By Samantha Campion, Oct. 8, 2024
Bronco Athletics celebrated the 10-year anniversary of unveiling its new visual identity representing the program’s historical success in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona’s 75th anniversary rebranding strategy.
Broncos Athletics announced the modern rebranding of the department’s image in a Welcome Week Spirt Rally in 2014, where former University President J. Michael Ortiz revealed Kellogg Arena’s new center court graphic.
CPP held 14 national titles under its previous logo. The rebrand strived to represent the legacy and success of CPP athletics with a new primary and secondary logo, font and website.
“I’m excited to unveil a new look for Bronco Athletics — one that is bold, modern and magnificent,” Ortiz said at the time. “The new athletics logo will help represent all Broncos of the past, present and future.”
This modern look consisted of relaunching the CPP Hall of Fame, redesigning the front lobby and transitioning the 11 athletic teams and items in the Bronco Bookstore from Champion to Nike apparel.
The Bronco Athletics logo will not be affected by CPP’s new logo and branding campaign due to its notoriety within the campus community. Instead, CPP’s new logo will feature the same shades of green and gold as the athletics logo.
“If you walk on campus, you see students wearing the Bronco logo; they are very proud of it,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson. “It’s a strong identity for Cal Poly Pomona, not only on campus but within the conference and across the country where we compete.”
Swanson said once the Bronco Bookstore put the new logo on its merchandise, sales went up around 40%.
Swanson focused on elevating the presentation of the department’s competition and practice facilities since he joined CPP in 2005. He believes they serve as classrooms where student-athletes learn and coaches teach.
Scolinos Field and Kellogg Stadium have undergone multiple renovations under Swanson’s leadership, including new natural grass surfaces, scoreboards and lighting.
The most recent facility updates were a permanent sound system at Scolinos Field and a new women’s volleyball locker room in Kellogg Arena earlier this year.
Since the new visual identity was revealed, the Broncos’ overall record stands at 984-560-50, accounting for a .700-winning percentage in home contests held at Kellogg Arena, Kellogg Stadium and Scolinos Field.
The Broncos have finished among the top three institutions in the Commissioner’s Cup every year since 2014, an award given to the California Collegiate Athletic Association athletic department with the best overall performance each academic year.
And for the first time in department history, all five fall sports are nationally ranked at the same time this season.
CPP averages attendance at around six National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments a year, recording a total of 62 appearances over the past 10 years.
Associate Director of Athletic Communications Alex Kline’s goal for the department’s brand is to remain consistent across all avenues and promote a strong and successful department.
“There is a lot that goes into a brand and the logo is just part of it,” said Kline. “It’s been strong to pair that launch of the logo with having success in the department. Now when people see the logo, they respect it in a way and mentally coincide that brand with winning.”
Kline launched the new CPP Athletics website this past January to align with the department’s brand and designed updated social media graphics that represent the school’s rich athletic history.
The CCAA volleyball tournament will be held at Kellogg Arena Nov. 21, as the No. 7 ranked Broncos look to bring home a championship and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament, with the opportunity to host the regional tournament.
“We want to be able to host championship opportunities at the conference and regional level,” Swanson said. “We have to have excellent facilities to be able to do that. If our teams have the opportunity to host at the regional level, we have to make sure we put the bids in to give them the opportunity to be at home and play in the best atmosphere in order to compete and be successful.”
Photos Courtesy of CPP Athletics