Pitt will unveil new uniforms at Bigelow Bash

The Pitt athletic department announced on Monday evening that it will unveil a new unified look at Bigelow Bash, which is set to take place on April 7. The big reveal is the culmination of a two-year rebranding effort undertaken with sports apparel giant Nike, and the general expectation is that the university will make the switch back to its royal blue and athletic gold color scheme in response to popular demand.

In addition, Pitt revealed that Bigelow Bash will be headlined this year by hip-hop and R&B artist T-Pain. The Tallahassee, Florida, native is best known for popularizing the use of auto-tune and amassing a vast catalogue of hit singles, including “I’m Sprung,” “Bartender” and “Buy U a Drank.”

Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke discussed the upcoming event in a statement.

”Pitt people are passionate about their university and love showing their pride in numerous ways, especially by wearing Panthers gear and merchandise,” Lyke said. “But for too long we were disjointed in our Pitt branding, whether it be our colors or logos. Now, thanks to a comprehensive study with our partner Nike, we are proud to unveil at Bigelow Bash a strong and unified visual identity. Our branding will pay homage to a proud past but with 21st-century ambitions. It evokes our legends while anticipating future greatness. There is power in the Pitt brand, and these colors and marks will maximize that strength for Panthers past, present and future.”

The event will involve a fashion show, during which all 19 of Pitt’s athletic programs will reveal their new uniforms for the 2019-20 season. After the fashion show, the Pitt Shop on Forbes Avenue will be the site of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as it will be reopened with a Pitt-branded Nike concept shop within.

Bigelow Bash is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET on April 7. The fashion show will start at 3:30 p.m. and T-Pain will take the stage at 5 p.m.