Memphis, Tennessee, June 17, 2004 - The Memphis Grizzlies began a new chapter in franchise history today by unveiling the team’s new uniforms, website, merchandise and team store at a public event attended by hundreds of fans at the newly renovated team store in downtown Memphis.
Grizzlies’ players Lorenzen Wright, Mike Miller, James Posey, Earl Watson, Troy Bell and Theron Smith helped tip-off the new era of Grizzlies basketball by modeling the new home and away uniforms during the unveiling and public celebration.
“We as a team felt very strongly that the new logo should represent the city, the fans and our players,” said Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West. “I’m excited about the new look and am proud that it symbolizes the energy of Memphis, the determination of the team and a united commitment to winning.”
The Memphis Grizzlies new home uniform is white, with Smoke Blue, Memphis Midnight Blue, Beale Street Blue and Grizzlies Gold trim, with the word “Grizzlies” emblazoned across the front and the Grizzlies’ logo on the lower left leg of the shorts. The Grizzlies’ new road uniform has a base color of Memphis Midnight Blue, with Smoke Blue and Grizzlies Gold Trim, with the word “Memphis” emblazoned across the front and the Grizzlies’ logo on the lower left leg of the shorts.
Manufactured by Reebok, the uniforms employ Reebok Play Dry technology, a unique technology which directs the players' sweat away from their bodies. The design allows for maximum movement and is lightweight for optimum performance.
Today’s announcement is the culmination of a process that has taken over a year and a half, beginning in December 2002 when a Request for Proposal went out to eight designers nationwide to develop identity concepts. In January, regionally-based RARE Design was selected to develop the identity. The Grizzlies and RARE Design CEO Rodney Richardson worked in conjunction with the NBA to develop the logo taking direction from Grizzlies fans along with input from Grizzlies’ players and team personnel. Once the identity was established, Reebok undertook the process of creating the team’s uniforms.
“Designing a team identity is all about authenticity,” said RARE Design CEO Rodney Richardson. “We did our homework on the front end by conducting fan focus groups to find out what fans feel about their city of Memphis, researched the Grizzly bear itself to determine its unique qualities and evaluated the Grizzlies’ organization. All these ingredients combined to form an identity that truly represents the Memphis Grizzlies.”
The new Grizzlies logo was first launched on May 24 to fans across the world on grizzlies.com. The new Grizzlies logo represents strength, power and courage, character, tenacity and fearlessness. The Grizzly symbolizes Memphis basketball at its grittiest, at its toughest, at its best. From the base color of blue that brings this identity to life (Memphis Midnight, Beale Street Blue and Smoke Blue) to the neon-inspired typeface of the city name. From the intense gaze of the Grizzly that represents a serious and competitive team to the subtle references to the colors of Egyptian royalty (Grizzlies Gold). All elements of this new identity were put in place to represent this city of Memphis and the Grizzlies’ game.
“The new logo is a cool, and it will really epitomize our team,” said Grizzlies forward Shane Battier. “The Grizzlies are all about business, (Head Coach) Hubie (Brown) and (President of Basketball Operations) Jerry (West) are all about business and going out and doing the job and playing basketball. The bear represents just that, it is menacing, stern and simple, and it does the job.”
Also unveiled today was the team’s new merchandise, including replica home and away jerseys, t-shirts, hats and novelty items featuring the new Grizzlies logos at the new team store in the Toyota Center downtown. The store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and will be open for extended hours this Father’s Day weekend, including today from 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Fans are encouraged to view the new uniforms, logo and merchandise at the re-designed team website, grizzlies.com. The website was re-designed using the team’s new primary colors: Memphis Midnight, Beale Street Blue, Smoke Blue and Grizzlies Gold.
Fans interested in learning more about the logo and uniforms can tune in to Grizzlies: Behind the Bear, airing tonight at 6:30 p.m. on WMC-TV. The broadcast special will feature insight on the Grizzlies' new identity, Jerry West's thoughts, and a trip south to Mississippi where the new look was born.
Also today, the Grizzlies hosted an open house at the FedExForum preview center located at 175 Toyota Plaza. The FedExForum preview center allows fans to sample views from the seats, admire the sample Luxury Suite and put down a deposit for Grizzlies Season Tickets. Only 400 Season Ticket seats remain on the Plaza Level at FedExForum starting at just $39 per game. The Preview Center is located across the hall from the Grizzlies Team Store at Toyota Plaza.