To rejoice the seventy fifth anniversary of the present incarnation of the group, the Edmonton Elks have unveiled a brand new anniversary emblem together with plans to rejoice the milestone all through their 2024 Canadian Soccer League season.
The emblem was launched on Monday, March 25, throughout a media occasion at Commonwealth Stadium. It depicts the stadium and the Edmonton skyline inside a gold defend with a inexperienced border. A big quantity “75” towers over the skyline in inexperienced, with the years “1949-2024” above. The group’s unique double-E emblem sits on the backside of the defend. Every flash bulb within the stadium stands represents one of many group’s 14 Gray Cup championships.
The emblem was a collaboration between native graphic designer Curtis Ogrodiuk and Elks workers designer Daniel Trojillo.
A number of group legends have been readily available for the revealing Monday, and the evaluations have been optimistic.
“It’s beautiful. It’s really nice. I enjoyed it. Like I say, and I’m going to say it over and over again, I’m a proud fan of the EE and I’m a proud supporter of the Edmonton Elks,” mentioned famed kick returner Henry “Gizmo” Williams. “I love that logo. It’s really great. It brings back a lot of memories. It’s touching when you see some of (moments) that happened because you can’t believe you were a part of that.”
“I think it touches everything that you want in a logo. It’s got the city, 75 years, a very successful organization,” added kicker and punter Sean Fleming. “The logo itself looks like the 1970s version, which I like quite a bit, so it’s got some classic memories to it. I think they did a really good job. I think people are going to enjoy it.”
For his or her season opener on June 8, the Elks are bringing back their successful “In the Game” program that debuted final season, which provides followers the prospect to place their names on helmet decals that will likely be worn on the sphere.
The seventy fifth anniversary emblem will likely be on the Elks’ helmets for the June 8 sport, and the names of 90 followers will likely be printed within the outlines of the defend. Followers can safe their spot on the decal the Elks’ online store for $270 every — a value that features a framed set of sport decals (seventy fifth emblem, Canadian flag, CFL emblem) and an autograph from an Elks participant.
To mark their seventy fifth anniversary, the Elks are additionally internet hosting a Kickoff to 75 Dinner on June 6 with notable alumni from all through the group’s historical past, in addition to a legends autograph signing on June 8. All-Decade Groups will likely be honored at house video games all through the season, beginning with the Fifties group on June 14 towards the Montréal Alouettes. An EE All-Time Group will likely be voted on by followers between October 5 and 20, and will probably be unveiled on the last house sport of the season on October 25 towards the Toronto Argonauts.
Merchandise with the seventy fifth anniversary emblem will likely be obtainable within the stadium and on-line all season lengthy.
Whereas numerous soccer groups began and folded in Edmonton between 1895 and 1939, the present iteration of the Elks joined the Western Interprovincial Soccer Union in 1945 underneath head coach Annis Stukus. They moved to Commonwealth Stadium in 1978, the identical 12 months they gained the primary of 5 consecutive Gray Cups. The Elks’ Wall of Honour comprises such notable names as Warren Moon, Ricky Ray, Johnny Brilliant, Willie Pless, Jackie Parker, Rollie Miles and Norman Kwong.
The Elks kick off their seventy fifth anniversary season on Saturday, June 8, once they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
