Is Minimalism Hurting Sports?

…Twenty-five-year-old hip hop artist Toosii has officially committed to play football at Syracuse. I have so many questions, and somehow, none at all. The rapper, who boasts almost 5M followers on IG, says everyone should chase their dreams. Now that we’re rappin’ about it, I do have eligibility left…

And hey, if you’re an athlete, making the switch to the entertainment industry isn’t that hard. Just ask these real-life casting directors who are tasked with putting athletes in films like “Marty Supreme,” “F1,” and “The Smashing Machine.”  

Lamine Yamal wants to be married to the game. In his “60 Minutes” interview, the young phenom said he would someday propose and ask his soccer ball to “have lots of kids.” For legal reasons, I have to declare that a person cannot lawfully marry a soccer ball. Full interview here. 

A women’s volleyball coach invented a hair tie that would hold his players’ hair up during gameplay. It’s called the TIY, and it’s taken the volleyball world by storm. Kim Kardashian voice Not bad, for a guy with no hair (he’s bald).  

Andy Murray is spilling the tea (British joke) on what it was like to coach his longtime rival. And what he would do differently throughout his career. And playing Monopoly. There are all kinds of tea here. 

“Go Off” is a special edition of our daily newsletter, featuring my thoughts, takes, and general vibes, presented to OffBall readers every Tuesday.

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you know I’m pretty unabashedly (and sometimes irrationally) opposed to new tech and change and things that I worry threaten our very existence and whimsical ways. Somehow, I’m tying that opening sentence into logo design and stadium construction. Watch me work. 

I got to thinking about this when I read this New Yorker article that documents the way stadium design once prioritized the fans and now focuses more on monetizing and corporate partnerships (which ultimately push and price regular old folks out). 

I was recently at the Titans/Seahawks game and spoke to my friend, who lives in Nashville (by the way, his real, actual job title is Landman, like the show), about the Titans' new stadium. It’s taxpayer-funded, but once built, will price out the average taxpayer. Meanwhile, the current stadium is totally suitable (very clean bathrooms and home of one of the best soft pretzels I’ve ever had).  I lived in the Bay when Levi’s Stadium was erected and fans—feeling forsaken—nearly revolted—just a few dozen miles south of the Painted Ladies, famous for their color and intricate designs. And it’s just about being priced out. A game at Levi’s is a good example of how the game day experience feels flatlined. Resources and time are put into brand activations and things like in-game entertainment fall by the wayside. Not to mention it seems no one thought about the large fan section that would be in the blistering sun the entire time.

What teams ought to do instead of worrying about appeasing the brands and monetizing experiences at luxuriously neutral stadiums is curate a space for community. For instance, a NY Liberty game is a top-five sports experience in my opinion. But Barclays Center is also home to the Nets, who are not known to have as exhilarating a gameday experience. The Liberty focuses on cultural elements that people connect to. They pay homage to New Yorkers that fans love, like Ja Rule and Lil Kim. And those same people are courtside some days and performing another. Plus, Ellie the Elephant becomes just as key as the players on the court. That’s the key to connection and community that so many arenas miss on. I do have to note that Barclays Crown Club is not neutral and is sick as hell, but it’ll cost ya (thousands). 

The same things happen with team logos. I think the fans play just as much of a role in that part of it, by the way. Everyone feels the need to weigh in on logos. My Twitter feed is jammed full of non-designers redesigning logos and tagging their teams, begging for consideration. But logos really don’t matter. You are still going to wear your team’s colors and imagery, even if the logo isn’t your favorite. At least I am. It’s fun when a logo is good, of course, but it’s not a necessity. 

The Phoenix Mercury redesigned their logo recently, and fans were mostly annoyed about it. The new logo gave me pause, too, but not because it’s bad or good, necessarily. Mainly because it seems to echo my same point about stadium innovation. Team logos, like the Mercury’s new one, seem to be inching toward minimalism and abandoning personality in the same way stadiums are. The reason NBA Paint has found such a lane for its brand is that it harkens back to something we all loved. A universal software that encourages fun in design.

In New York, they’re phasing out the orange Subway benches, opting for a muted gray/blue hue instead. Not a huge deal, but the orange seats made you feel something. Millennial gray permeates our modern car designs. Not a huge deal, but cars used to 

Meanwhile, athletes, dripping in color and fantastical silhouettes in the tunnels, have more personality than ever. It’s part of why there’s a disconnect between people at the very top and the everyday fan. Things should be fun. We come to sporting events to feel connected to a place (and people) we so deeply love. And we like our teams and our players a little messy, imperfect. We like nostalgia and intrigue. The way we’ve all gravitated toward upcycling designers like Kristin Juszczyk, Antonia Bronze, or Conner Ives shows we prefer iteration over innovation.

So, if any logo designers or architects are reading this: it’s time our imagery and monograms and tunnels and suites matched the energy of the outfits and personalities that play inside of, and for, them. 

The NCAA Volleyball Tournament is nearly here…are you ready? 

Sixty-four teams will compete in the tourney, similar to March Madness…only in December. Kind of a Christmas in July in reverse situation. So, I guess, regular Christmas. Anyways. 

Nebraska, Texas, Kentucky, and Pitt are the top seeds. If you’re looking for a way to follow the action, here are the best follows on each team. 

Adidas athlete Harper Murray is Nebraska’s star player on and off the court. She’s cool, she’s breezy, she’s an it girl. 

Speaking of stars (Texas joke), Madisen Skinner is a boss. She’s a Nike gal, she’s a Skims gal, she’s a Red Bull gal. She’s got all the brand deals. 

Olivia Babcock of Pitt is no stranger to a red carpet. Or the ESPYs.

As for Kentucky, Asia Thigpen has the comedy chops to be cast in the “White Chicks” reboot. 

May the best follow win. Fill out your bracket here.