Toronto Blue Jays New Logo: How Fans, Experts are Reacting

Wow. Another "leaked" logo. Insert snarky smirk here.

This time, much like the new Florida Marlins logo that was "leaked" on Tuesday night (insert another snarky smirk here), the Toronto Blue Jays' new logo for the 2012 season was seen making its way around the web starting on Wednesday night.

While reaction to the Marlins' new logo was predominantly negative, reaction thus far about the Blue Jays' more throwback-style logo has been a bit different.

Uniwatch.com has supposedly confirmed that this logo will in fact be seen next season, although there has been no official word on when the logo will be unveiled by the team. Well, technically it's already been unveiled.

And speaking of that word, can we now put to rest the notion that the logos of the past two days by both the Marlins and Blue Jays were "leaked"?

Seems pretty obvious that this is the new wave of market research, kind of like "try it before you buy it," although in these cases it's more like "throw it out there and see if it sticks."

In any event, here is the reaction from around the web concerning the new Toronto Blue Jays logo.

At Least One Team Got It Right

Garrett Wilson of Bloguin.com is of the belief that the Toronto Blue Jays, unlike the Florida Marlins, got it right with their new logo.

Wilson writes:

"

Pay attention, Florida/Miami Marlins, you are about to get schooled on what a new logo should look like.

Notice the lack of what appears to be rainbow vomit all over the place.  Already this logo is one hundred times better than the monstrosity the Marlins unveiled earlier this week.

"

Well said, Garrett, well said.

Back to the Future

Garrett Wilson of Bloguin.com also pointed out that the Blue Jays are clearly acknowledging their heritage, noting that the new logo is very similar to the original Blue Jays logo of their inaugural season.

Wilson writes:

"

While the new and original logo vary by a small degree, this is a MASSIVE improvement over the current Toronto uniforms.  Not only is the angry-looking, cartoonish Blue Jay gone (which is kind of a shame, in a certain respect, because it seemed like an Angry Birds corporate sponsorship waiting to happen), but so is the color black that took over the uniform.  Call me crazy, but I always thought that the Blue Jays should have, you know, blue uniforms.

"

No Art Deco Disaster with This One

Yahoo.com's Kevin Kaduk quickly pointed out on his blog that the new Toronto Blue Jays logo didn't commit the same type of design crime perpetrated by the Florida Marlins.

Kaduk writes:

"

Finally, after almost 10 years years of trying to push two versions of a 'roided-up Woody Woodpecker on us, the team is going back to its roots with a serious nod to the franchise's best players and teams.

If you ask me, I think it's a good thing they're spinning the design forward with sleeker and faster lines. Its ability to look forward to what the Jays are hoping will be a bright future while still paying homage to a rich and familiar history is what makes it a real winner.

"

Only time will tell if it helps the Jays return to winning form again.

Team Branding for National Recognition?

According to BusinessInsider.com, the new Toronto Blue Jays logo is a clear effort by the team to market themselves as "Canada's Team."

"

The Toronto Blue Jays are changing their logo and uniforms next season as part of a rebranding effort.

According to reports, the Jays want to start marketing itself as "Canda's team" to extend its reach beyond the city.

"

The Toronto Star also chimed in last month with word of the Blue Jays' desire to market throughout the country.

The Star writes:

"

The Jays are also anxious to boost emphasis on their national marketing plan in Canada.

The club this year opened a minor league team in Vancouver and visits seven Canadian cities with a baseball training program featuring former greats like Robbie Alomar and Duane Ward.

"Part of it is, we've put a team in Vancouver and we're also trying to get as much TV exposure in Canada as we can," Jays president Paul Beeston said last month. "But still, we have to perform on the field, that's our best marketing tool."

 

"

Twitter Users Chime in

All across the Twitter universe, users are chiming in with their comments about the new Toronto Blue Jays logo, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.

This, from Bobby Pulte:

"

I hope that leaked #BlueJays logo is legit, it's (base)baller.

"

Twitterers Are Ecstatic over Change

One particular Blue Jays fan has apparently been completely distraught ever since the Jays failed to sign star pitcher Roy Halladay.

Ryan Tomorrow writes:

"

The best thing to happen to the #BlueJays since Halladay left: NEW LOGO!!

"

Blue Jays Continue Stylish Ways

According to Ology.com, the Toronto Blue Jays new logo is just continued a trend of great style for the Canadian-based team.

Ology.com writes:

"

The Jays have long been one of the more stylish teams in the Majors, and this logo is just another in a long line of uniform successes that baseball's only Canadian club has come up with.

"

Well, they may not be playing like a winner right now, but next year they'll certainly be looking like one.