The Super Bowl 50 logo highlights the significance of an anniversary final, underscoring the event’s special status in US culture. It became a symbol of both a sporting match and a celebration uniting millions.
The history of Super Bowl 50 began in 2012 when the NFL announced preparations for the anniversary match. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara was selected over Miami, which declined to modernize its stadium. For the first time, the Roman numeral “50” was replaced with the Arabic “50” in the logo to avoid the negative association with the letter “L.” A creative group developed 73 emblem options before finalizing the gold numerals behind the Lombardi Trophy.
To celebrate the golden anniversary, the entire 2015 season featured golden symbols on the field and on uniforms. Preparations included large-scale events in Santa Clara, as well as collaborations with LGBT-owned businesses and disabled veteran enterprises for the first time. The traditional media day evolved into the evening’s Super Bowl Opening Night event, which featured symbolism reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The game took place on February 7, 2016, with the Denver Broncos defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in a match notable for a record number of sacks. Linebacker Von Miller was named MVP. For quarterback Peyton Manning, this was the final game of his career, ending victoriously at age 39.
Meaning and History
What is Super Bowl 50?
It is the annual American football championship game held in California. The Denver team won with outstanding defensive play and the leadership of their famous quarterback, who retired after this game. The halftime show featured spectacular performances by popular musicians.
2016
For the Super Bowl’s 50th anniversary, the National Football League decided to break with tradition and switch to Arabic numerals. The logo, created by the Landor studio, became a unique case for the NFL, highlighting the event’s special status and significance.
At the center of the logo is the Vince Lombardi Trophy, rendered in silver tones with metallic highlights. Its form resembles an American football on a tall base, on which the official NFL symbol, a shield and stars, is placed. The trophy is surrounded by a dimensional gold number 50, colored as close as possible to Pantone 10127 C. The golden gradient and bright highlights emphasize the anniversary game’s ceremonial nature and importance.
Inside the number is a depiction of the San Francisco city skyline, which hosted the final. The designers detailed the city’s most recognizable landmarks: the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, and the Transamerica Pyramid. The architectural outlines are integrated into the number, indicating the connection between the tournament and its host location.
At the bottom of the emblem is the event name “Super Bowl”. The inscription is on a metallic plate and is set in a large, wide typeface used by the NFL in its own materials. The black letters are accompanied by white shadows, creating an effect of depth and making the text appear pressed into the plate.
The Super Bowl 50 logo combines sporting heritage with San Francisco’s urban elements, creating a festive atmosphere for the anniversary match and underscoring its exceptional status.
Font and Colors
The lower text uses rounded letters that visually echo the football’s shape depicted above. This graphic solution connects the text to the tournament’s key football symbol.
The primary color of the Super Bowl 50 emblem is gold, used for only the second time in championship history. Gold was chosen for its association with California and the historic Gold Rush. Silver tones complement the palette, reflecting the traditional appearance of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.



