Cal Poly Pomona Broncos is the intercollegiate athletics program of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a public university in Pomona, California. The Broncos compete in NCAA Division II as members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), with green and gold as the official colors and Billy Bronco as the mascot.[1]
Design and History
On September 24, 2014, the Cal Poly Pomona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics revealed a new visual identity during a Welcome Week Spirit Rally in Kellogg Gym. The rebrand included a new primary logo, secondary logo, font, and redesigned athletics website.[2] University President Dr. J. Michael Ortiz described the new look as “bold, modern and magnificent,” stating that the new athletics logo would “help represent all Broncos of the past, present and future.”[3]
The 2014 rebrand came after the university’s 75th anniversary celebrations the previous year. At the time of the unveiling, Cal Poly Pomona had won 14 national titles under its previous logo mark, and officials said the new visual identity was designed to “connect the legacy of the past to the promise of the program’s future.”[4] The rebrand also marked a transition of the athletics teams’ uniforms and apparel from Champion to Nike.[5]
The Bronco Athletics logo was not affected by the university’s separate 2018 rebranding, which introduced a new university logo and seal featuring an octagon shape and a new color palette with blue as a primary color. University officials confirmed the Bronco logo would continue to be used by Athletics,[6] and the athletics mark remained unchanged through the university’s subsequent 2025 branding campaign. According to Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson, the Bronco logo is “a strong identity for Cal Poly Pomona, not only on campus but within the conference and across the country where we compete.”[5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The 2014 athletics rebrand was intended to represent the legacy and success of Cal Poly Pomona athletics with a modern look.[5] The university’s official colors are green and gold,[1] and the “Broncos” nickname reflects the university’s history on the former W.K. Kellogg horse ranch property. The university’s 2018 seal, which is separate from the athletics mark, features an Arabian horse inspired by Antez, one of Kellogg’s favorites, along with the historic horse stables designed by architect Myron Hunt.[7]
Typography and Design
The 2014 athletics rebrand included a new font alongside the new primary and secondary logos.[2] Specific design credits for the athletics logo have not been publicly documented. The university’s separate 2018 branding initiative was completed in partnership with Selbert Perkins, an international design firm with experience in higher education.[7]
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