UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

[Verkligen]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

For what it's worth... As far as a logo goes... I think the use of the University seal is a heck of a lot better choice than either 3 options presented. (Also thinking about the old octogan shaped N-over-H.) *shrug*

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Nobody liked using the athletic logo, the Cat's face!

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Nobody liked using the athletic logo, the Cat's face!

No one likes Zuul.

 

[SPCSMAN]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Actually, there is a need. Given University finances, lack of State support, rising tuition and fees; UNH is embarking on a significant multi faceted marketing effort. The T-Hall logo does not project all that the University offers (Manchester, Law, on-line learning). More importantly, at least in my mind, the T-Hall logo does not render/resize well in some applications.

I'll miss the T-Hall logo as the image most associated with UNH. It will still be available for selective use. Perhaps it can be used for special accomplishments and announcements?

Given the University finances, I hope they didn't spend any money having these logos developed. They could get better from and underfunded elementary school art class

 

[scoreboard]

Given the University finances, I hope they didn't spend any money having these logos developed. They could get better from and underfunded elementary school art class

I got the email about the UNH logo contest too. I deleted it. Seriously, I graduated from UNH 30 years and have no clue what the current logo is. A logo does not make the university. Building a solid reputation on your academic qualities is what makes the university. Does anybody really think a school logo plays a decision in an applicants choice of where to go? I hope our new logo doesn't lose any blue chip hockey recruits.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

After looking at these logos, my first reaction is that they are pure vanilla. There is nothing that grabs you so that you say "wow, that is UNH!" Of course, I am not sure what difference it makes. And if it really doesn't, why not have a logo that makes highlights something that makes UNH distinctive? And why not the oldest building on campus?

I doubt if any prospective freshman, let alone student athlete, is going to make a decision on where to go based on a logo. For the average student my guess it would be course offerings, financial aid packages, and student life. For the average student-athlete, whose career is no doubt going to end at UNH, I think it would be the ability to play in a competitive program and obtain a decent education at the same time. For men's hockey and, perhaps, football, it is all those things and the possibility of a pro career. It seems to me logos would be down on the list.

Reminds me of the furor over the UNH hockey script 10-12 years ago. If UNH had kept the classic lettering, would their recruiting have been better or worse that what came to be? I can't imagine lettering had any impact. Has it had an impact on merchandise sales? It certainly did in the short run. Not so much is in recent years. Maybe time to change the unis again

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Seriously, I graduated from UNH 30 years and have no clue what the current logo is. A logo does not make the university. Building a solid reputation on your academic qualities is what makes the university. Does anybody really think a school logo plays a decision in an applicants choice of where to go?

This one, exactly, right on the money. Substance over style.

Hardly shocking, however, considering the UNH institutional approach to the decade-long slow deterioration of the Men's Hockey program has been to baiscally "rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic". The drop in attendance has probably cost the University something approaching $5MM (maybe more?) in ticket sales alone in recent years. But in response, what do we get? Oh yeah - let's blame Concord, drop tens of thousands more on a spiffy new "much-needed" logo, and we'll "rebrand" and fool everyone into parting with extra funds via a clever marketing campaign.

It really does make you wonder if the folks in the top levels of administration in Durham are even the slightest bit in touch with the real world.

Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose (that's for you, Jacques!). See you guys again in September.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Reminds me of the furor over the UNH hockey script 10-12 years ago. If UNH had kept the classic lettering, would their recruiting have been better or worse that what came to be? I can't imagine lettering had any impact. Has it had an impact on merchandise sales? It certainly did in the short run. Not so much is in recent years. Maybe time to change the unis again

At least it would be more honest, and probably more productive moneywise, too.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

At least it would be more honest, and probably more productive moneywise, too.

I doubt it. Last time UNH Hockey's popularity was at its peak. Not now. The fact that the Friend's concession booth has closed speaks volumes. From my observation, it is the player's parents, at least those who come to the games on a regular basis, who spent the money. I've got so much UNH Hockey gear, all purchased or given to me years ago, that I don't need to buy any more. I suppose I would be tempted to buy if the logo was changed but my guess is that I am in a distinct minority.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

I doubt it. Last time UNH Hockey's popularity was at its peak. Not now. The fact that the Friend's concession booth has closed speaks volumes. From my observation, it is the player's parents, at least those who come to the games on a regular basis, who spent the money. I've got so much UNH Hockey gear, all purchased or given to me years ago, that I don't need to buy any more. I suppose I would be tempted to buy if the logo was changed but my guess is that I am in a distinct minority.

I still think whatever modest uptick of dollars from a sports logo change would beat laying out not "tens of thousands" as I'd speculated earlier, but approx. $100K instead for the alleged "much-needed" university logo redesign.

http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130519181&NL=1

"The president's Cabinet identified this project as overdue and crucial (really???) to not only recruiting efforts both in and out of the state but to the success of the next comprehensive campaign," university spokeswoman Erika Mantz said.

"We need to compete better nationally and internationally for students, and part of that is marketing," she said.

Mantz said the design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, New York, is handling the redesign. The firm has "created identities for many institutions of higher education, including New York University, Middlebury College and Cornell University," she said.

Mantz said the school is looking to redesign the logo that features Thompson Hall. She said the tower "does not represent an institution with three campuses and many online offerings. It was created for the last comprehensive campaign and was not intended to be the university brand."

She said the university seal will undergo a redrawing to make it easier to produce, but it will not change. The school's athletic logo, featuring a wildcat, the school's mascot, will not change.

Mantz said the redesign is expected to cost between $91,400 and $108,200. She said the cost includes the development of the new logo, the redrawing of the seal and guidelines specifying how the marks can be used.

Not quite sure I follow the logic there fron start to finish, but I'm not sure "logic" and the top UNH admins live in the same universe anyway. Based on these comments, I'm expecting no more tower, but a four-slice pie chart which features a gavel and a laptop in two of the "slices". Good luck with that, Erika ...

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

It is not a sports logo change. The most it has to do with hockey is what is being written here.

Did anyone on this thread ever take a marketing course?

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Thanks Darius for stating the obvious....it has nothing to do with the sports logo....I just thought that the Cat's face logo was better then what the Know-it-alls in NY had proposed! And Greg, the Friends shut down the booth because they cannot compete with what is available online for price and variety. Heck, Dan gave up the Hockey East website so there's a lot more to it....

 

[scoreboard]

I still think whatever modest uptick of dollars from a sports logo change would beat laying out not "tens of thousands" as I'd speculated earlier, but approx. $100K instead for the alleged "much-needed" university logo redesign.

http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130519181&NL=1

"The president's Cabinet identified this project as overdue and crucial (really???) to not only recruiting efforts both in and out of the state but to the success of the next comprehensive campaign," university spokeswoman Erika Mantz said.

"We need to compete better nationally and internationally for students, and part of that is marketing," she said.

Mantz said the design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, New York, is handling the redesign. The firm has "created identities for many institutions of higher education, including New York University, Middlebury College and Cornell University," she said.

Mantz said the school is looking to redesign the logo that features Thompson Hall. She said the tower "does not represent an institution with three campuses and many online offerings. It was created for the last comprehensive campaign and was not intended to be the university brand."

She said the university seal will undergo a redrawing to make it easier to produce, but it will not change. The school's athletic logo, featuring a wildcat, the school's mascot, will not change.

Mantz said the redesign is expected to cost between $91,400 and $108,200. She said the cost includes the development of the new logo, the redrawing of the seal and guidelines specifying how the marks can be used.

Not quite sure I follow the logic there fron start to finish, but I'm not sure "logic" and the top UNH admins live in the same universe anyway. Based on these comments, I'm expecting no more tower, but a four-slice pie chart which features a gavel and a laptop in two of the "slices". Good luck with that, Erika ...

The quote from her about creating identities for NYU, Middlebury and Cornell is ridiculous. I dare say those schools earned their credibility and reputation well before they instituted a new logo. Marketing a university is not about a logo. Logos are important for Ralph Lauren polos and Nike sneakers. Not academic institutions.

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

The UNH Director of public relations indicates in today's Foster's that the response has been mainly positive ...
How can that be ??? .... are any of the negative views getting through to the "central administration."

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

The UNH Director of public relations indicates in today's Foster's that the response has been mainly positive ...
How can that be ??? .... are any of the negative views getting through to the "central administration."

Public Relations is just a glorified offshoot of Marketing. Truth is optional, and *creativity* (i.e. "spin", "promotion", "buzz", "hot") trumps all. Style over substance. And yes, Darius ... while I did not major in marketing, I did take a course in it 30+ years ago. Not that it makes a difference, though. Most of us are qualified from our life experiences to detect BS when we hear (or read or see) it.

Anyway, for anyone who hasn't seen what $100,000 will buy you these days logo-wise, check out the following link to the Union-Leader website, which also gifts us with some independent feedback from marketing folks. And to be fair, it doesn't seem they are too impressed either ...

http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130529873&NL=1

Turns out I wasn't too far off with my earlier speculation as to what they might look like. Two of them are (presumably intentionally) shaped like an old-style computer mouse, and the fourth is a 4-paneled shield that the "experts" concede is too busy and/or undecipherable. Keep up the good work, Erika ...

I can't believe we've been reduced to debating a new school logo ... ugh ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

In an attempt (likely in vain ) to get the discussion back to hockey, here's a short video I found on the UMaine thread:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=113895

Perhaps a clue or two in there as to why UNH teams aren't known for their late season success ...

"Work beats talent unless talent works" ... Mike Babcock 12/24/05

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

Thanks Darius for stating the obvious....it has nothing to do with the sports logo....I just thought that the Cat's face logo was better then what the Know-it-alls in NY had proposed! And Greg, the Friends shut down the booth because they cannot compete with what is available online for price and variety. Heck, Dan gave up the Hockey East website so there's a lot more to it....

No doubt internet sales have had some effect but I was told that the Friend's booth closed mainly because they could no longer afford the 20% usuary fee that the arena imposed on them. This is ancient history now but, before the Whit opened, the contract that the management company (forget their name now) had with the arena vendors required them to pay 20% of their gross income for the right to set up shop at the Whit. This fee also applied to the Friends of UNH Hockey even though it was a non-profit with the express purpose of plowing all revenues back into the hockey program. Some of us on the board at the time argued that requiring the Friends to pay was ludicrous given their mission. If it was ludicrous then, it is even more ludicrous now when every dollar earmarked to the program is important. Of course, the argument made at the time fell on deaf ears. For more than 15 years the Friends were able to absorb the fee which continued to be applied even after the University took over management of the Whit. However, as the perception of the team changed, the revenues for the booth dropped to the point that the 20% fee became such a big obstacle that it didn't make sense anymore to continue. The outcome of this decision is really disappointing. The Hardenbrooks worked very hard to make the displaying of the UNH Hockey logo among the fans a necessity. Too bad that the University didn't recognize this.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

From the Union Leader article: "...the current logo is very horizontal - Thompson Hall on the left with the name of the university stretching far off to the right. That doesn't work in social media, where Facebook and Twitter profile pictures tend to be square..."

My heart wants the current T_Hall logo to remain, but my head understands the importance of the above and having a logo that encompasses more than just Durham. Watching the entire video presentation is important to understanding what they are trying to accomplish.

 

[Gibber]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread

From the Union Leader article: "...the current logo is very horizontal - Thompson Hall on the left with the name of the university stretching far off to the right. That doesn't work in social media, where Facebook and Twitter profile pictures tend to be square..."

My heart wants the current T_Hall logo to remain, but my head understands the importance of the above and having a logo that encompasses more than just Durham. Watching the entire video presentation is important to understanding what they are trying to accomplish.

Definitely needed to spend 100 g's on something Kindergartners could have done for milk and cookies...

 

[Hux]

No doubt internet sales have had some effect but I was told that the Friend's booth closed mainly because they could no longer afford the 20% usuary fee that the arena imposed on them. This is ancient history now but, before the Whit opened, the contract that the management company (forget their name now) had with the arena vendors required them to pay 20% of their gross income for the right to set up shop at the Whit. This fee also applied to the Friends of UNH Hockey even though it was a non-profit with the express purpose of plowing all revenues back into the hockey program. Some of us on the board at the time argued that requiring the Friends to pay was ludicrous given their mission. If it was ludicrous then, it is even more ludicrous now when every dollar earmarked to the program is important. Of course, the argument made at the time fell on deaf ears. For more than 15 years the Friends were able to absorb the fee which continued to be applied even after the University took over management of the Whit. However, as the perception of the team changed, the revenues for the booth dropped to the point that the 20% fee became such a big obstacle that it didn't make sense anymore to continue. The outcome of this decision is really disappointing. The Hardenbrooks worked very hard to make the displaying of the UNH Hockey logo among the fans a necessity. Too bad that the University didn't recognize this.

I thought the University was taking over merchandise sales and was moving towards building a store of some sort at the Whitt?