Among the emblems of American football teams, the New Orleans Saints logo is distinguished by its historicity. The heraldic visualization of the club is a tribute to the region’s history and its French founders in a minimalist, brilliant simplicity.
New Orleans Saints: Brand overview
Founded: | November 1, 1966 |
Founder: | Gayle Benson |
Headquarters: |
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Website: | neworleanssaints.com |
New Orleans Saints is a professional football team. It is a member of the NFL where represents the NFC Southern Division. It was officially established in 1967 but was created in 1966. The team is located in New Orlean, State of Louisiana.
The franchise was created by the New Orlean entrepreneur Dave Dixon who made an unofficial deal with Congressman Hale Boggs, Senator Russell Long, and National Football League commissioner Pete Rozelle. Its founders also include John W. Mecom Jr. and the community of New Orlean. They managed the club by 1985.
Then it was bought by businessman Tom Benson. This was made due to the statement of Senator Edwin W. Edwards that New Orleans Saints were on the brink of sale as the team had had to move to Jacksonville, State of Florida.
As Benson had great business acumen, he realized that everything could be ruined. Moreover, it was a period of a deep economic decline due to a non-stable oil price rate. Then he declared his intention to buy the franchise. The NFL approved his decision on the 31st of May, 1985. Later his successor Gayle Benson has become the manager of the club and owns it since 2018.
The decision about the team name was based on a fan bidding organized by New Orlean authorities. But even without so much as this, it would be named Saints as NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had announced the news about its creation on the 1st of November – on All Hallows. The New Orlean jazz heritage also played a great role: compare with the famous musical work When the Saints Go Marching In.
Meaning and History
The New Orleans Saints logo represents the same graphic as the city. Fleur-de-lis (that’s how the designer element is called) is a homage to the megapolis’ French founders. The heraldic lily can be found on several emblems in France and other European countries. The franchise adopted its modern version – minimalistic and splendidly simple. The main color scheme of the logo is black, white, and color of the aged gelding.
What is New Orleans Saints?
The New Orleans Saints are one of only two National Football League teams to win the Super Bowl championship with just one game. The franchise has been part of the NFC South since 2002. It appeared in 1966, and in the first few decades, it was constantly losing: it never managed to make the playoffs in twenty seasons. In 1987, the situation stabilized, as the football club earned its first record.
1967 – 1999
At this period of its sports career, the club used a stylish lily. This symbol is peculiar to New Orlean and the French Royal Family, which includes the world-famous House of Bourbon. The first version of the New Orleans Saints logo was made in black with a black-and-white outline: the light inner line was wide, and the dark outer one was narrow.
2000 – 2001
In 2000 the fleur-de-lis design was updated. It became sharper and more expressed if compared with the previous one. Black was diluted with golden color. The dark outlines were enlarged and made much wider.
2002 – 2011
This version of the New Orleans Saints logo represents a slightly different hue of aged gold. The logo was platinized, and this gave it a dignified touch of time. As for the rest, nothing had changed: the graphic elements had the same style and size.
2012 – 2016
In 2012 designers revised the logo color scheme again and toned down the colors. Now the gold heraldic symbol looks even more aged and chimes with the French royal house’s theme.
2017 – today
The current version of Fleur-de-lis has a light hue of aged gold. The new New Orleans Saints logo is almost the same as the previous one. The only difference is that one tone was added to the color scheme intensity. The outer lines of the lily are wide, and the inner outline is narrow.
Font and Colors
The New Orleans Saints logo echoes the city’s coat of arms where the soccer team is located. It shows the so-called fleur-de-lis – a bourbon lily consisting of three petals. In the culture of many countries, it symbolizes royalty and high social status. In the context of heraldry, a flower means honesty, justice, and hope.
The emblem is made in a minimalistic style because except for fleur-de-lis, there is nothing on it. The graphic image has five versions, which were used at different times. The first and last options are very similar, except for the updated color scheme and a slight difference in line length and width. The modern lily has a more compact shape compared to what it was in 1967.
The designers did not design the typeface for New Orleans Saints because they decided to limit themselves to the logo’s graphic part only. The lack of inscriptions is compensated by proportions, perfect symmetry, deep symbolism, and harmonious selection of colors.
The fleur-de-lis base is colored in the shade of baked milk. The 2017 emblem is warmer than the one used since 2012. The outlines are traditionally wide and black. A white stripe separates the two dark lines in the frame.
New Orleans Saints color codes
Old Gold | Hex color: | #d3bc8d |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 159 137 88 | |
CMYK: | 37 40 74 8 | |
Pantone: | PMS 467 C |
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 70 50 50 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
Where does the New Orleans Saints logo come from?
The football team uses the New Orleans city symbol, the fleur-de-lis, as its logo. This sign has long-standing roots that go back to Babylon and Egypt.
Why do the New Orleans Saints have a fleur-de-lis?
The fleur-de-lis has left its mark on New Orleans history. In the city’s place, the discoverer of Sieur de la Salle once planted a flag depicting this symbol, which is now a tribute to French culture. Therefore, it is not surprising that New Orleans Saints use fleur-de-lis for their logo. Some consider this sign offensive because it was branded with escaped slaves.
What is the logo of the New Orleans Saints?
The New Orleans Saints logo is a classic fleur-de-lis. The main part of the picture is painted beige, and the outlines are black and white.
Is the New Orleans Saints logo a plant?
The New Orleans Saints logo depicts a plant, namely a lily flower with three characteristic petals. It is a famous heraldic symbol.