Detroit Lions new logo…complete with 2 more highlights than 2008 Lions

(See? Cause the logo has those two highlights? Nevermind.)

Okay…I will be the first person to say that this blog tends to take a sarcastic, and also pessimistic overtone on most of my blog posts.  Usually, its because the topic being covered usually involves someone that I feel is making a choice that is not necessarily a poor choice, but a choice that seemingly doesn’t look at all of the surrounding factors.  Such is the case with your 2009 Detroit Lions.

How have the Lions continued to at least convince this blogger that they are continuing to entrench themselves in futility? Its new logo time!

Shrouded in secrecy and guarded around-the-clock, Detroit’s new logo was still somehow leaked to the public via a toy advertisement on NFLshop.com. You don’t expect that from a well-oiled machine like the Lions’ front office.

Proving emphatically that investigative sports journalism is not dead, John Niyo, reporting from the NFL Meetings in Dana Point, Calif., spotted a collectible toy truck on the NFL site  with a new Lions’ logo on the side. Could this be an official switch from the pouncing silhouette we have come to love through so many Home Improvement reruns?

Awesome! What better way to convince fans that you’re now serious about football (after an 0-16 season) than a new logo!  Because a new logo guarantees a new start, and better talent!  All jokes aside though, sure, the re-branding is a good idea for the whole idea of a “fresh start”, but is it cost-effective? Or even necessary?  Lets review, shall we?

The Lions operating income was in the red in 2007, coming in at $-3.1 million, according to Forbes.  After last year’s 0-16 season and 2008′s 25% ticket price increase, I can only assume that the $-3.1 million is going to look fantastic in comparison.  “Strapped for cash” sounds like a pretty good description of the 2009 Lions, and obviously the creation of new uniforms is going to cost money, money that is usually recouped by…the selling of those uniforms.  The problem?  How many people, outside of Detroit, are buying Lions merchandise?  I don’t know if the 0-16 season is creating a lot buzz about spending money on the Lions.  The problem compounded?  Michigan’s unemployment rate is teetering near 12%.  So, some of those Lions fans that may have been buying the new Lions merchandise?  Well, they’re probably jobless right now, making the idea of bringing in new revenue streams to pay for the Ford Center, or to just have positive operating income seem all that more unlikely.

Sure, this all is probably me being overly pessimistic.  The cost to make new uniforms probably isn’t other-worldly, and even though the state- wide economy is suffering greatly, there has to be enough Lions fans across the nation to make this deal worthwhile (maybe?).  I mean, who’s to say that the Lions are certainly getting new uniforms anyway?

The Lions’ official online store held a clearance sale on merchandise sporting the old logo in recent weeks. And team officials have remained coy about the possibility of uniform and logo changes for next season.

“I would only say that we’re looking at all parts of the organization to see where we can improve,” team president Tom Lewand said last month. “And if and when there’s an opportunity to have any announcements on those kinds of things, we’ll do so at the appropriate time.”

Earlier this month, the Lions also announced a 10-year deal with a new merchandising company, Indianapolis-based MainGate, Inc., to operate all merchandise locations at Ford Field, the team’s training camp in Allen Park and the Lions’ online store. That partnership officially begins April 1.

Oh. Okay, looks like those new uniforms are happening.  And that new 10 year merchandising deal? sweet!  Lets review quickly.

– New Logo costs Lions some amount of money which I assume they will recoup but probably at a lower than expected goal

– The Lions are still paying for their new stadium, Ford Field, which opened in 2002, and has done so much for the Lions in terms of bringing fans to the game that they had an operating income of $-3.1 million in 2007.  NEGATIVE.

– The Lions went 0-16 last year, so I expect 2008′s operating income to surpass 2007′s in terms of awesome failure.

So, again…I’ll admit I’m a little overly pessimistic when dealing with most of the issues I deal with, but, can someone please shed some light on this subject and explain to me why this is a good idea?

Deadspin –  New Lions logo 23 perecent more fierce, should result in Super Bowl title

Detroit News — Collectible features a new Lions logo

Tags: Bad decisions, Detroit Lions, Football, new logo, NFL, sports business

Category: Football