Niner Nation has a New Look!

Charlotte Athletics releases new branding and new partnerships with local apparel store, embracing the "CLT"

A New Era and a New look for Niner Nation

June 23, 2020, dawned a new era of Charlotte athletics as the new #BoldRush branding for the 49ers was released featuring new logos, uniforms, and the design of a new basketball court. While the football team had released the football helmet two days before the official launch (and fans were not pleased with the logo), redemption came on Monday once the full media kits were released and the new look of Niner Nation was launched into the new era of Charlotte Athletics.

The new branding has been a long time coming after 20 years of the "C pick" had been the logo since 2000. Many fans have had issues with the inconsistency of the old branding and have embraced this time as an opportunity to move forward as a program.

The new logo features a much needed monochromatic design that givers versatility for designing uniforms, apparel, and branding. The department also addressed what many fans called an inconsistency in the old brand and released three color codes for the three colors that would be used for the branding in hopes of keeping a uniform look and not have six different shades of green in the bookstore.

The center point of the entire brand launch has been the embracing and adoption of "CLT". For many years, Charlotteans have been looking for their brand as a city and the adoption of CLT has given a unique and modern name for the community. It seemed that this was a point to be made by Charlotte Athletics and the adoption of CLT on our uniforms and apparel will give the program a unique identity for the teams, but also identifying with the city of Charlotte.

Mike Hill, the Atheltic Director for Charlotte, introduced the new brand by saying “We felt this was important as to where we are as a program and the momentum that is already built on an extremely strong foundation.” Working with alumni, donors, athletes, and students, they wanted the new brand to feature a new Charlotte. “So many constituents who are invested in the athletic program and the university participated in this process and the end result is something that really represents the feedback we got from all of them.”

Since the appointment of Mike Hill as Athletic Director in 2018, he has brought new energy to the program and has taken the first steps in creating bigger/better teams, and has hired "Gold Standard" coaches to lead them. It was also rumored that the new athletics facility masterplan and rebranding was going to be released in the Spring, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown that has delayed the timing of masterplan release.

Along with releasing the new logos, came the new partnership with the 704 Shop, an apparel store featuring Charlotte inspired clothing and accessories. The clothing brand offers three new shirts (most of which are sold out) with the new 49ers, CLT, and primary "C" logos on the front of the shirt. The bookstore has also begun carrying a very limited number of items but expects to get more once Nike manufacturers are able to get back to work.

Coaches were interviewed about their input and on the new logo and how it has embraced the momentum Mike Hill has been talking about for the program. Coach Ron Sanchez (men's basketball head coach) came out in full support saying “People will know where this institution is based on CLT.” He added that this is the perfect time to bring in the new era of Charlotte Athletics. Halton Arena will be getting a new basketball court design that will feature the new green with the "C" in the middle of the court.

New football, soccer, and basketball uniforms were also released and fans, players, and coaches went crazy for them. The soccer and basketball uniforms will feature the secondary "CLT" logo in large print on the front, while the football team will have the "CLT" featured on the front of the helmets.

Coach Will Healy was very excited about the new logo because of the recruiting value the city has for the team. “Adding CLT is a big step! We focused on how we incorporating the city into our brand and how do we make sure that we are Charlotte’s Division I university.” Healy said in his interview, featured in the media kit. During his first season as head coach, Healy's Niner's featured a few new helmet concpets with the retro Norm the Niner for homecoming and wore the famous gold chrome "C pick" helmet.

This brand launch has been an overall success for Charlotte Athletics, but with any campaign that involves change, there will always be those who are opposed at first. It will take time for people to warm up to the new "norm" for Charlotte, but this new brand is a symbol that our 49ers are entering a new age of sports with coaches and athletes that are united on #GoldStandard mentality.

It is unknown when the new masterplan will be released by Mike Hill and the school, but I would expect there to be a football stadium expansion, indoor training facilities, and a full renovation of Halton Arena in the works. Either way, the Charlotte 49ers that we remember are just a memory as we have entered a new era under our new brand and CLT.

All branding logos were used from the media tool kit below.

Media resources for the new branding:

boldrush.com

Media Tool Kit

704 Shop