The Adirondack Phantoms are scheduled to move for the 2014 season and will keep their mascot and primary logo. The team name changes to reflect the change of location, though again to an “area” name, rather than the city of location.
Originally an expansion team bought by the owners of the Philadelphia Flyers to play in the Spectrum after the Flyers moved into their new venue, the Phantoms were originally named after their city. They sported their NHL team’s orange and black, and added purple to serve as a mark of differentiation.
Philadelphia Phantoms Logo 1996/97
When the Spectrum was scheduled for demolition, the team was sold, and moved to its current location of Glens Falls, NY. They kept the mascot, logo, and colors intact, and changed to an area name: The Adirondack Phantoms.
Adirondack Phantoms Logo 2009/10
The plan, apparently, all along was to build a new arena and move the team to Allentown. The Allentown Arena is under construction, set to open for the Phantons 2014-2015 season but rather than take the name of their city and arena, they are going with Lehigh Valley.
2014/15 season logo
The team is also changing the “accent” color of the team from purple to blue. Ordinarily a small color tweak wouldn’t be a big deal, but in this case, the blue now goes with the orange to create a look far too reminiscent of the New York sports teams, in many fans opinions.
The script had changed as well, from a custom, frantic font to what looks a lot like Arial Italic.
Strange choices by the team, and not so popular with some folks. What do you think? Should they have changed the logo to something else? Should they leave the purple alone? Is this a completely different team, so a full rebranding should have taken place? Or should they have simply hired a sports designer to give them a clean, professional look?
JR Francis is an actor, writer, director, graphic designer, UX guru, father, comedian, and craft beer snob. You can reach him at jrfrancis@sportslogos.net or on Twitter @JRFrancisSLN *One of several full-time uniform reporters this site has including its founder, Chris Creamer, who started his site in 1997
Cuserell
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 12:38I thought the logo always stunk.
Matt
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 12:48Good logo, terrible word marks (both old and new)
Aaron
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 12:59As long as there's black and orange as the dominant colours, the blue accent wouldn't neccesarily resemble New York teams too much. But yeah, keeping the purple would be a better move.
Aaron
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 13:06Question is, what team will Glen Falls, NY receive once this move happens?
Bill
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 22:55Don't count on Glen Falls to get another team this was there chance to prove that they could support a AHL team and they failed. The area would do better with a ECHL team more than a AHL team
Aaron
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 08:35I did hear that the Phantoms time in Glen Falls was going to be temporary regardless and they might a team once the Phantoms leave town.
Sam
Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 15:07I hardly see how we "failed." Just 100-200 season tickets or so away from their goal hardly seems like failure. Also, smaller market teams do worse here, the UHLs Ice Hawks/Frostbite fared worse than the Phantoms ever did, if I remember correctly.
John Burlie
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 15:21At least the Phantoms are back in Penn, but the purple needs to stay. In fact, the purple should be more obvious on the jerseys and possibly the logo. I don't feel this will interfere with NY sports teams colours because the purple/blue is not that evident. I'm glad they kepts the logo, but like everyone else, the fonts have never been that great.
ingmar66
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 16:00Makeover time: new logo, new wordmark please! And keep the purple, it is more spooky than the blue.
Devin
Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 05:55We have the Ironpigs now bring on the Phantoms!
Mark
Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 14:50Why dont links ever work?
Jab
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 12:42The fonts are horrible I'd actually prefer the old over the new but not by much. Idk what the deal is with the orange "glowing" background. Looks like a designer just threw that in there last minute. So unnecessary and bring back the purple, blue is just too mainstream and doesn't fit this team imo.
James Misercola
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 12:56*2014-15 season, year after next.
BlueCityNotes
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 13:00Lehigh Valley sounds like a high school team. I've never been impressed with the Phantoms branding anyway, but now, it just feels like this team doesn't even belong in the AHL.
kurt
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 17:16booooo gradients. and i get that the logo is meant to mimic the flyers logo a little but something much cooler could be done with the name "phantoms"
Josh Truax
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 18:15Paging Billy Joel...
Joe Strummer
Friday, November 30, 2012 at 00:17Rumour is that the Albany Devils will move to Glen Falls, so they shouldn't be out of the AHL at all. Good chance same year the Phantoms leave the Devils will set up shop
Aaron
Friday, November 30, 2012 at 23:45Really? And then who would Albany get anyways?