Broncos head into fall with updated look and revamped athletics website

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University sports fans will be greeted with updated merchandise, apparel and promotional materials, as well as an improved website, as they convene on campus this fall.

The University’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has undergone a subtle design evolution during the past year to stay modern and consistent, and appeal to the next generation of Broncos with an updated primary logo and customized marks for the football program.

"Over the past year, we have undertaken an extensive process to evaluate our current marks and elements and have worked toward establishing new guidelines and standards to represent our Broncos," says WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard. "We reflected on our traditions, incorporated pieces of the Universitywide branding initiative and took into consideration the current market and trends within the sports industry."

First introduced last fall with the refurbish of the hardwood floor in University Arena, the updated primary logo is made up of a block "W" and the traditional Bronco head, with no wordmarks used along with it. The mark is modern, powerful, and immediately recognizable and is emphasized by a bold font and use of accent colors around the entire logo, reflecting a strong connection between athletics and academics. 

In addition to the primary logo for Bronco Athletics, WMU also uses a set of customized marks for the football program that is now represented by the Ghost Bronco logo—a leaner, yet recognizable, version of the traditional Bronco head. The program’s current mantra, "Row the Boat," is maintained to represent the culture of everyone working together, in unison, striving for one common goal—success.

In addition to using WMU’s school colors of brown and gold, the new athletic apparel and design incorporates black, gray, and white to represent current trends.

The logos and elements of the new branding initiative can be seen throughout the updated and enhanced wmubroncos.com website, completed by SidearmSports, the nation's leading provider of college athletics websites.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.