 – 1999
In 1996, a new page in the history of the logo opened because the club moved to Phoenix’s city and changed its status, and with it, the name. During this period, it became known as Phoenix Coyotes and received a radically revised symbolism. Moreover, this stage is significant because it was then that a coyote’s image appeared on the logo. True, it was very artistic and made in the genre of cubism. Greg Fisher became the author of this idea.
The emblem depicts a coyote in a hockey uniform, on skates, and with a hockey stick. The animal froze in a waiting position, ready to attack the opponent and intercept the puck at any moment. The unusual stylization is associated with the desire to convey the region’s national flavor where the franchise was transferred. Therefore, the ammunition is incredibly colorful, ornamental; in the patchwork style, feathers are drawn on the club, and the head is made in the form of a mask.
1999 – 2003
After the redesign, the logo retained a unique image of a coyote in the Phoenix surroundings’ folk colors. The developers removed the massive inscription “Phoenix Coyotes” on which the animal stood. They also made the main element bigger and brighter.
2003 – 2014
The sports club’s management decided to play with the image of the coyote, making it more realistic. After all, this predatory animal is just suitable for hockey players: it is fast, lightning-fast, sharp, dodging. And it also takes the enemy to death – it waits for the most suitable moment to attack and suddenly attacks. No wonder the new logo is recognized by experts as one of the best in the National Hockey League and is in the top 10.
2014 – 2021
With the franchise’s relocation to the Arizona Desert, the club decided to keep the sandy coyote as the area’s original inhabitant. Therefore, after moving and renaming, athletes use the old symbols.
2021 – today
And again, a radical change in the visual image of the team’s primary logo. The emblem of 1999 is so recognizable and popular among the fans that the management decided to return it as the primary badge of the team. Changes from that emblem are not noticeable, except for the outer beige outline.
Font and Colors
The logo depicts a howling coyote with a half-open mouth, in which sharp fangs are visible, as a sign of courage and aggression. The head is raised; the eyes are narrowed, the ears are pressed back and laid back. The lines in the picture are straight, confident, and the strokes are voluminous, with shadows. The Adrenalin Design Group studio developed the logo.
Although the current version does not contain the text, the earlier versions do. During the club’s debut, the inscription on the sign was individual, with wide capital letters. When based in Phoenix, the team received a logo with a name in which the word “Coyotes” was very large, with “C” and “S” in upper case. It served as a platform for the second part – “Phoenix.”
In terms of palette, the franchise is more consistent, with all the emblems featuring the same colors in different combinations. In particular, it is red, beige, brick, white, black. Dark blue and brown were also used for a while.
Arizona Coyotes color codes
Brick Red | Hex color: | #8c2633 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 140 38 51 | |
CMYK: | 9 100 64 48 | |
Pantone: | PMS 202 C |
Desert Sand | Hex color: | #e2d6b5 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 226 214 181 | |
CMYK: | 3 15 29 0 | |
Pantone: | PMS 2309 C |
Black | Hex color: | #111111 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 17 17 17 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
Did Arizona Coyotes change their logo?
Yes, the Arizona Coyotes team has changed their logo. A radical change took place in 2003 when the Cubist character disappeared from the emblem and in its place appeared the head of a howling coyote. The last changes date back to 2021: then the designers returned the multi-colored character Kachina.
Who designed the Arizona Coyotes logo?
The designer of the Kachina logo, which depicts the spirit of the Pueblo people in a Cubist style, is the Adrenalin Design Group. This option was approved in 2003 and returned in 2021.
When did Arizona Coyotes change their logo?
The Arizona Coyotes hockey team last changed its logo in September 2021. She swapped the head of a howling coyote for the original version of Kachina; a Pueblo spirit doll made up of many scraps.