Each offseason, Major League Soccer clubs use the months of January and February to unveil new shirt designs, sometimes going to impressive lengths to do so. Regardless of who you support, it’s always a treat to look at the hilarious, creative, or spectacular ways teams around the league show off their new look.
Here are a few of the ways clubs revealed their central fashion statement ahead of the 2019 season.
FC Cincinnati
There’s nothing like your first MLS jersey. FC Cincinnati’s inaugural kit reveal was always going to be a special occasion, but fans were eagerly awaiting what look the franchise would opt for. Even with tight deadlines to have jerseys ready before the start of the season, the club backed up their bold vision with an attractive design that compliments the new crest. The primarily blue jersey features orange accents and a unique, vertical stripe texture.
2019’s shirt was announced in front of fans at the famous Music Hall Ballroom, with 100% of proceeds going towards the FC Cincinnati foundation.
FC Dallas
Ahead of their jersey launch, the FC Dallas front office held a series of meetings to solicit player feedback on 2019 kit options… well, not really. In reality, they were taking part in a hidden camera-style prank. The video, which also served as a teaser for the new season’s actual shirt, shows players taking a look at some… interesting… designs, including a bold cowboy silhouette, a cartoon mascot, and tacos! Perhaps the best part of the video comes when an FC Dallas staff member momentarily steps out of the room, leaving players alone to give their un-filtered opinions. The reactions are priceless.
To see the “new jerseys” and catch the hilarity for yourself, check out the video here:
Players get a first look at jersey options for 2019…and their feedback is brutally honest. pic.twitter.com/KJVhmPUocs
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 11, 2019
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta and large crowds have become synonymous, which is why no one was surprised when thousands of season ticket holders were on-hand to witness the reveal of 2019’s new home kit. The reigning MLS Cup champions teamed up with Roger Bennett and the Men in Blazers podcast to record a live episode at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The event, which lasted around an hour, featured interviews with first team players, Atlanta rapper Fabo, Arthur Blank, and more. Take a listen here:
For the finale, the new home shirt was revealed and modeled on stage, complete with a fireworks display.
NYCFC
2019’s home kit, along with its reveal, hits high on the authenticity scale for NYCFC. The club produced a retro-inspired video that tapped into authentic New York fandom. Titled For the City, By the City, it follows a fan as he makes his way around New York City. Along the way, he encounters other NYCFC supporters – all donning the new kit.
The jersey itself features a new vertical stipe over the crest area and includes the colors of the New York City flag. Possibly the best part of the shirt is the jock tag area, which features the emblem of a pigeon (an ode to the club’s fan-created nickname).
LA Galaxy
LA’s new “Night Navy” kit is spectacular in its own right. The dark blue design embraces a digital, glitch-like geometric pattern for a modern flair, and the vertical stripes give the away kit a more distinct look than past seasons. To sweeten the deal, the club invited season ticket holders to a jersey reveal party at The Novo at L.A. Live. FOX’s Rob Stone played the role of host, and he sat down for Q&A’s with several people, including new manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Of course, the night was also highlighted by the one-and-only Zlatan Ibrahimović, who let fans in on his plan to break every record in MLS this season. We’re looking forward to it!
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