The new emblem for Oklahoma, which was presented in April 2021, has generated discussion among both supporters and detractors. While some people liked the updated design, others condemned it for being unoriginal and unfashionable. However, everyone is curious as to how much the new logo cost.
The branding and design company SME reportedly received a $150,000 payment from the University of Oklahoma for the creation of the new logo. The company was entrusted with producing a contemporary and classic design that would reflect the history and values of the university. With a sophisticated red and cream color palette, the new logo has a stylised ‘OU’ in bold, contemporary font.
Although $150,000 may seem like a steep sum to pay for a logo, institutions and companies frequently spend millions of dollars on branding and marketing. In contrast to some of the other rebranding initiatives in collegiate sports, Oklahoma’s new logo represents an expenditure that is actually rather small.
For instance, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invested $13 million on a new branding effort in 2018 that featured a new logo, website, and marketing materials. Similar to this, in 2012 the University of Oregon, which is renowned for its eye-catching and creative branding, invested $6 million in a rebranding campaign.
Many other institutions have well-known mascots and logos that express their school pride and traditions in addition to Oklahoma’s new look. Texas Tech’s mascot is a masked rider on a horse, while Baylor University’s mascot is a bear named Joy. Rameses is the name of the ram who serves as the university of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s mascot. Last but not least, whether crimson is more red or maroon is a frequently questioned question. The color crimson is a deep red that is frequently related to blood or fire, so it is the answer. Crimson is a distinctive color that has been connected to Oklahoma and its sports teams for more than a century, despite its resemblance to maroon or burgundy.
In conclusion, Oklahoma’s new logo cost $150,000, a very small sum when compared to comparable college sports rebranding initiatives. The institution believes that despite the conflicting responses, the new design will continue to stand for its principles and history for many years to come. Other institutions have their own distinctive mascots and logos that express their school pride and traditions, such UNC Chapel Hill’s Rameses, Texas Tech’s masked rider, and Baylor’s Joy. The last color is crimson, a deep red that has been connected to Oklahoma for more than a century.