MLS Kits 2022

[Digby]

I'm sorry but the halftone photo of some guys felt silly and un-logo-like even when it was brand new. They were right to get rid of that (and the Copperplate typeface).

[MJWalker45]

59 minutes ago, Digby said:

I'm sorry but the halftone photo of some guys felt silly and un-logo-like even when it was brand new. They were right to get rid of that (and the Copperplate typeface).

The fact that it was original and unlike anything else out there was why I love it. It stood out and I liked that most about the Crew logo. Copperplate gets a bad wrap, it's not like it was Comic Sans and it looked better than some of the other fonts used in the initial rollout. 

[4_tattoos]

DC United has their new shirt sponsor. XDC Network. Something in the cryptocurrency world.

 

[DrJack]

1 hour ago, MJWalker45 said:

The ownership shot itself in the foot by trying to change the name and this was a workaround. Even the original logo had Columbus above the pennant so it was still going to look like this at some level. Since the way that badges are placed on uniforms doesn't require everything sit inside a stitched badge, this isn't the worst thing that could happen. but then again an even easier method would have been to leave the original 1996 badge alone.  Also, it's not unusual to have soccer teams spell out their name around the badge when the badge only features a letter or a symbol. The placement was the only thing that's different.

 

It can be part of the official logo and not have to be on the jersey.  Juventus is a pretty clean example - and it feels like that's the "look" the Crew were going for in their redesigned crest anyway.  There's a time and a place to write out the team name in tiny letters above the crest... and the jersey just ain't it.

 

It's different if the words are worked into the logo  as part of the design, ala Arsenal.  Quite different if you have a designed crest that works perfectly well as a standalone element and you still insist on wrapping it with tacked on text because, God forbid, someone somewhere sees a fan wearing a jersey on the street and  says "what team is that?" 

 

Also, sorry, but that 96 badge sucks.  What they have now actually works well, imo, they just need to utilize it properly.

[dannykraft]

Don't want to the type to post concepts in the forum but I thought this was a way to simplify the roundel and use the big letter idea. 

https://www.behance.net/gallery/119179431/Columbus-Crew-Rebrand/modules/679207489

[PaleVermilion81]

34 minutes ago, dannykraft said:

Don't want to the type to post concepts in the forum but I thought this was a way to simplify the roundel and use the big letter idea. 

https://www.behance.net/gallery/119179431/Columbus-Crew-Rebrand/modules/679207489

 

At first I was like, "Why did you put the wording on the right side of the circle?" and then I saw the "C" it made and thought "oh that's nice!" Very clever and simple.

[DrJack]

1 hour ago, dannykraft said:

Don't want to the type to post concepts in the forum but I thought this was a way to simplify the roundel and use the big letter idea. 

https://www.behance.net/gallery/119179431/Columbus-Crew-Rebrand/modules/679207489

That is nice.  Great work, super clean, modern aesthetic... but also timeless.

[4_tattoos]

Wow that concept is damn good. Somebody send that link to the Haslam family and tell them to throw money at Danny Kraft so the Crew can officially use it.

[Popmart]

19 hours ago, MJWalker45 said:

Copperplate gets a bad wrap, it's not like it was Comic Sans and it looked better than some of the other fonts used in the initial rollout. 

 

That's not exactly a high bar.

[upperV03]

Here’s the link to see all of this weekend’s kit matchups:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/kit-matchups-what-your-club-is-wearing-for-mls-week-1-x9172

 

San Jose/RBNY and Atlanta/SKC are the only two games where neither team will be debuting a new kit. There are seven matchups with both sides debuting new kits. If these graphics are to be believed, last year’s keeper kits will be sticking around (at least to start the year). All of this year’s preseason games and photo shoots across the league (and CCL games, for that matter) have featured last year’s keeper kits, so it’s not exactly a surprise. Very likely a supply chain issue, and my guess is the league will have all of the teams use last year’s keeper kits until every team receives the new ones.

[Digby]

My assumption on the keeper kit situation is that it has more to do with the World Cup being a half-year later than usual, and Adidas wanting to hold on rolling out its next line in closer conjunction to that. Can’t spoil it a full MLS season before. 

[Est1980]

On 2/21/2022 at 2:22 PM, DrJack said:

I'm back once again... trying to get teams to stop doing stupid things with their crests.

You designed a badge, use it. 

 

Imagine if the Packers wrote "Green Bay Packers" around that G logo on their helmet.  This is the soccer equivalent and it's terrible.

 

100%. That change alone is a full point upgrade.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Can't find photos, but Seattle keeper Stefan Frei was wearing last year's keeper kit, so evidenced by him having last year's Emerald Queen Casino logo on his arm.

[upperV03]

15 hours ago, Digby said:

My assumption on the keeper kit situation is that it has more to do with the World Cup being a half-year later than usual, and Adidas wanting to hold on rolling out its next line in closer conjunction to that. Can’t spoil it a full MLS season before. 

Eloy Room just posted this picture this morning where he’s in the new blue keeper kit:

 

It’ll be interesting to see if Columbus (or any other team) uses the new keeper kits this weekend. I think this pretty much confirms that the new keeper kits will be used at some point this season, but my guess is that there’s been some some supply chain issues and teams are still waiting to receive them. If that’s the case, I bet the league will have all of the teams use last year’s keeper kits until the new ones are received by all of the clubs.

[Digby]

On 2022-02-24 at 1:50 PM, upperV03 said:

Here’s the link to see all of this weekend’s kit matchups:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/kit-matchups-what-your-club-is-wearing-for-mls-week-1-x9172

 

It is odd to me that we've got so many different names for different blues on these graphics (Zenith! Easy Blue!) but then Columbus and Nashville's different shades shirts are both simply "Yellow".

[upperV03]

First game of the season, between Philly and Minnesota, does indeed feature both teams using last year’s keeper kits. 
 

Also, interesting move by the Union going with light blue numbers on the shorts:

 

The names/numbers on the shirt are still gold. I guess I don’t mind the light blue shorts numbers, as it does add a nice pop of that light blue color below the waist, but I think I would’ve preferred gold to match what’s on the back of the shirt. My ideal way to add some light blue below the waist would be to have the socks have the same gold/light blue/gold stripe as the shirt around the calf. The Whitecaps have striped socks for their current primaries, but none of this year’s new kits have any stripes, hoops, etc. on the socks. It’s a shame, really, as there are several kits that could’ve benefited from some sort of socks design.

 

One more thing: The above picture gives a closer look at this year’s shorts, which are no longer the full “Authentic” quality that Adidas’ premier club & national teams receive. They’re essentially a hybrid between “Authentic” & “Replica” quality. The heat-transferred 3 stripes & rubberized logos are still what you’d find on the authentic versions for Adidas’ premier clubs & national teams, but the fabric and non-tapered cut are what you’d find on replica shorts for Adidas’ premier teams and on the shorts for Adidas’ smaller clubs & national teams. Not a huge deal, but interesting nonetheless. This actually brings the shorts more in line with what Adidas has done for MLS shirts the last few years, where everything is “Authentic” quality (heat-transferred 3 stripes & logos, tapered cut, etc.) except for the main shirt fabrics.

[upperV03]

Genuinely think Vancouver’s new secondary is the single best kit in the league:

[MJWalker45]

Columbus and Vancouver keepers are wearing last year's kit, which is strange since Room was in pregame media pics with this year's kit. 

[Crabcake]

On 2/22/2022 at 11:56 AM, MJWalker45 said:

The fact that it was original and unlike anything else out there was why I love it. It stood out and I liked that most about the Crew logo. Copperplate gets a bad wrap, it's not like it was Comic Sans and it looked better than some of the other fonts used in the initial rollout. 

This collection of logos feels like it belongs on an oversized, rubbery vinyl/plastic sign hanging up in a local indoor sports facility that smells not-so-vaguely like sweat and hasn’t updated its decor since the 90’s. 

[upperV03]

14 minutes ago, MJWalker45 said:

Columbus and Vancouver keepers are wearing last year's kit, which is strange since Room was in pregame media pics with this year's kit. 

As I’ve said before, I think for the sake of consistency the league will have all of the clubs use last year’s keeper kits until they all receive the new ones. Columbus and SKC were the only two clubs to use the new keeper kits in preseason photo shoots, which suggests to me that the other clubs don’t even have them yet. Personally, I’m glad it seems like the league is waiting on having certain teams use the new ones until ALL of the teams can use them.