Legends Panel | Caps 50 Fest

The Washington Capitals 50th Anniversary mark pays homage to the very genesis of the franchise, a commemorative mark fifty years in the making that celebrates the team, its fans, and its roots by leaning into our very first logo—a style that is unmistakably Capitals.

The unique reverse-italic lettering embraces the history and tradition of the team and has been evolved and expanded into a complete anniversary program. This mark is simple and direct: a reverse-italic 50 and hockey stick, inspired by the inaugural 1974 Capitals lettering, paired with the red and blue stars emblazoned across our original sweaters.

The 50th Anniversary logo is the latest evolution in the celebration of historic milestones in Capitals History.

During five “Era Nights” throughout the season, the Capitals will celebrate the five eras of Capitals Hockey. Each night will feature a pregame ceremony, a specialty 50th anniversary giveaway, in-game content and features, an in-game environment based on the eras’ colors and theme, and additional nods to the specific decade of Capitals hockey history.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary, the team also debuted a special brand mantra - A Legacy in ALL CAPS.  The organization will showcase 50 years of not taking the Capitals legacy lightly, through unwavering commitment and dedication representing the city that beats at the heart of the nation. The Capitals are proud of the past and focused on the future, with history yet to come. A Legacy in ALL CAPS means the Capitals are determined, principled and community minded, representing 50 years of unwavering commitment and dedication.

The Capitals alongside FanBrandz, created a thoughtful, systematic structure for the 50th Anniversary logo. This includes a primary mark, a secondary mark featured as a patch on the home and away jerseys, an alternative logo, and a wordmark, all made in three color variations representing different eras of Capitals Hockey. 

The Caps have employed several distinctive looks and color schemes over the past half century, and each of them contribute to the franchise’s visual history. The original red, white, and blue look gave way to something quite different in the mid-1990s. Black, blue, and bronze were the defining hues of an era in which the team moved to downtown Washington, D.C and celebrated our first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The Caps’ return to red, white, and blue—albeit in darker, richer shades than the original—helped usher in a new era of excellence which was punctuated by the 2018 Stanley Cup championship.

Each of these color schemes have been deployed through a series of secondary logos, wordmarks, and alternate logos that represent the totality of the franchise’s first fifty years in the DMV.