It’s hard to believe, but Major League Soccer’s 25th season is upon us, which means it’s time to celebrate! MLS’s 25th season extravaganza will be spent alongside fans, new and old, celebrating the league’s past, present, and future through content and physical activations.
Celebrating through content
MLS is planning a slew of exciting digital content pieces to coincide with the league’s 25th season. From feature films exploring the league’s rollercoaster from inception to near failure to now seeing 26 clubs kick off the 25th season. Additionally, the league is planning The 25 Greatest vote-in series which will see fans, MLS greats, and technical staff vote on the 25 best players in league history (it’s Landon Donovan and I will hear no other arguments!). These are just two examples of the many pieces of content MLS is planning to celebrate the history of a league that continues to grow. See below for a more robust offering of content planned for 2020.
- The Greatest Goal: fan voting initiative aimed at picking the league’s best goal. I already know the answer, it’s this goal, no questions asked
- El Toque Latino: three-part video series aimed at showing the influence Latin players have had on MLS through interviews and rare footage
- Legacy: twelve-part editorial series with the goal of exploring moments and personalities that remain in MLS folklore
Celebrating through experience
MLS is also planning various experiential moments meant to celebrate the past but also look toward the future. First of which is a fashion show around New York Fashion Week showcasing the 2020 jersey collection with the help of celebrities like DeAndre Hopkins, Colin Hanks and duo Majid Jordan. To coincide with this show, EA Sports and FIFA 20 will digitally release each kit in-game once they’ve been unveiled at the fashion show. Additionally, fans will notice a new name and number design on uniforms that is reminiscent of years past.
Last, but certainly not least, the league has partnered with Mitchell & Ness to produce a ’96 retro jersey collection featuring the eight original teams as well as Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle. Count me in for one of these KC Wiz jerseys!
The league and adidas have also introduced the Nativo XXV. Does it remind you of your favorite MLS memories as a kid? Seeing Marco Etcheverry carry that blue and green Mitre Ultimax up the field at RFK? Well, that’s the inspiration behind the ball of MLS’s 25th season.
The 25th season will kick-off when two original clubs, D.C. United and Colorado Rapids, face off on February 29th. These are just a few of the many pieces MLS is planning throughout the year. Ultimately, the league is trying to bridge the divide between the present and the past in ways that show the authentic, colorful, and perfectly American history of MLS for those that miss it and those who never knew what they were missing.
Categories: Major League Soccer