The Bridgeport Purple Knights are the NCAA Division II athletic teams of the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The university lists its school colors as purple and white and its mascot as the Purple Knight (PK).[1] The athletics program competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), having joined that league on July 1, 2022, after previously competing in the East Coast Conference.[2]
Design and History
The University of Bridgeport maintains separate branding systems for its main institutional identity and its athletics program. The university’s Marketing and Communications department states that the athletic logos “were designed to be used on materials promoting University of Bridgeport athletic teams and events,” and should not be used as the primary branding on formal correspondence, student recruitment, or fundraising materials.[3]
The university’s official primary color is identified as “University of Bridgeport purple,” specified as Pantone PMS 268, with RGB values R089 G044 B130 and hex code #592d82. A light blue secondary color, Pantone PMS 2995, is also part of the university’s official palette.[3]
The institution traces its origins to May 5, 1927, when the state charter for the Junior College of Connecticut was signed, the first junior college in New England. In 1947, the school became the University of Bridgeport.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The university’s official seal has included a “lamp of learning” element since 1931, a symbol that remains part of the institution’s official identity.[5] The athletic nickname, Purple Knights, and the mascot, the Purple Knight, reflect the university’s school colors of purple and white.[1]
Typography and Design
The university’s style guide emphasizes that logos “are designed with specific proportions in mind and should never be distorted by stretching or scaling in one direction to fit a specific area,” and that users should not attempt to recreate or alter logos in any way.[3]
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