New York City FC unveils new franchise’s first badge

After over 100,000 online votes were, New York City FC has its club’s first badge, one that incorporates all the elements you would expect. From the color scheme that stays true to the state’s influence to the interlocking “NYC,” the first symbol of Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise hit on all the predicted notes, opting for simplicity and symmetry in its circular design.

The badge was unveiled Friday night in New York City, with technical director Claudio Reyna on hand with head coach Jason Kreis to reveal designer Rafael Esquer’s work.

From the club’s release announcing the badge:

The winning badge is inspired by the old New York City Subway Token, created by the Transit Authority in 1953 and used for 50 years as the standard fare for a ride ... The circle is also a symbol of unity, wholeness and infinity.The badge features the typeface

Gotham, a wholly American font inspired by the City’s signage. Born out of an in-depth study of building lettering in New York City, the monogram reflects the rich graphic language that is so much a signature of the five boroughs. The colors navy blue, white and orange are drawn from the New York City flag.

The badge’s unveiling received a mixed if slightly enthusiastic response online, though given the harsh criticism the MLS community applies to things like kit unveilings, the mostly positive response could be seen as a home run.

Reyna, via the team’s announcement:

“Given the significance of a Club’s badge and what it means for a team’s identity, it was important for us to have our fans included from the beginning—a commitment that we’ve made from the start … Thanks to the voice of our fans, we feel that we have a design that truly represents our Club and our City.”

“NYC FC” is still a year away from its first game, but it’s taken their first step toward building an identity. Given the massive interaction that went into the choice, that step will likely be seen as positive one.

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