Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Announces Rebrand to “The Metro Conference”
5/28/2026 9:10:00 AM | General
Brand Reveal Video
The Metro Conference Branding Overview
Introducing The Metro with John Fanta & Commissioner Tellitocci
EDISON, NJ (May 28, 2026) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that the Conference will officially transition to the Metro Conference beginning July 1, 2026. The new identity was developed to establish a clearer, more modern, and distinct identity while honoring the tradition and foundation built over the last 45 years.
The rebrand is the result of a multi-year strategic planning initiative that began in 2023 and included extensive feedback and collaboration from institutional leaders, student-athletes, coaches, alumni, fans, communications and marketing professionals, and members of the national media.
"The goal of this project was to establish a bold and clear identity that eliminated longstanding confusion surrounding the Conference's name," said MAAC Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. "Throughout this process, we wanted to create a brand that better positions the Conference for the future while still honoring the tradition and foundation that have defined this league for the past 45 years. We are excited about this next chapter and the future of the Metro Conference."
Establishing a Clearer Identity
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference name and MAAC acronym date back to the Conference's founding in 1980. Over time, the Conference's identity was impacted by ongoing confusion tied to sharing the same acronym as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) which was established decades earlier. In addition, the length of the Conference's full name often created inconsistencies in how the brand was referenced and frequently led to the Conference being referred to incorrectly.
The transition to "The Metro Conference" creates a clearer and more simplified identity across television, digital platforms, championships, recruiting, and apparel while eliminating decades of acronym confusion associated with the MAAC designation.
"As we introduce the Metro, we embrace a name that reflects both our geographic connection along the Northeast Corridor and the shared values that unite our member institutions," said MAAC Council of Presidents Chair Dr. Mark Nemec. "The Metro is deeply student-centric in its vision, celebrating academic achievement, personal growth, and competitive excellence. The new brand represents a collective commitment to preparing student-athletes for success in the classroom, in competition, and in their future endeavors."
A Collaborative Process
The Conference selected Joe Bosack & Co. to lead the brand repositioning project in collaboration with the Conference's Technology & Digital Marketing Committee. The extensive process included input from key internal and external stakeholders and multiple rounds of strategic discussions including listening sessions, name-testing exercises, and logo exploration.
"The evolution from the MAAC to the Metro Conference represents far more than a name change," said Mount St. Mary's University President and committee chair, Dr. Gerard Joyce. "Over the past year, our committee engaged in a thoughtful and collaborative process grounded in feedback from campus leaders, student athletes, coaches, administrators, and conference stakeholders. The result is a bold new brand and logo that reflects strength, energy, identity, and the future vision of our conference. METRO captures who we are, the markets we serve, and the competitive spirit that unites our institutions. I am proud of the work that brought us to this moment and excited for what lies ahead."
Throughout the process, Conference leadership evaluated potential names, logos, typography systems, and overall brand direction to ensure the final identity was thoughtful, modern, representative of the Conference as a whole, and not tied to one specific geographic area or market.
Refined Visual Identity
As part of the transition, the Conference introduced a streamlined visual identity centered around bold typography and a refined two-color palette. The new brand system features a clean and modern wordmark designed to create flexibility and consistency across championship branding, digital platforms, television, apparel, and future Conference initiatives.
The visual identity also streamlines the Conference's color palette from five colors to two, creating a cleaner and more consistent presentation. While simplifying the system, the Conference retained its traditional red and blue foundation while updating both to bolder and more vibrant shades – Red (185c) and Mid-Range Blue (PMS 288c).
"We enjoyed collaborating with all of the Conference stakeholder groups as part of this comprehensive rebranding project," said Joe Bosack, founder and creative director at Joe Bosack & Co. "The Metro, its member schools, and its student athletes have an updated brand identity that reflects a great history and a promising future."
Built for the Future
The Metro Conference identity was developed to better position the Conference within the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape, where visibility, storytelling, and national brand recognition continue to become increasingly important.
Additional branding elements, including championship marks, and a new Conference website will be introduced in the near future.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary's University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.
About Joe Bosack & Co.:
Joe Bosack & Co. has been active in collegiate institutional and athletic branding since its inception in 1998 and has developed or refined almost 100 brand identities. Most recently, the agency worked with the NCAA to update its Championships brand identity system, the Heisman Trophy Trust to reimagine the trophy's brand identity, and the Jackie Robinson Museum on its new logo. More of the firm's work can be seen at JoeBosack.com.
