For anyone who loves Atlanta sports, the old Atlanta Hawks logo isn’t just a graphic — it’s a piece of the city’s identity. Whether you grew up going to games at the Omni Coliseum, followed the team through the Philips Arena years, or you’re a newer fan curious about the team’s history, understanding the evolution of the Hawks’ logo helps you appreciate how deeply the franchise is tied to Atlanta.
This guide walks through the major old Hawks logos, what they meant in their eras, how they connect to Atlanta culture, and where you can still see or buy them around the city.
The Hawks have changed logos several times since arriving in Atlanta in 1968. Here’s a simple overview of the key designs most Atlanta fans talk about when they say “old Hawks logo.”
| Era (Atlanta) | Primary Logo Style | What Fans Often Call It | Key Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–1970s | Simple hawk + wordmark | Early Atlanta hawk logo | Red, white |
| 1972–1995 | Pac-Man circular hawk | “Pac-Man” logo | Red, white |
| 1995–2007 | Aggressive full-body hawk | “Spread wings” / 90s logo | Red, navy, gold |
| 2007–2015 | Modernized spread-wings hawk | Updated 2000s logo | Dark red, navy, silver |
| 2015–present | Modern Pac-Man revival | Updated retro logo | Torch red, volt green accents |
When people in Atlanta say “old Atlanta Hawks logo”, they usually mean one of two:
The Pac-Man logo is the most iconic “old Atlanta Hawks logo.”
It features:
Even though it predates the video game by a few years, Atlanta fans quickly started calling it the Pac-Man hawk because of its shape.
For many people in metro Atlanta, this logo is tied to:
If you grew up anywhere around Downtown, Decatur, College Park, or Marietta during that time, the Pac-Man logo might be what you still picture when you think “Hawks.”
It represents:
Even though there’s now a modernized version, the old-style Pac-Man logo still shows up around the city:
If you’re searching specifically, look for items labeled “retro Hawks,” “throwback Atlanta Hawks,” or “classic Pac-Man logo.”
Another major “old Atlanta Hawks logo” fans remember is the full-body hawk introduced in the mid-1990s.
It typically shows:
This logo feels more aggressive and busy than the Pac-Man design, fitting the style of many 1990s sports logos.
This logo connects to:
If you lived in the suburbs like Gwinnett, Cobb, or Clayton County during the 90s and wore Hawks gear to school, this is probably the logo you had on your hoodie or starter jacket.
You’re less likely to see this logo used by the team today, but it still lives on in:
If you’re hunting specifically for this design, search for “1990s Hawks logo,” “spread-wings logo,” or “hawk holding basketball logo.”
The Hawks’ logo journey in Atlanta has moved in cycles:
1960s–1980s:
1990s–2000s:
2015 and Beyond:
For Atlanta residents, this evolution mirrors how the city itself has changed — from classic Southern sports town, to 90s expansion and reinvention, to a globally recognized cultural hub.
Even though the current logo is a streamlined version of the Pac-Man hawk, the old Atlanta Hawks logos still matter because they:
You’ll see that when the Hawks do “Throwback” or “Classic” nights at State Farm Arena — the crowd response to the old logos, jerseys, and intros is immediate. It’s a shared Atlanta experience that spans generations.
If you’re shopping around the city for authentic or high-quality old logo items, here are a few practical tips.
Know which design you’re after:
Recognizing the shapes helps you avoid off-model or low-quality reproductions.
On jerseys, shirts, and jackets, look for:
Many Atlanta vintage shops are familiar with old Hawks gear and can often tell you if something is truly old or a modern reprint.
Old Hawks logos often use:
If a piece uses odd color combinations that don’t match the era, it may not be a faithful reproduction.
While you can’t visit the Omni anymore, there are still plenty of places around Atlanta where the old Hawks logo legacy lives on.
Address: 1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303
At the Hawks’ current home arena, you may find:
If you live in Atlanta or are visiting Downtown, checking the Hawks’ home schedule and theme nights can be a great way to see the old designs in action.
Around Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and the Battery Atlanta, it’s common to see:
You can pick up a lot of logo history just by talking to long-time locals who’ve followed the team since the Omni days.
Neighborhoods like:
often have stores that specialize in:
If you’re looking for a specific era — like an original Pac-Man hat or 90s full-body hawk warm-up jacket — these are good areas to explore.
For Atlanta residents, the old Hawks logos sit alongside:
Together, these logos help form a visual language that says “This is Atlanta.”
The old Atlanta Hawks logos — especially the Pac-Man hawk — are a big part of that story. They’ve appeared:
If you’re new to Atlanta, recognizing these older Hawks designs is a quick way to plug into the culture and connect with longtime fans.
If you live in Atlanta or are visiting, keeping an eye out for these older Hawks logos is a simple way to see how the city’s sports identity has grown — and how much of that history still shows up in what people proudly wear and display today.
