The primary source of inspiration behind the design of the Continental Tire Bowl logo was apparently the emblem of the sponsor, the German automotive manufacturing company Continental Tire. Its wordmark was placed right at the center of the logo. The word “Continental” was given in gold over the black plate. Behind the plate, a stylized football could be seen. The football was standing on one of its sharp ends. Around the football, you could see design elements looking very much like sunrays.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl, a distinguished college football event, traces its origins to Duke’s Mayonnaise, a company established by Eugenia Duke in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1917. The inception of this bowl game marked a significant milestone in the company’s history, symbolizing its expansion beyond the culinary realm into the vibrant world of collegiate sports.
Throughout its journey, the Duke’s Mayo Bowl has carved a niche in the college football landscape. Initially known by a different name, the bowl game evolved, aligning with Duke’s Mayonnaise in a partnership reflective of the brand’s Southern roots. It’s been a stage where teams from the SEC and ACC demonstrate their prowess, often resulting in thrilling and memorable games. Beyond the field, the event has been instrumental in fostering community spirit and supporting various philanthropic causes, thereby enhancing its esteem and impact.
In its current era, the Duke’s Mayo Bowl stands as a beacon of tradition and excitement in college football’s postseason. It’s not just a game, but a celebration of sportsmanship, community values, and the enduring spirit of collegiate competition. Its place in the annual football calendar is not merely about sports; it represents a cultural event that resonates with fans and communities alike.
What is Duke’s Mayo Bowl?
Duke’s Mayo Bowl is the intercollegiate football bowl game, affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The bowl was established in 2002 as the Queen City Bowl and changed its name several times. All the games of the bowl are held in the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Continental Tire Bowl was played from 2002 through 2004 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Later, it was renamed the Meineke Car Care Bowl and then the Belk Bowl.
The logo for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl designed in 2005, featured the gold and black composition either the golden rugby ball diagonally placed behind the rectangular banner with rounded angles and a black outline. The banner had a three-level “‘Meineke Car Care Bowl” set in it in black and white: with the letters in different sizes and styles. The inscription was accompanied by a stylized road drawing on the left.
The redesign of 2011 was held after the football championship was renamed the Bell Bowl. The new logo was executed in a bright blue; black and white color palette and featured a classic crest shape with the horizontally placed blue rectangular with the main logotype placed over it. The “Bell” inscription was set in the lowercase of a modern sans-serif typeface; with its white letters set in bold clean lines with straight cuts.
In 2015 the “SEC ACC” serif lettering in bold white lines was set on the sides of the vertically drawn light-blue rugby ball, which was placed on the bottom part of the crest, under the blue banner with the Bell corporate logotype, over a black background. All other details of the logo remained untouched, and the badge was used by the Bowl for one season.
The color palette of the Bell Bowl logo was softened in 2017, with the Bell emblem getting simpler — the stylized flower was now outlined in white, and set on a light blue background on a rectangular banner, on the left of the logotype. The blue of the “crown” above the badge also changed its shade. As for the rugby ball at the bottom of the logo, it was now set in white, balancing the white lettering on its right and left.
The Bowl got remained at Duke’s Mayo in 2020, and the badge was redesigned in the same year. The new concept came back to the color palette from 2005 — gold and black with white and red details. Although this time it is a horizontally stretched banner with the stylized Stadium background, a red arched ribbon with the uppercase “Mayo” on it, the script bold “Duke’s” In black and white, and the massive geometric sans-serif “Bowl” in heavy white capitals with sharp angles and straight lines, set at the bottom of the logo.