Not since interim coach Russ Pennell stepped in for Arizona men’s basketball stalwart Lute Olson in the 2008-09 season has a cactus logo been featured on the floor at McKale Center.
That’s about to change.
Recently, the Wildcats’ X page announced the return of the cactus logo to Lute & Bobbi Olson Court, reflecting a trend in major American sports of organizations incorporating nostalgic elements as part of their primary branding.
What form the logo will take was initially unclear.
“We were working on it for a few months,” said Tony Daniel, senior associate athletic director for revenue generation and engagement at Arizona. “(We had) about probably 40 to 45 designs. I think everything that we were able to put out to our fans – we put out four great options.”
the best logo in college sports is back 🌵
& we've got options! vote for your favorite design here 📲 https://t.co/YleVddOmG6 pic.twitter.com/730u04jES1
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) May 19, 2025
The four designs were voted upon by fans – and swiftly whittled down to the option which features an enlarged sunset-cactus logo stretching across the center baseline.
On May 21 – after years of fans clamoring – the cactus returned.
The pronged saguaro – first designed by Arizona cross country coach Dave Murray on a morning run with his team – will not appear on the hardwood as it did many years ago, but it is a reimagining that intends to blend the nostalgia of the past with the modern-day aesthetic.
This trend of nostalgic sports branding is not contained to the design architects at Arizona.
In 2024, ASU brought back its gold “Sparky” helmets with a white facemask for a big game against BYU at Mountain America Stadium.
Happy Birthday @SparkySunDevil !
What’s a good way to celebrate a 78th birthday? 👀 pic.twitter.com/iUz9EoZfUV
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 20, 2024
The decisions reflected a more widespread trend in sports design in professional and collegiate sports.
“Using retro logos – it’s just (a way) to touch on nostalgia for the fans,” said Mike Baldwin, the associate director of creative services at Arizona.
The Orlando Magic recently unveiled a new logo and three uniforms – each inspired by the brand identity first established during the organization’s inception in 1989.
A year before that, the Utah Jazz unveiled a slew of new uniforms influenced by the era of “Mountain Basketball” that dominated the franchise’s image from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. In doing so, it rejected the bold, minimalist highlighter branding that the team briefly wore for a couple years beforehand.
The NFL and the other major American sports leagues have begun cultivating their own versions of the modern classic as part of their primary branding, too.
In 2019, the Los Angeles Chargers made their historic powder blue uniforms their primary home outfit for the season. Variations of the jersey have appeared since the origin of the team in 1960, but it had not been used as a primary option since before the 1974 season. Popularity with players and fans brought the uniform back to the spotlight.
Last year, the Anaheim Ducks revitalized their branding by restoring the franchise’s original Duck mask crest as the primary logo. Instead of a full-scale return to the imagery of the team’s early days, the franchise blends memorable elements – the Duck crest and organization itself is synonymous with the 1992 Disney film “Mighty Ducks” – with a forward evolution and color palette.
“The Ducks are a symbol of Orange County, and our pivot to orange with an updated, iconic logo encompasses our past, present and future,” Ducks owners Susan and Henry Samueli said in a press release.
In the collegiate landscape, universities have long been leaning into the trend of creating a modern classic look for alternate branding. However, like the pros, schools are refreshing modern designs with classic characteristics intertwined.
Syracuse men’s basketball debuted throwback script jerseys in 2019, based on the team’s on-court appearance during the 1980s and ‘90s. Once a fun alternative kit, an updated script version has since become the primary home and road option.
The University of Arkansas reintroduced the “Slobbering Hog” logo at Bud Walton Arena before the 2024-25 season. After 15 years at mid-court, the official Razorbacks logo replaced it.
Evidenced by the return of the cactus logo, Arizona is aligning with the ongoing recent trend. The Wildcats men’s basketball uniform kit – which include several options that are essential replicas of those worn in the late 1990s and early 2000s – further reinforces that idea.
Daniel attributes this in part to the tastes of millennials and Gen Z, but also to history.
“The oversized, baggy, large tees with the throwback and vintage logos are all the rage right now across the country,” Daniel said. “But, (these designs) are just synonymous with the best moments in our history: national championships and Final Fours.”
Wherever the future of sports branding leads, the minimalist approach of the recent past in favor of creating a modern classic has received some pushback.
The father and son duo of Todd and Quinn Van Horne have been chief designers of the University of Oregon’s notoriously conspicuous brand for a long time – dating back to Todd’s 30-year career with Nike.
Tasked with projects such as the 2024 redesign of the infamous “Deep in the Woods” basketball court at Matthew Knight Arena and Generation “O” uniform series for the football team, the Horne family understands the trend designs of the industry but also wonders where it’s headed.
“I think the modern classic has become a new standard,” Quinn said. “But, I’m just worried that if we keep doing things that have been done – we will look back in many years seeing many of the same things.
“The worst thing in the world is when everything starts to look the same.”
“The worst thing in the world is when everything starts to look the same.” … oh you mean like the UA that lost how many MILLIONS!!! or the ‘sports program’ that is now nothing more than a “JR PRO” league – buy their own building and court – it’s no longer COLLEGE anything – that’s just what the FRONT DOOR says… ask the back door $$$$ where the money goes.. the state just gets the bill.