Portland Timbers strip down crest

The Portland Timbers announced this past week that they had,  after consideration, revised the 'crest' design which was unveiled two weeks back at the halftime of the US v England match gathering in Director's Park.  The new design is not dramatically different than the first one,  the differences are largely graphical elements which gave an illusion of dimensionality to the blade of the ax and the team name.   So this is a flattened image,  simpler and more crisp.   
The visual merits of the two are certainly valid fodder for debate and each would probably have its proponents.  The real story here though is the process.  The Timbers chose to engage in graphic design by popular consensus of sorts,  engaging in the revision process after the first version elicited boos from many in the crowd at the park event.   I'm guessing that the first concept was run past a fair number of fans and focus groups before it was trotted out so there's nothing wrong with the idea of getting input.  Merritt Paulson, in the release on the change, is quoted saying  “We welcomed fan input in the process and feel the final result appropriately honors our traditions..."   Back in the 70s Timbers Old School,  there was a lot of fan input of various sorts,  particularly in the run of '78 but not with the organization and muscle of the Timbers' Army,  today's supporter group.  The Army has been good in building the club's image for evoking passion.  A friend of mine who follows the game more intensely than I'm able suggested that the Timbers Army seemed to imagine themselves as the American version of St. Pauli's fans in the Bundesliga,  a communard collective allied with the Club against "the Man".   The ultimate in blue collar football.    I would have said something like Green Bay fans sense of ownership in their team.   Both may be somewhat apt.  The danger in such pairings,  as was demonstrated in France during the Revolution,  is that 'the people'  are fickle.   
Personally,  I like the second version of the crest better.  But ultimately I take my support of the Timbers from what happens on the field and from the fact they're my home team not from the design on their uniforms.