ESPN’s Monday Night Football will have a new look this fall.
Not to worry. The popular commentator team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski is coming back. It’s the logo that will be different.
“Every year we go back and analyze the entire show in the offseason to raise the bar and make our presentation even better,” said senior vice president and executive producer Jed Drake. “The logo has been a point of focus this spring, developing a new mark that embodies the energy, spirit and tradition of Monday Night Football.”
ESPN Creative Services, which is responsible for creating, designing, executing and delivering a variety of products – graphics, music applications, design, animation and advanced technology, was tasked with designing the new logo.
“After exploring a variety of design solutions, we created a bold, symmetrical badge that contains and showcases ESPN, Monday Night Football and the NFL shield,” adds creative director Michael Ruddy. “The logo was designed with a sculpted framework that adds strength. The color red dominates the palette, and the stadium lights around ESPN illuminate the badge and exemplify that MNF is in primetime. Metal, rubber and pigskin textures also add tactility.”
The logo has a modern and polished appearance, and the “Monday Night Football” in heavyweight font gives it a bold feel. There is also depth and weight to it, almost as if you could hold the shield in your hand.
Even in advertising and printed pieces, the logo will maintain much of the detail of the animated version that will be used during game telecasts.
“We’re thrilled with the result,” said Drake. “The new MNF logo gives us a strong, identifiable mark and we believe fans will embrace our new look this fall.”
Bill Hofheimer wrote: