Chicago Blackhawks removing their logo: Fan outrage sparks on social media and fans want it gone
Photo credit: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs
The Chicago Blackhawks are once again going to come under fire as the 2025-26 season hasn't begun, unlike the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians, the controversial logo remains a constant in the NHL for better or worse, the question remains of why?
TheChicago Blackhawks organization was founded in the NHL during the 1926 season. The logo was in honor of the U.S. 86th Infantry Division, called the "Blackhawk Division", after an indigenous American war chief of the same title.
The team's original founder, Frederic McGlaughlin, served in that division, and the crest was originally drawn by Irene Castle in 1926.
Since then, the Blackhawks, unlike the former Washington Redskins (Commanders) and Cleveland Indians (Guardians), have had to rename, due to public pressure and a lawsuit levied against them by Suzan Shown Harjo.
There's some major disconnect as an NFL fan on "X" pondered the question. Why are there double standards? Given that the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, and Blackhawks logos still fly.
In 2024, April Holder, a Blackhawk descendant, would once again take umbrage against the logo itself.
"If someone were to come and take your name and use it for something and profit off of it, what is that called? It's called identity theft", she said. Referring to the logo, she said, "It's sickening, it's gross, it's grotesque, it's hurtful", she said. "[Black Hawk] was very eloquent, well spoken, and extremely intelligent ... he was just a man who wanted to do right by his people."
If there was a principle behind the action, maybe the Blackhawks would feel serious about revising the logo, which has driven the image of the team, an image used since 1926.
Decrying double standards shows a gap in enforcement in the United States, and we're not sure if the logo will ever change, given how legendary the team is.
The controversy will likely never die down, as there is too much money to be made in merchandising, and the rich history of the team in itself is a money maker for the Wirtz family.
However, given that the NHL isn't as popular as the NFL, and the Blackhawks have a niche fanbase (thanks, Gary Bettman), it's unlikely the team will have to come to terms with its detractors.
The team doesn't have the benefit of being in the public conscience due to a lackluster investment in advertisement, and hockey isn't as popular in the US as the NFL, MLB, or MLS are.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 13 | 948 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks removing their logo: Fan outrage sparks on social media and fans want it gone Do you think the Chicago Blackhawks will ever change the logo or consider an alternate logo in the future? | ||
| Yes | 107 | 11.3 % |
| No | 841 | 88.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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