For a few days now on their social media platforms, the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, had teased a big rebranding ahead of the 2020 season. Their profile images on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram went blank and fans were expecting a revamp.
The team’s star players Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Yuzvendra Chahal all joined in on a presumably choreographed social media tease, wondering what the change was.
Posts disappear and the captain isn’t informed. 😨 @rcbtweets, let me know if you need any help.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 13, 2020
Folks at @rcbtweets, what’s happened to our social media accounts? 😳 Hope it’s just a strategy break. 🤞🏼
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 12, 2020
Arey @rcbtweets, what googly is this? 🤔 Where did your profile pic and Instagram posts go? 😳
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 12, 2020
After days of rumours regarding a new team name (Bengaluru from Bangalore and what not), on February 14, the big announcement was made: a new logo with the same name.
The club said the new logo design, which features a different-looking lion, “embodies the bold and fearless attitude” of the side.
Speaking on the launch of the new visual identity, Sanjeev Churiwala, Chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, “The elements in the logo is a commitment to continuously entertain and engage with fans who are the force behind Royal Challengers Bangalore.”
THIS IS IT. The moment you've been waiting for. New Decade, New RCB, New Logo! #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/miROfcrpvo
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 14, 2020
LOGO ka kaam hai kehna. 😄 Thrilled to see our new @rcbtweets logo. It embodies the Bold pride and challenger spirit that our players bring to the field. Can’t wait for #IPL2020 #NewDecadeNewRCB 🤩 https://t.co/n8c24JqbAl
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 14, 2020
Let’s just say the move did not land as well as the team would have hoped for. While some fans obviously liked the new sleek logo, there were jokes aplenty; some of them brutal.
New logo 😍 https://t.co/T53GY4h6Yg
— Likhith Shetty (@LikhithR22) February 14, 2020
Lol. All that build up just for this. https://t.co/ZrD09V4qn1
— absy (@absycric) February 14, 2020
https://t.co/1SXBBFcL6h pic.twitter.com/SQZXNbKylh
— Manya (@CSKian716) February 14, 2020
this is what happens when PR people function so deeply inside a bubble that they generate three days of intense disinformation as publicity for a logo revamp and think it's a brilliant idea https://t.co/Be6F3zmdIq
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) February 14, 2020
You must be seriously kidding mate
— Sai (@akakrcb6) February 14, 2020
> No name change
> No hashtag change
> No jersey change
WTF https://t.co/BMgD86rcQx
Really, RCB, seriously, just because twitter is free you can’t have a massive buildup for a Logo change.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 14, 2020
Even DD had more class when they changed their name to Delhi Capitals.
Oh right, but you’re the team that let KL Rahul go.
A snapshot into the RCB Boardroom meeting today.#RCB #IPL2020 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/rbR15DC1zO
— CricBlog (@cric_blog) February 14, 2020
State of this tin pot franchise, this is the type of tweet you would hope to see on a cup win not a logo change.
— Akki (@CrickPotato) February 14, 2020
Brand name bigger than the city you represent. It was a business and It'll be a business - This time with a clear cut identity as well.
— Harish S Itagi (@HarishSItagi) February 14, 2020
Such a disgrace to the city. @RCBTweets
So RCB will remain Royal Challengers Bangalore and not Bengaluru. Wonder why this obsession with the obsolete name Bangalore, which is no longer used for any official purposes. This inebriated think tank is incorrigible. Period. ನೀವು ಉದ್ಧಾರ ಆಗಲ್ಲ #RCBNewlogo #IPL2020
— Ramachandra.M/ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ.ಎಮ್ (@nanuramu) February 14, 2020
RCB fans : Team mein naye logo ko laao, Kohli can't do everything on his own
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) February 14, 2020
RCB : Releases a new logo
I think RCB should rename themselves, Bangalore Traffic
— The Kaipullai (@thekaipullai) February 14, 2020
Nobody will get past them.
RCB and fans in 2020 :
— InSwinging Yorker (@InSwingYorkers) February 14, 2020
Feb : New Decade, New Name, Remember the date.
March : Can't wait for IPL. ESCN.
April : Awwww, so cute to see Virat and AB together. RCBian 4 lyf ❤️❤️
May : If DC beat RR, MI beat CSK, KXIP beat SRH and KKR lose all their matches then we can qualify
Same name... Pretty much same logo. Performance gonna be same too? 🤷🏻♂️
— 😴 (@LeftarmOrthodox) February 14, 2020
While it remains to be seen if there is more to this campaign, it’s fair to say the big announcement did not quite go the way the franchise would have hoped for.