This Sunday, Bay FC will celebrate the rich heritage of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities across the Bay Area at PayPal Park. This annual match brings together AANHPI cultures, highlighting the region’s rich cultural diversity. In addition to matchday activations, one way the club honors this occasion is through their collaboration with local artists. They year, Bay FC partnered with Brandon J. Tam to create an Item of the Match which represents the shared history and meaningful representation of AANHPI across the Bay.
Bay FC defender Caprice Dydasco and Brandon recently sat down to deconstruct the technical and emotional layers of the design., which drew on their shared AANHPI heritage and explored the enduring connectivity of the Pacific Ocean and concept of “silent protectors” that watch over the club.
Centered by the Ocean
Brandon developed the primary concepts for this design while studying at the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. He identified the ocean as the most powerful element linking the AANHPI community to the California coast.
“The ocean became a visual anchor of this design because it is a literal connection between all the Asian countries, the Pacific Island, and the Hawaiian Islands to America,” Brandon explained. “I wanted to focus less about separating identities and more about showing how we co-exist and flow together.”
By placing the design within the letter ‘B’, he captures the idea that the diverse cultures of the AANHPI community are the internal filling or soul of the Bay Area.
“Initially, the design was actually on the outside of the logo,” Brandon said. “But then I thought I wanted to put it within the logo of Bay FC because that’s what the Bay Area is. It’s a melting pot of culture.”
Technical Elements
The design uses cultural motifs to bring traditional AANHPI heritage and soccer together. . Every detail is a thoughtful choice to honor both the players on the pitch and the community at large.
- The 11 Triangles: Positioned on the lower left, these shark-tooth elements follow a tactical soccer formation. They represent the 11 athletes on the pitch through a symbol of strength and communal protection.
- The Soccer Honu: The sea turtle signifies endurance and guardianship. In a technical nod to the sport, Brandon transformed the traditional pentagons of the turtle’s shell into the pattern of a soccer ball.
- The Auspicious Dragon: An ethereal dragon flows through the background of the piece. Brandon rendered the scales and mane without a central face to create a ‘silent protector’ that watches over the team while embodying power and fortune.
- The Vessel of Community: A subtle inclusion of a noodle bowl serves as a nostalgic reference to the shared dinner table. This element represents the foundational site of family and community across AANHPI cultures.
Philosophy of Resilience
Caprice Dydasco believes the artwork captures the professional standards and personal values of the club. As an athlete of AANHPI descent, she views these symbols as a reflection of the team’s unified identity.
“Within that [logo], it’s like one big circular family,” Caprice observes. “We all need to co-exist; we have our differences which is awesome, but we are so similar.”
A theme that came up often during the design process was resilience, Brandon explained. This focus on strength was especially relevant as his time in Hawaii coincided with significant environmental challenges, including the recent severe flooding that impacted the islands of Oahu and Maui last month. Knowing that the Hawaiian community was just beginning to recover from the catastrophic flooding while he was creating art inspired by that same heritage made the project’s purpose even clearer.
To honor this connection, Bay FC will direct a portion of the proceeds from the AANHPI Item of the Match toward flood relief efforts in Hawaii.
Dive Deeper into the AANHPI Design with Caprice and Brandon:
AANHPI Match at PayPal Park
Fans are invited to PayPal Park on May 10 to celebrate the AANHPI community and shop the exclusive collection in stadium. Wear the heritage; support the story.
Plus, arrive when gates open at 11 a.m. for special AANHPI activities and celebrate with the Bay Area.
Bay FC Matchday Info:
- Matchday: Saturday, May 10 vs. Utah Royals FC
- Gates Open: 11 a.m. (Join the Bay FC early at FanFest for AANHPI celebrations)
- Kickoff: 1 p.m.
- Item of the Match: Available at the PayPal Park, while supplies last.
- Philanthropy: A portion of all AANHPI collection proceeds will support Hawaii Flood Relief. Learn more at Lahuí Foundation.
