Rebranding the Warriors, part IV. The new span?

09.29.2008 | 12:06 pm | The Warriors, Town Business

Well okay, we don’t have it just yet. But some time in 2013, it’s currently projected, the Bay Area will have a new iconic bridge span. It might not be the next world wonder, but actually, watching the video that accompanied this SF Gate article, it looks pretty cool. But, is it worthy of a team identity?

Obviously, iconic bridges have some precedent in this regard. The well-known “City” jersey, which highlights the twin-cabled span of the Golden Gate Bridge, is the all-time best selling uniform for the Warriors. And, there have been many riffs of the original, including the infamous “Tha’ Town” renditions, which feature the less glamorous, yet very Oaklandish, Port cranes.

It strikes me that the new Bay Bridge span could be just the right compromise, if they can make it work graphically. The bridge connects the East Bay (the Warriors current home) to San Francisco (the Warriors first Bay Area home) and carries approximately a 100 million vehicles a year between them. Ah, Mr. Cohan, that’s a lot of potential consumers. Our debate has always been focused about how to make the identity be inclusive and iconic. Frankly, now, we have neither.

The Golden State Warriors basketball team, often maligned for not identifying its hometown of Oakland in its name, is considering a new uniform design that would incorporate a sketch of the span, much like the classic “The City” uniforms with an image of the Golden Gate Bridge that the team sported as the San Francisco Warriors.

So, I say let’s do it. Sh*t, by the time the Warriors ownership, marketing staff and those NBA turkeys can agree it should be just about 2013. Now, again, I throw FTB’s hat into the ring. Warriors marketing staff, we’re ready for this noble design challenge.

Standing by.

Gd.