Akron RubberDucks Marks Cited as Ballpark Digest's Best New Logo/Branding of the Year

It was a bold rebranding move when owner Ken Babby announced the Aeros would become the Akron RubberDucks - a move that led to a resurgent of fan interest in the team and an award for Best New Logo/Branding in the 2014 annual awards from Ballpark Digest, the leading guide to ballparks and baseball on the Internet.

"Rubber plays a huge role in Akron's history, and this branding pays homage to that history while updating the look for today," said Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest publisher. "With the rubber duck being invented in Akron, the new logo and marks were a perfect match for the market and helped revive the Eastern League franchise."

"We are humbled and honored to be recognized by Ballpark Digest as having the Best New Logo of the Year. There were a lot of great new logos and identities this season and we are thrilled to receive this honor," said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. "When we approached Brandiose about helping us create a new brand for the Akron community, we knew we were dealing with the best in the business and have been thrilled with the results after the first year. The Akron RubberDucks brand means so much to the greater Akron community and it encompasses our vision of creating affordable, family fun for our region."

"As the Original Rubber Capital of the World, Akron takes its place as one of the great cities that helped build America," said Brandiose's Jason Klein. "The RubberDucks identity is a tribute to the tenacity and ingenuity of the people of Akron."

The new branding is centered on a tenacious, tire-treaded RubberDuck surrounded by burn-out flames. The primary logo features the RubberDuck with the team moniker "RubberDucks" in a tread-style font.

Blue Flame, Racing Yellow, Fire Orange and Tire Black comprise the club's new official colors, paying tribute to Akron's rubber heritage while celebrating the family-fun entertainment of Minor League Baseball. The Akron RubberDucks were the first professional baseball team to use this color combination.

The new logo and branding were a core part of the franchise's makeover, which also included improvements to Canal Park and upgraded concessions. The makeover resulted in a 15.7 percent attendance rise in 2014 over 2013 at Canal Park, as this season's total attendance was 350,704 in 68 openings.

"Our fans responded in a big way throughout the first season as the RubberDucks, embracing the new look and feel for our new identity," Pfander added. "We are creating something special in Akron and as evidenced by the attendance surge over the past two years, our fans have spoken. Our goal was to create a brand that honored Akron's heritage and history, but also something fun for kids in which they could relate. While we've made a great first step, we still have a long way to go to get the message about affordable, family fun to folks all over Northeast Ohio."

 

"Last season was unquestionably a successful one for the RubberDucks, Jim Pfander, Ken Babby and the rest of the front office," Reichard said. "The new logo and branding was clearly a part of that. At the end of the day, how the fans respond really determines whether a new look is successful - and the fans clearly returned to Canal Park."

 

ABOUT THE BALLPARK DIGEST AWARDS

Each year Ballpark Digest honors noteworthy accomplishments in the baseball world, whether it be Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, independent baseball, summer-collegiate baseball or college baseball. Team officials and readers are asked to submit nominations for awards in specific categories; Ballpark Digest editors then go though the submissions (numbering some 400 pages of documentation in 2014), consulting with industry leaders before a final decision. This is the seventh season for the Ballpark Digest Awards. A complete listing of Ballpark Digest Awards can be found at www.ballparkdigest.com/awards.

ABOUT THE AKRON RUBBERDUCKS

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2015 season is its 19th since moving to Canal Park and its second since becoming the RubberDucks. Opening Day is Thursday, April 9 at 6:35 p.m. vs. Binghamton Mets. For more information, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. The Akron RubberDucks are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.  

ABOUT BRANDIOSE

The RubberDucks look was brought to life at Brandiose in San Diego, where they make teams famous by celebrating their brand stories. Partners Jason and Casey invented the first glow-in-the-dark on-filed cap for the Casper Ghosts and first on-field rally cap for the Altoona Curve. They dreamed up top selling logos for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and America's oldest baseball club, the Cincinnati Reds.

ABOUT BALLPARK DIGEST/AUGUST PUBLICATIONS

The leading Website covering the culture and business of baseball since its inception in 2002, Ballpark Digest (www.ballparkdigest.com) has been called an "indispensable" guide to baseball and ballparks by The New York Times; it's been used as a source by publications and Websites ranging from The Wall Street Journal to Epicurious.com. August Publications is a publisher based in Middleton, Wis. Besides Ballpark Digest, August Publications websites include SpringTrainingOnline.com, ArenaDigest.com, YellowstoneInsider.com and NewWest.net.