Kipper : Is This The Year The Pittsburgh Pirates Get A New Logo?

2 years ago at PirateFest I had a chance to talk with Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly about implementing a logo change. I had noticed a shift towards using the "P" Logo and away from the actual Pirates logo with the Pirate in it and Mr.Connelly confirmed that they were indeed going to get a new logo.
It didn't happen.
Last year at PirateFest I saw Frank Coonelly again and asked him about the logo, informing him jokingly that my credibility took a hit reporting on this logo change that didn't occur. He explained to me that they had a dozen logo submissions presented to the Board of Directors and none of them passed approval, but they would continue pressing for a new logo.
It is now 2015, heading into 2016 and my yearly curiosity for what will be new for the Pittsburgh Pirates is starting to hit its stride. The uniforms appear to be happily set for the next couple of seasons, so my attention and focus has once again returned to the Logo.
I had recently just attended the Chuck Tanner Banquet Awards ceremony where I had a chance to get some photos with Clint Hurdle, Bob Nutting, Dave Littlefield and others.. Specifically Clint Hurdle and Bob Nutting made a big deal about my new iPhone case with Bob Nutting saying he loved it.

At the time they were nice compliments but I began to wonder if there was more to it. I then received an E-Mail from the Pittsburgh Pirates and noticed the logo next to the name of the contact that works for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nobody in the corporate Pittsburgh Pirates e-mail system is going to be using an unofficial logo. That's not how businesses like this promote themselves. Everything is a corporate template for use, the only thing that differs is your contact information.
This is all speculation on my behalf, but perhaps this is the year that the Pittsburgh Pirates are indeed changing their logo and how nice would it be if it were to this updated version of their beloved logo they used between 1968-1986? It's not a coincidence that we have been seeing this logo show up more and more on official merchandise over the last couple of years. You can find shirts, blankets and hats with this logo on it at Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods and the official Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Shop.
This is a perfect time for the Pirates to make some bank on the merchandising influx they would receive. The Pittsburgh Pirates popularity is at an all-time high. Folks would flock to purchase new merchandise just to have it with the new logo. I'm one of them. Coffee mug, Tervis Cup(s), clothing etc... I'd make some new additions!
If there were a time for the Pirates to announce a new logo it will be at PirateFest, where they announce all of their changes and additions of this magnitude.
December 12th can't come soon enough!