Sporting KC unveils new primary jersey ahead of 2023 Major League Soccer season
“This is a tradition that started in 2014. The first basketball kit was the first place we saw our gold star for the 2013 championship,” said Chad Reynolds, Sporting KC Senior Director, Brand. “Nearly a decade later, the basketball kit has become an iconic part of our brand. When you see the Sporting Blue and Dark Indigo basketball shoes, you know it’s Sporting Kansas City. This is us.”
The alternating light and dark blue stripe basketball hoop design is an iconic look in sports worldwide and has become synonymous with Sporting Kansas City in American football over the past decade. The new Hoops 4.0 kit expands on a collection of popular basketball kits previously worn by the team with different variations presented in 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2021-22.
Sporting’s latest jersey continues the tradition of thin horizontal stripes in dark indigo – harking back to the memorable kits from 2016-17 – and the kit also includes dark indigo trims around the neck, sleeves and sides, around the clean ones and complete classic look. Sporting Blue shorts and socks complete the new core kit, which can also be worn interchangeably with Dark Indigo shorts or socks.
Authentic kits are also highlighted with special elements emblazoned on both the inside and outside of the neck. Above the player’s name and number is an interlocking Argyle SKC, continuing the custom of inserting Argyle accents into sporting kit designs. In addition, a neck tape emblazoned on the inside of the shirts features the club’s motto “Paint The Wall” and the year 2013 in honor of the 10th birthdayth Anniversary of Sporting’s MLS Cup triumph and tradition of painting the championship wall at Children’s Mercy Park.
As the exclusive kit supplier to Major League Soccer, adidas has provided the club’s uniforms since the inaugural 1996 season and the three adidas stripes run down the shoulders next to the adidas Performance logo on the chest. Compass Minerals debuted as Sporting KC’s official jersey front partner in 2022, and the company’s logo once again features prominently on the front of all Sporting KC jerseys as part of a long-term first-team partnership as the club’s official plant food and salt supplier.
Sporting Kansas City is the first and only club in Major League Soccer to unveil the team’s 2023 kit on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, a new subscription service from Apple and MLS that covers every game of the regular season, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and Leagues Cup with no blackouts. Notably, all MLS kits in 2023 will feature the new MLS/Apple badge on the left shirt sleeve to underline the 10-year partnership.
Sporting is also partnering with Children’s Mercy Kansas City for a KITS (Kindness In The Schools) initiative by delivering the team’s new basic jerseys to students from 30 local elementary and middle schools tomorrow in conjunction with National Random Acts of Kindness Day. As part of the RED CARD anti-bullying campaign, each school surprises three students with jerseys personalized on the back with “Kindness” above the number 23 on Friday.
Under the stewardship of manager Peter Vermes, Sporting will start the 2023 season away against the Portland Timbers with their earliest regular-season game in club history on Saturday 25 February. The season opener will be broadcast live for free at 9pm on the MLS Season Pass: 30pm CT and Sporting are hosting a Season Kickoff Watch Party at Chicken N Pickle at Overland Park.
The team’s highly anticipated home game schedule begins March 11 against the LA Galaxy at Children’s Mercy Park and season tickets are available by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting SportingKC.com. Other ticket packages and promotions as well as single tickets for the club’s first eight home games of the regular season are also available.