Austin FC is a Major League Soccer club based in Austin, Texas, that began play in the 2021 season. The club’s crest was unveiled on August 22, 2018, at an event at the North Door on Austin’s east side, before the team had officially been granted an MLS expansion franchise.[1]
Design and History
The Austin FC badge was designed by The Butler Bros, a local Austin brand studio.[2] The studio also developed the club’s name, narrative and identity as part of the launch work for the ownership group and MLS.[3]
The badge features a green silhouette of two intertwining oak trees set against a black background, with the city name prominently affixed at the top of the U-shaped badge.[1] The Texas Live Oak is a traditional symbol of the city.[1] The club’s crest depicts Treaty Oak, a more-than-500-year-old tree located in central Austin.[4] An image of Treaty Oak is described by the club as “a major part of the Club’s crest.”[5]
The intertwined oaks “stand for the bond between Club and City,” according to the designers’ explanation of the badge.[2] The Butler Bros described the intertwined oaks as working together “like they want our team and community to.”[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The badge’s elements carry specific documented meanings:
- The badge boasts 11 intermingled branches, representing the 11 players on a field.[1]
- Four roots symbolize the unification of the city, representing all of Austin, north, south, east and west, “coming together to create a powerful foundation for our Club.”[1][4]
- The signature color is “Bright Verde,” described by the designers as projecting “the vibrancy and creative energy of Austin.”[2]
The club’s colors are bright green, stylized by the club as “verde,” the Spanish word for the color, and black.[6] The club has continued to use “Verde” as a central part of its identity, describing it as “more than a color” and “a movement, a feeling” that “speaks to the culture of Austin and Austin FC.”[7]
The crest has remained the club’s primary mark since its unveiling. The club continues to feature its “primary crest” on current jerseys.[8]
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