Pac-Man returns! Hawks redesign old logo

• Courtesy Atlanta Hawks

Just in time for their Game 6 matchup with the Indiana Pacers tonight, the Atlanta Hawks have unveiled a new (old) secondary logo. From 1972-1995, the Hawks logo featured a side profile of the bird of prey, which ultimately drew comparisons to the title character of the popular Pac-Man video game.

Since 1995, there have been a couple of changes to the uniform. A switch was made from Pac-Man-Hawk to a Hawk clutching a basketball (think the Dikemebe Mutombo’s finger-shaking antics and Mookie Blaylock being Mookie Blaylock). The most noticeable change, however, came with a new color scheme in 2007 (yea, the Josh Smith and Mike Woodson days) of navy, red, and white and the use of “ATL” being featured more prominently on the front of the jersey. The new logo embraces the current fan base’s thirst for the glory days of Dominique Wilkins.

In fact, the Hawks will let the fans get a taste of the Pac tonight with free t-shirts (pictured below) to promote their #PacIsBack campaign. If the 8th-seeded Hawks can upset the top-seeded Pacers tonight, they will become the worst team to advance in the playoffs since the format was expanded to 16 teams. Pre-sale orders for the new gear goes on sale soon.

All fans in attendance tonight will get a shirt like the one @BFinn86 just tweeted! pic.twitter.com/IWkpGZp6jX
- Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 1, 2014