Sporting Kansas City unveiled the team’s new secondary jersey for the 2014 and 2015 seasons on Tuesday during Sporting Takeoff at the Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport as part of Major League Soccer’s annual Jersey Week.
The new uniform will be available to purchase online at shop.sportingkc.com beginning Wednesday, while supplies last, and at Sporting Style locations inside Sporting Park for Sporting Kansas City home matches.
“As with all our kits, the new secondary jersey reflects the essence of our brand,” said John Moncke, Sporting Kansas City’s Vice President of Merchandise. “The style is influenced by fashion trends and we feel strongly that it will look great both on and off the pitch. When you look at our three kits, they are all very different from each other but together they look like a collection."
The secondary kit showcases the team’s Sporting Blue and dark indigo colors through a horizontally striped pattern on the jersey front, as well as the socks, which is indicative of the stripes in the Sporting Kansas City logo. The uniform’s dark indigo base color keeps with the tradition of the team’s secondary kits each of the past three seasons.
At the heart of the uniform is the introduction of a three-dimensional lenticular Sporting KC shield with a checkered pattern visible in the background, as well as the neck tape, that pays tribute to the flags waved by supporters at Sporting Park. Additionally, imprinted inside the jersey on the reverse side of the crest is a “For the Glory of the City” badge inspired by the KC Cauldron’s banner display at the 2012 U.S. Open Cup final.
Two stars are vertically stacked above the shield to represent the team’s two MLS Cup championships (2000, 2013), highlighted by the gold star exclusive to Sporting Kansas City as a distinction of Major League Soccer’s reigning champion.
Ivy Funds, Sporting Kansas City's presenting jersey partner and official investment management partner, is prominently showcased with the asset management firm's logo centrally located in silver on the front of the new uniform. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., Ivy Funds entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Sporting KC in 2013 and is one of five First Team founding level partners.
Major League Soccer's exclusive supplier, adidas, has provided the club's uniforms since the inaugural season in 1996. The secondary kit is composed of the latest technology in fabric to create the lightest soccer jersey available and features mesh material along the top of the jersey back and upper sleeves.
Sporting Kansas City will debut the new secondary kits on March 22 against the San Jose Earthquakes at Sporting Park. Single-game tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com for Sporting Kansas City’s first nine home matches in 2014.
Tuesday''s launch event also featured the announcement of Matt Besler as Sporting Kansas City’s 2014 team captain. The Overland Park, Kan. native and U.S. Men’s National Team starter enters his sixth season with his hometown club as a two-time MLS Best XI selection and two-time MLS All-Star.
