The First Responder Bowl, a notable entity in the realm of collegiate sports, stands as a testament to the celebration and recognition of first responders. This college football bowl game was inaugurated in 2011, initially known as the TicketCity Bowl. The visionary behind this event, ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN Inc., sought to honor the relentless efforts of first responders. The Bowl is typically hosted in Dallas, Texas, at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium, epitomizing the spirit of gratitude and appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to public safety.
Meaning and history
The First Responder Bowl, a brainchild of ESPN Events, was inaugurated in 2011 as a unique college football bowl game in Dallas, Texas. Its inception was driven by the noble intention of honoring the unwavering dedication and service of first responders, encompassing police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel. The bowl game emerged not only as an anticipated sports event but also as a tribute to the heroes in emergency services.
Among its notable milestones, the First Responder Bowl underwent a significant rebranding in 2018, transitioning from its former identity as the Heart of Dallas Bowl. This change underscored its core mission of celebrating the valor and commitment of first responders. The game has consistently provided a stage for exhilarating confrontations between teams from varied conferences, cementing its status in the realm of college football. Presently, the First Responder Bowl stands as a prominent fixture in the college football season, garnering attention for both its competitive spirit and its homage to first responders.
What is First Responder Bowl?
First Responder Bowl is an intercollegiate football bowl game, which is affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and holds its games after the official seasons. The Bowl had its first game played in 2011, on the Cotton Bowl Stadium, and today all the games are held on Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
2011 – 2012
The first logo for the bowl was designed when its name was the Ticket City Bowl. It was a cool and modern badge with the image of an eagle set in white, black, and light blue, drawn behind the blue arched banner with the white and yellow lettering written over it. The banner was stylized as a ticket, with two small circular cutouts on its sides. Under the banner, you could see a brown rugby ball, which was held by the eagle, and a light blue ribbon with the white “Cotton Bowl Stadium” inscription.
2013 – 2014
The redesign of 2013 introduced a banner for the Heart of Dallas Bowl; which was built around a clean and strict crest with a light background and a distinct white and blue outline. The top part of the shield comprised a solid stylized “D” with the white heart set on it diagonally. As for the main lettering, it was written in delicate white capitals across the blue banner, which was placed horizontally in the middle of the crest. The badge was complemented by a black and red logotype of the Howl’s sponsor, Plains Capital Bank.
2014 – 2017
The Heart of Dallas Bowl logo was redesigned again in 1014, adopting a flat style and a bright yet simple blue and white color palette. Now it was a crest in a more traditional shape, with the arched blue ribbon with the white logotype on it, whereas the first “D” in “Dallas” was heavy and has a small light blue heart placed on it instead of the regular negative space element. The bottom part of the white crest was embellished with three colorful elements: a yellow five-pointed star, a red flower-like symbol, and a blue stylized snowflake, formed by several straight lines.
2018 – Today
The word “First” occupies more space than any other word in the First Responder Bowl logo. And yet, it is given in black, and because of this, the bright “roof” over it seems to steal the limelight. The roof comes from the logo of the Servpro company, which is a franchise system dealing with fire and water cleanup.
The other two colored elements within the logo are the blue and red bars at the left and right bottom corner, respectively. The lettering “Responder Bowl” above is given in black. The “O” glyph in the word “Responder” has been replaced by an outline of a football, while the glyph “I” in the word “First” has been replaced by the number “1.”