Logo Legends: A Journey into the Stories Behind the World’s Top Sports Branding (2024)

Sport is all about passion, and the finest sports logos capture it for many followers. As a result, developing a sports logo is a difficult undertaking because the end product is nearly guaranteed to elicit strong feelings.

When a tech or clothing company changes its logo, there may be some protest, but when a sports club changes its logo, the response may be epic. As a result, numerous sports teams have placed their logo redesigns up for public voting. However, some great sports logos appear to be virtually eternal, withstanding the test of time and trend changes.

These 10 of the best sports logos are sure to inspire you, since they all evoke strong feelings in us. Some are sports brand logos, while others are sports team or event logos.

Top 10 Best Sports Logos

Premier League

There are plenty of sports logos that have been around for decades, but a new one can easily become classic. Here’s an excellent example. For decades, the lion had been an integral element of the logo of Premier League. However, DesignStudio and Robin Brand Consultants produced this lively new version of their logo in 2016. And, uncommonly for a new logo debut, especially in the fervent world of sports, it received near-universal acclaim. This was a makeover that checked all the boxes: it was resolutely modern, stripped back the prior design to its fundamental necessities, and was considerably more versatile when utilized across digital media. Most significantly, it disproved the notion that sports fans are super-traditional and dislike anything new. They apparently do, as long as it’s excellent.

Olympic Rings

The word “design classic” is frequently used. But the Olympic Rings—five overlapping circles in blue, yellow, black, green, and red—unquestionably merit the title. This distinctive insignia is one of the most well-known sports logos in the world, instantly identifiable by people all over the world. The design was created in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin and is deeply symbolic. During that time, de Coubertin said: “It represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, and the six colors represent those found on all national flags. More than a century later, so many people have put so much passion into this breathtakingly basic yet incredibly unique design, making it one of those logos that we never want to see modified.

Paris Saint-Germain

There are many roundel logo ideas in sports, and the form appears to be spreading since a circle works well for a variety of uses. Few, however, are as clear, crisp, and current as the Paris Saint-Germain logo. The club’s initial emblem included a red ship, a symbol of Paris, but it was quickly replaced with a far more generally recognized symbol of the French city, at least internationally: the Eiffel Tower. Except for a brief deviation in the mid-nineties, the team has used the same design and color palette since 1972. The design has been gradually streamlined over the years, culminating in the ultra-clean current form announced in 2013. A heraldic fleur-de-lis beneath the arch of the iconic Parisian monument lends a touch of refinement to the design.

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Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings logo uniquely conveys the team’s history. Rather than a physical monument, a wheel is used to signify Detroit’s history as the United States’ Motor City. It’s a unique theme for an ice hockey club, which distinguishes the logo from others in the NHL, but the color and the wings are obvious, literal allusions to the team’s name, which adds excitement to the logo. Since the team’s inception as one of the league’s Original Six, the design has altered little, with just the shading and proportions being modified.

Nike

The finest sports logos also include sports brand logos, which are now closely tied to a variety of sporting activities. The Nike Swoosh, designed by Portland student Carolyn Davidson in 1971, is probably the most instantly identifiable across the world. She was paid $35 for her efforts at the time, but a decade later, creator Phillip Knight presented her with a gold and diamond swoosh ring and Nike stock. This logo has been the perfect symbol of the brand for over half a century, effortlessly expressing the vital characteristics of speed, agility, and positive thinking, and it shows no symptoms of needing to be retired any time soon. That’s not to say the design is universally adored; when Nike put the Jordan Jumpman emblem on Utah Jazz t-shirts, there was a huge outcry.

Nike Air Jordan

As an added advantage, Nike owns one of the most well-known sports logos. The Nike Air Jordan design, sometimes known as the ‘Jumpman logo,’ goes back to the early 1980s, when the firm collaborated with basketball great Michael Jordan. It was conceived by Peter Moore, who also created the Air Jordan I, based on a stage image, although it didn’t appear on the shoes until the Air Jordan III in 1988. It immediately became a design synonymous with both Nike and the athlete himself. While there have been several athlete-brand collaborations and endorsem*nts subsequently, none have achieved the same level of success.

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Adidas

The Adidas trefoil, which occupies the same type of iconic domain as the Nike Swoosh, was also established in 1971. The three-leaf form incorporates the three stripes that Adolf ‘Adi’ Dassler has been using to identify its footwear since 1967 and depicts the world’s major landmasses: the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, no one from Adidas created it. Karhu Sports, a Finnish firm that developed sports shoes and spikes, was the original owner of the mark. However, the firm was severely harmed by WWII and decided to sell the design to Adidas for the equivalent of €1,600 and two bottles of whisky. (It didn’t hurt them; they’re still a thriving company today.)

Manchester United

Manchester United may now be an international corporate and media behemoth valued at close to £5 billion. But it is still an institution steeped in history, as seen by its emblem. The current form, created in 1998, marks a decades-long development from the initial 1963 design, which was based on Manchester City Council’s coat of arms. The red devil was added in the 1970s, based on the club’s nickname, while the words ‘football club’ were deleted in the 1990s. Overall, a time traveler from half a century ago would have no trouble identifying the contemporary logo. As such, it remains a persistent light, connecting today’s global, big-money enterprise to a more communal and local history.

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Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys, sometimes referred to as “America’s Team,” are the most valued sports team globally, according to Forbes. And at the heart of this potent brand is a sports logo that, in its simplicity, encompasses everything. The first Dallas Cowboys emblem featured the same blue star without a border, and it was in use from 1960 to 1963. It was blatantly a celebration of the Lone Star State, Texas. After joining the club in 1959, Jack Eskridge revised the logo, adding a border and giving it a more three-dimensional appearance. Currently used on a wide range of items, including fan gear and team helmets, the Dallas Cowboys emblem has proven to be both adaptable and iconic.

New York Yankees

The interlocking ‘NY’ emblem of the famed baseball club predates the Yankees themselves. Co-owner ‘Big’ Bill Devery commissioned Tiffany & Co in 1877 to design a police medal to honour fallen officer John McDowell, who had been shot while on duty. Devery discovered a few years later that this design might be used to represent team cohesiveness. As a result, the New York Highlanders, as they were then known, chose a variant of the medal design as their official emblem in 1905. While it came and went season-to-season, it has since become a baseball (and New York) symbol, as well as a fashion statement around the world. However, it should be noted that their most renowned player, Babe Ruth, never wore it on his shirt.

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