[Editor’s Note: Before we proceed with today’s entry, I’m happy to announce that the winner of the Distant Replays $250 raffle is Robert DeCorte. Thanks to all who entered.
Now then: Today’s post is the latest contribution from Uni Watch intern Vince Grzegorek, who’s giving some well-deserved space to that really popular sport that I never write about. — PL]
I know you’re excited about soccer in 2007, especially with that Beckham guy heading to the Los Angeles Galaxy. So for all of the people (the five or six of you) who may take a first look at the MLS this season, and for some of the more casual futbol fans, I thought this was a good time to put on some shin guards and take a look at soccer uniforms, which don’t always get their fair shake here at Uni Watch. But there’s plenty to discuss, because there’s another foreign export besides Beckham heading for American soccer: uniform advertising.
Although jersey ad patches have crept into a few low-level sports (arena football, lacrosse, minor league hockey), major-level team uniforms in America have remained largely ad-free. That’s not the case in the rest of the world. Jersey advertising and sponsorship have been a part of soccer uniforms in Europe, Asia, and South America for some time, and jersey advertising also appears in NFL Europe and European hockey. But soccer is where jersey advertisements are most widely known.
The trend began across the pond in the late 1970s, when UK teams thought they could raise some extra revenue by selling jersey sponsorships. Liverpool was the first team to officially sign a deal, wearing Hitachi on their jerseys during the 1979 season. (Hibernian had worn uniforms featuring Bukta [a uni manufacturer] in 1977, but that situation falls into a slightly different category, since the company already had a relationship with the team, and Bukta didn’t pay the club to feature the logo.) Seems simple enough, but there were logistical hurdles. Until 1983, television broadcasts had a strict ban on filming games featuring logo-emblazoned uniforms, so for four years teams wearing sponsor logos were forced to use different uniforms for televised matches. Even as the rules relaxed and teams took advantage of the more receptive atmosphere, broadcasters initially refused to embrace the advertising revolution, mandating that sponsor logos worn during taped games could only be half the size of the versions worn during non-broadcast matches.
Nowadays, jersey sponsorship has evolved into a gigantic humongous gigundous business. Manchester United signed a deal last year with AIG that will net them a cool $106 million over four years, and Chelsea is proudly wearing Samsung across their chests for $18.7 million a year. While European clubs usually have only one sponsor logo on their jerseys (see additional examples here, here, here, here, and here), Mexican and South American teams generally go the more garish (and lucrative) route and pile on sponsors on top of sponsors.
And then there’s Barcelona, which has always refused to wear a sponsor logo — until this season, when Barca took a jersey sponsor for the first time in its 107 year-old history. The difference? The sponsor is UNICEF, and Barcelona is PAYING the charity almost $2 million dollars a year for the privilege of wearing the logo.
What does that all mean for the MLS? Well, upon its creation the MLS inked deals with sponsors and allowed their logos to be displayed on the backs of the jerseys and on shorts (for example, Budweiser, Sierra Mist, Honda, and RadioShack), while the jersey fronts remained free ad-free, and divided the proceeds amongst the clubs. Last year, however, the MLS changed its rules to allow the individual clubs to sell the space on the front of their uniforms (although Commissioner Don Garber took some of the fun out by not allowing ads for hard liquor, tobacco, or gambling).
Real Salt Lake was the first team to take advantage of the opportunity, signing a deal that will display the XanGo brand name on their uniforms. (Technically, Red Bull owns the New York team, so having their logo on the uniforms doesn’t count as a sponsorship deal.) Word is already out that the New England Revolution will take a sponsor this season too. And Chivas, owned by Mexican billionaire Jorge Vergara, will likely wear the Bimbo name, just like Chivas Guadalajara, a Vergara-owned team in Mexico. (Just to be clear, Bimbo is a company that makes bread, although I would vote for sponsorship from this Bimbo, this Bimbo, this Bimbo, or this Bimbo as well.) Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy will presumably be able to strike a mega-bucks deal, thanks to Beckham’s arrival.
So what of it? Does the MLS jersey sponsorship mean the Pandora’s Box of professional sports advertising in the US has been opened? Does anyone really care, since we’re just talking about the MLS here?
Personally, I’m conflicted. I think MLS teams that take on jersey sponsors may actually look more professional, because I associate top-level soccer with leagues in Europe or Mexico or wherever, and that’s the way it’s done. On the other hand, this isn’t something I’m fully prepared to accept. I realize the MLS doesn’t have the attendance, fans, or revenue that the NBA does, for example, and I know these teams could really use the extra cash, especially when competing for the attention span of a country that doesn’t really care about soccer, but I firmly believe that uniforms do in fact represent something meaningful, and that not everything should be for sale.
What do you think? How do you feel about the new changes for the MLS? How would you feel about a similar situation occurring in baseball, basketball, football, or hockey? Is it inevitable? Is there a way it can be done tastefully?
E-mail your comments to Uniwatchintern at gmail dot com, and I’ll print a sampling of responses in a future entry.
Tangential Bonus Material: Can’t get enough soccer uni info? Here are some additional resources:
• Two great sites detailing the history of European and International soccer kits (including this controversial design worn by Arsenal from 1991-1993, affectionately nicknamed the “bruised banana”) can be found here and here.
• MLS kits from the league’s inception until last year can be found here. New uniform designs will be used this year, which will be another change in addition to the jersey sponsorship. (Asked about wearing the old-style Galaxy uniforms with yellow and green, David Beckham gave this response.)
• Here is an amazing site that details some of the more interesting uses of cool fonts and numbers on soccer uniforms, including my favorite, which was used by Sevilla in the 2006 UEFA Cup Final (they used italics!). The site also shows how you can fashion a remarkably accurate version of the block-numbering used by the 2006 Dutch team using Dutch toilet paper. With the exception of the last item, the site’s attention to detail, accuracy, and history are definitely worthy of Uni Watch.
• Remember seeing this picture of David Beckham throughout the news after the official announcement that he was coming to play for the Galaxy? Notice the mixture of upper and lower case letters? Me too. Personally, I think it looks pretty slick. The font is called Peignot. Anyone know any other cases of teams using upper- and lowercase letters on jersey nameplates?
• Councilmen in New Castle County, Delaware are sending soccer balls to Iraq to try and bring the Iraqi people and American troops together with sport. Good idea in theory, but who really thought this ball design was a good idea?
• Finally, since I’m from Cleveland, I have to give proper recognition to one of my favorite soccer teams (and logos) ever, even though it’s a long-defunct indoor team: the Cleveland Force.
The Blue Jackets’ third-jersey logo — an Ohio flag swirled around a star — will replace the “CBJ” logo on the club’s home and away jerseys for the 2007-08 season, team president and general manager Doug MacLean said yesterday.
“We’ll unveil them at some point during the offseason,” MacLean said.
The NHL’s 30 teams will begin wearing a lighter, sleeker and more durable jersey next season, which prompted the Blue Jackets’ changes. The concept will be unveiled during All-Star activities in Dallas.
The Blue Jackets’ new look will include Civil War cap emblems on the shoulders. The lettering and number fonts are expected to remain the same. The shoulders will not be black, as they are on the current third jersey, nor will there be a lace-up under the neck.
Nice job Vince, but let us also not forget the Cleveland Crunch, the 1993-94 , 1995-96 and 1998-99 NPSL champions. The Crunch lasted from 1988 until 2002 when they were reborn as the “new” Force.
link
link
link
link
The Beckham jersey font it also known as Penwin, and is the font of choice of the link!
There’s a lot more sponsoring in the AFL than just the jerseys. I was fortunate (I think) to go to the Philadelphia Soul’s first game ever and just about every situation was sponsored by something. When a ball would go into the crowd, the announcer would shout “Borgata ball in the stands!” (obviously sponsored by the Borgata Casino), touchdowns were sponsored by the local water heater company, and I don’t remember, but I’ll bet that interceptions were sponsored by some anti-virus software company.
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”
[quote comment=”43266″]the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I went to the Flyers games a couple of months ago and thought that was odd, but the fans didn’t seem to mind…they actually enjoyed it! The girl next to me was screaming PECO Power Play along with the announcer.
You missed an MLS advertisement since day one. Adidas on DC United’s shirts. Three big link either link (also in link )or link on the chest.
Also, does anyone say “the MLB”? It’s just referred to as MLB, or Major League Baseball. Shouldn’t MLS (Major League Soccer) be referred to in the same manner?
GREAT ARTICLE!! ’bout time futbol got some love!…gotta love barcelona, the working man’s team whose STILL to good to take a big sponsor and ruin the integrity of their amazing jersey! advertising on soccer jerseys however has to be acceptable…think about it, its 45 minutes of commercial free sport! how tight would it be to watch the super bowl w/out stupid commercials?! just slap budweiser on manning and pepsi on urlacher and we have 15 minutes of football w/no “TV timeouts”!! wish something would have been written about International soccer unis though, no uniform in the world is better looking than Argentina’s home kit STRIPES and all!! check it out Paul, you’d dig it
I always thougth that Real Madrid’s nameplate font was Peignot.
link
Thanks for the great overview of soccer (futbol) uniforms trends and history. I have to say that I have always enjoyed the fact that the MLS did not feature a large sponsor on the front of their jerseys. I didn’t mind the sponsorship on the shorts or the back of the jersey.
This can be my biggest problem when watching the EPL, since the teams names are not found on the jersey, and teams can have strange alternate jersey colors, I have a hard time following the teams.
Finally a ‘soccer’ related post (and i used ‘soccer’ due to the nature of the site, my personal nature is to call it football since im english)
i hated those arsenal kits, i think liverpool wore one similar as their home kit (but red and white instead of yellow and blue obviously.) but being from Hull, this is what i think of when i think of Ugly as hell kits
link
Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.
[quote comment=”43267″][quote comment=”43266″]the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I went to the Flyers games a couple of months ago and thought that was odd, but the fans didn’t seem to mind…they actually enjoyed it! The girl next to me was screaming PECO Power Play along with the announcer.[/quote]
PECO has been sponsoring the Flyers PP’s for quite some time, at first I thought it was annoying, but Lou Nolan has turned it into something fun for the fans to scream along with.
At least that’s one fun thing about the Flyers this season…
FROM YESTERDAY:
wow! forget the yellow (although i’d love to have a pair of the authentic yellow game shorts) check out brooks air money’s!!! those are from 95!
Oh man, I had a pair of those in middle school…I loved them! That’s pretty awesome he got his hands on some more
[quote comment=”43266″]There’s a lot more sponsoring in the AFL than just the jerseys. I was fortunate (I think) to go to the Philadelphia Soul’s first game ever and just about every situation was sponsored by something. When a ball would go into the crowd, the announcer would shout “Borgata ball in the stands!” (obviously sponsored by the Borgata Casino), touchdowns were sponsored by the local water heater company, and I don’t remember, but I’ll bet that interceptions were sponsored by some anti-virus software company.
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I, too was at a Soul game in their first year. I had to adjust every time the PA guy (Matt Cord, at the time) would announce “And that completion is good for another UPN Philly 57 Soul First Down!!!”
oh, the good ol’ cleveland force. i believe they outdrew the Cavs for a few years at the old coliseum, but dont quote me on that. had darth vader as a mascot, until lucas caught wind of it, and then they had something that looked like an “if they mated” between darth vader and c3po.
they went to the championship one year, folded the next, came back as the “crunch” two years later.
had the good fortune of going to many force games back in the day (i’d have to ask my dad, but i think he got us season tix), and somewhere buried away at the ‘rents house i have sets of MISL trading cards. also still hanging in my parents basement is my big blown up signed picture with dennis mepham.
this is more the force uniform i remember (and had, as a kid), and i think the “new” force has/had a version of it too.
link
[quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
In regards to the picture shown in the above quote:
When MLS (or the MLS, whatever) put together squads to play teams from other leagues, they did use sponsors on the jerseys in those games. For example, I think Pepsi was the sponsor for one of the matches.
Also looks as if a couple link above the names in the back of the jerseys
Patrick said:
Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide numbering in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.
Most jerseys are like that, I have a bunch of Arsenal jersys and they are all actually iron-on.
PS: today’s post was from intern Vince Grzegorek
[quote comment=”43275″][quote comment=”43266″]There’s a lot more sponsoring in the AFL than just the jerseys. I was fortunate (I think) to go to the Philadelphia Soul’s first game ever and just about every situation was sponsored by something. When a ball would go into the crowd, the announcer would shout “Borgata ball in the stands!” (obviously sponsored by the Borgata Casino), touchdowns were sponsored by the local water heater company, and I don’t remember, but I’ll bet that interceptions were sponsored by some anti-virus software company.
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I, too was at a Soul game in their first year. I had to adjust every time the PA guy (Matt Cord, at the time) would announce “And that completion is good for another UPN Philly 57 Soul First Down!!!”[/quote]
Can anyone else attest to this at other Arena League games? I’d be interested to know if it’s a wide-spread occurrance or just over-zealousness on the part of Bon Jovi.
Nice suggestions for other bimbos, but let me add link ;)
link
From the article,
“Matt O’Toole, chief executive officer of Reebok-CCM Hockey, says the revamped uniforms give players unprecedented performance and protection. ‘They’ll go from driving a Ford to a Ferrari. They’ll still be in a car — but a car that’s more sculpted and sleek,’ he says.”
In general, I do like the simplicity of soccer uniforms, especially those worn during the World Cup. Back in September when we discussed the new kits for Tottenham Hotspur I almost bought one, but I don’t like the idea of wearing an advertisement so blatantly as a fan. That’s my thought for most soccer unis too.
[quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
All kits all over the world have “iron on” numbers and sponsors. It isn’t just unique to MLS.
As for Beckham, yellow and green….link.
Paul thanks for giving MLS and other footy some love today. Great article.
[quote comment=”43283″]Nice suggestions for other bimbos, but let me add link ;)[/quote]
haha, after each sequential click, I was waiting for something like that.
The best thing you can say about the 1996 MLS kits is that there will NEVER be any demand for throwbacks.
So much awfulness……
[quote comment=”43286″]In general, I do like the simplicity of soccer uniforms, especially those worn during the World Cup. Back in September when we discussed the new kits for Tottenham Hotspur I almost bought one, but I don’t like the idea of wearing an advertisement so blatantly as a fan. That’s my thought for most soccer unis too.[/quote]
the thing is, im 22 and i find it strange when a football team doesn’t have a chest sponsor (except for FC Barcelona of course) as thats what i have grown up with. The removal of chest sponsors for occasional matches does happen, usually in the Champions league as some countries (i think france but im not sure) don’t allow alcohol sponsership so teams like liverpool and everton for example take theirs off
another interesting tid bit I picked up on while watching the EPL and other leagues…
I love how their is a primary kit, a secondary and sometimes a third kit. There isn’t just your home and away uniforms.
If the team is on the road and their primary kit doesn’t have the same colors as the team they’re playing, they can still wear their primary uni.
Also, Arsenal (go gunners) has linkas their sponsor. During Champions League play last year they traveled to Hamburg. Hamburg also has linkas their sponsor. When to two played, Arsenal came out with a differnt link.
Fantastic post, intern. You’re on a hot streak. Soccer jerseys/football shirts are the uniforms that I care about most. I’ve been collecting them for about 13 years, and I have over 90. I buy them (almost) strictly based on their design, and not depending on the player that wore them, etc. I have always felt like there are more opportunities for varied designs in football shirts.
Here’s some food for thought: Would basketball fans allow sponsorship on jerseys if the league did away with tv timeouts? Would baseball fans allow it if there were shorter breaks between innings? I really feel like this is the issue with sponsorship on soccer jerseys. We (soccer fans) have the luxury of not sitting through commercial breaks. I will gladly accept that over having to suffer through commercial breaks to interrupt the run of play. Is there such a thing as class? You bet. I think the English teams, by and large, keep the sponsorships pretty classy. Almost everywhere else, though, the lax sponsorship regulations make for some link link shirts.
The way I see it, there are two traditions in football shirts: 1.) Simplicity of having only the club badge and the manufacturer logo 2.) Having a simple sponsor. What is not traditional is to have a large name plastered across the front. It was for this reason that I’ve always thought MLS jerseys were a little silly (with the exception of Chivas). I’d rather have blank fronts on MLS jerseys above anything else, but I’d rather have a sponsor on the front than the team name.
[quote comment=”43266″]There’s a lot more sponsoring in the AFL than just the jerseys. I was fortunate (I think) to go to the Philadelphia Soul’s first game ever and just about every situation was sponsored by something. When a ball would go into the crowd, the announcer would shout “Borgata ball in the stands!” (obviously sponsored by the Borgata Casino), touchdowns were sponsored by the local water heater company, and I don’t remember, but I’ll bet that interceptions were sponsored by some anti-virus software company.
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
That’s exactly what it’s like in Austin too. I went to my first Wrangler game last year, and I heard a lot of “There’s another South Point First Down!” and “We have another Gables game ball!” The game was actually announced by a radio DJ. It was ridiculous.
[quote comment=”43293″]another interesting tid bit I picked up on while watching the EPL and other leagues…
I love how their is a primary kit, a secondary and sometimes a third kit. There isn’t just your home and away uniforms.
If the team is on the road and their primary kit doesn’t have the same colors as the team they’re playing, they can still wear their primary uni.
[/quote]
That is something I wish we could see here. We’ve all got color tv’s now. Why can’t the Flyers (in black) play the RedWings (in Red), or the Eagles (in Green) play the Chiefs (in Red)?
[quote comment=”43294″]
Here’s some food for thought: Would basketball fans allow sponsorship on jerseys if the league did away with tv timeouts? Would baseball fans allow it if there were shorter breaks between innings? I really feel like this is the issue with sponsorship on soccer jerseys. We (soccer fans) have the luxury of not sitting through commercial breaks. I will gladly accept that over having to suffer through commercial breaks to interrupt the run of play.
[/quote]
Amen, Amen and Amen! I went to one MLS match 2 years ago and was hooked. Now I have MLS in the summer and EPL in the winter. Soccer is year round!
Great post, Vinnie. Like your mentor, you got an eye for this stuff. :o)
My addition, however, does not refer to futbol whatsoever. I was going through the old hockey archives last night, looking for jersey ideas for a team, when I discovered a monumental discovery.
The link are not the first pro hockey team to wear numbers on their shoulder. The WHA’s link wore numbers on their left shoulders in the 1972-73 season until their demise after 1974-75 season.
What brought me to this discovery? I was researching teams that wore a letter other than “A” or “C” on their uniform as a designation of some sort of official spokesperson. One of the guys who asked me to look into jerseys had thought that there was a WHA team that wore the letter “K” for Captain, almost similar to what link.
in regards to the baseball advertisements, I’m not quite sure anyone would like it. Let’s not forget the attempt to put advertisements for the Spiderman 2 movie on the bases. People were up in arms for weeks about that.
[quote comment=”43303″]One of the guys who asked me to look into jerseys, and he had thought that there was a WHA team that wore the letter “K” for Captain, almost similar to what link.[/quote]
Missing words added above. Coffee being obtained as you read this.
[quote comment=”43270″]I always thougth that Real Madrid’s nameplate font was Peignot.
link
Correct. It’s Peignot (pronounced “pain, yo!”). If the font has a mixture of abbreviations and numbers like this: Exotc350 DmBd BT Demi-Bold, then it’s a knockoff.
A very ugly 70-ish font, it reminds me of the Mary Tyler Moore show.
I haven;t seen enough pictures of other leagues, but I know for the most part the font for Premiership teams is Optima, the MLS is a modified form of Frutiger, and England’s national team uses a custom font called “TheFA”, which is very classy looking.
Wow, the orange ball in that last picture reminds me of being little and watching the link….
On the subject of soccer fonts, here is a good resource:
link
[quote comment=”43282″]
Can anyone else attest to this at other Arena League games? I’d be interested to know if it’s a wide-spread occurrance or just over-zealousness on the part of Bon Jovi.[/quote]
I remember attending Arizona Rattlers games 10 years ago and hearing “Arizona Rattlers football is brought to you by the great taste of (sounds effects of bottle opening, liquid pouring and “aahhhhhh”) Budweiser.”
But the best PA announcement was the following:
“Remember fans, if the ball enters the stands during the game, it’s yours to keep! If a player enters the stands… please return him.”
[quote comment=”43296″]
That’s exactly what it’s like in Austin too. I went to my first Wrangler game last year, and I heard a lot of “There’s another South Point First Down!” and “We have another Gables game ball!” The game was actually announced by a radio DJ. It was ridiculous.[/quote]
Yeah, the Wranglers have this link announcing and he’s probably about as annoying as someone wearing a new Vikings jersey scratching their fingernails on a chalkboard.
But hey, at least you can get link. He never played, but he’s a part owner.
[quote comment=”43266″]
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
The Caps also have the local power company sponsoring the power play. Ours is PEPCO (Potomac Electric Power COmpany).
[quote comment=”43293″]another interesting tid bit I picked up on while watching the EPL and other leagues…
I love how their is a primary kit, a secondary and sometimes a third kit. There isn’t just your home and away uniforms.
If the team is on the road and their primary kit doesn’t have the same colors as the team they’re playing, they can still wear their primary uni.
Also, Arsenal (go gunners) has linkas their sponsor. During Champions League play last year they traveled to Hamburg. Hamburg also has linkas their sponsor. When to two played, Arsenal came out with a differnt link.[/quote]
Same sponsor, The Government of Dubai owns the company that owns the airline. UEFA regulations forbid two teams wearing the same sponsor logo on the kits at the same time. Paris St Germain is also sponsored by Emiriates
lame attempt at bringing back the Philadelphia link
Interesting how the numbering system on the football jerseys include the team logo at the link of link link
I wonder how long before the numerals become sponsored?
Great post! First time a lead item is entirely dedicated to the beautiful game. The good thing about soccer is that teams at club level have sponsors on their uniforms, but national teams are not allowed to do so. At the highest level, sponsors are not allowed on the kit.
Their is also a correlation between money and sponsorship. If the team has little money, it will sell ads like a race car. That’s why teams in South America and Mexico have a ton of ads. The same happens in the lower leagues in Europe.
Great article, Vince! But one quick question….
Where do I get the Jolly Roger soccer ball? Of all the cool info and pictures, that’s the coolest thing on the page!!
Correct. It’s Peignot (pronounced “pain, yo!”). If the font has a mixture of abbreviations and numbers like this: Exotc350 DmBd BT Demi-Bold, then it’s a knockoff.
A very ugly 70-ish font, it reminds me of the Mary Tyler Moore show.
Thanks for clearing that up. That makes perfect sense now that I think about it.
I haven;t seen enough pictures of other leagues, but I know for the most part the font for Premiership teams is Optima, the MLS is a modified form of Frutiger, and England’s national team uses a custom font called “TheFA”, which is very classy looking.[/quote]
[quote comment=”43317″]Interesting how the numbering system on the football jerseys include the team logo at the link of link link
I wonder how long before the numerals become sponsored?[/quote]
I think La Liga teams have their team crests in their number, but MLS and Premiership teams have the league logo in their numbers. I could be wrong.
[quote comment=”43317″]Interesting how the numbering system on the football jerseys include the team logo at the link of link link
I wonder how long before the numerals become sponsored?[/quote]
In MLS’s case it’s a league logo in the digit.
The English first division, or whatever is just below the EPL is the Coca-Cola Championship, and the numbers are labeled as such.
Galaxy will likely change colors to Dark Blue or Black according to Grant Wahl of SI.com
link
The Galaxy will also change their logo.
Also LA has 2 to 3 finalists for sponsorship.
According to link (Registration required, I used Bug Me Not), a magazine that tracks Advertising and Marketing in Business, the front runner for sponsorship is Adidas who already make all the uniforms for MLS.
[quote comment=”43298″]We’ve all got color tv’s now. Why can’t the Flyers (in black) play the RedWings (in Red), or the Eagles (in Green) play the Chiefs (in Red)?[/quote]
Wow, I’d pretty much be unable to watch a team in red playing a team in green, since I’m red/green colorblind. The rule most leagues have that one team wear white is much appreciated by me.
When it comes to trading uni advertising for tv timeouts in American sports, two thoughts:
1)I wouldn’t mind that too much;
2)I don’t see that happening. Tv would have to get something special to give up their timeouts. It would be a pretty major change to the structure of televised sports.
Haven’t tv timeouts gotten more invasive? I mean, if you go to a college football game … ugh.
[quote comment=”43326″]Wow, I’d pretty much be unable to watch a team in red playing a team in green, since I’m red/green colorblind. The rule most leagues have that one team wear white is much appreciated by me.[/quote]
I hope for your sake the Devils never have a linknight
Frank Fitzpatrick, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Can someone explain to me how Bill Belichick’s game-day outfit gets past the Nazis in the NFL Uniform Police? In that raggedy old cutoff sweatshirt he wears each Sunday, the New England coach always looks like he’s about to hoist a 50-gallon can into a Dumpster. A league so concerned about stray wristbands and the length of players’ socks that it stations enforcement personnel on every sideline ought to be embarrassed to have one of its marquee coaches dressing like Mark Cuban. Since it’s estimated that Belichick earns more than $5 million a season, there’s no reason for him to be shopping at Goodwill.â€Â
[quote comment=”43325″]
Also LA has 2 to 3 finalists for sponsorship.
According to link (Registration required, I used Bug Me Not), a magazine that tracks Advertising and Marketing in Business, the front runner for sponsorship is Adidas who already make all the uniforms for MLS.[/quote]
hmmm… maybe my linkisn’t too far off.
Actually, link, which looked like link.
Derby County’s shirt looked link, however it was never worn in game it seems, link has a complete history of Derby’s kits.
I love soccer but hate the advertising on the jerseys. If the lack of TV commercial revenue is a problem, why not do what they started (?) in the 1994 World Cup and put small ads near the clock or score so that fans would see “commercials” when they looked at that part of the screen, yet they wouldn’t miss a minute of the game.
If there has to be advertising on soccer uniforms, I like the idea of it being on the shorts only. Fans don’t often buy shorts, so we supporters would still be able to walk the streets in our favorite teams’ jerseys without looking like living billboards. (Unless the advertisers plan to give away replica jerseys for free…)
Another issue is the relationship between the sponsor and the team or city. My favorite J-League team, link, has Kyocera as a sponsor, andthey’re one of the city’s most famous companies (Kyoto Ceramics). It would be different if the sponsor were some faceless corporate giant like Sony.
Another good thing in the J-League is the existence of sponsor-logo-free jerseys for fans to wear. Assuming Paul and his adherents can get past the choice of color, link
I think that uniform advertisements wouldn’t affect television commercials for most (American) leagues because commercial revenue goes to the networks and uniform advert revenue goes to the teams or leagues. The networks have already paid the leagues for the rights to broadcast those games, so unless they got a cut of the uniform pie (which I doubt) they would just say screw off – we’re running our commericals.
Anyone want to see how far the MLS has come in jersey design?
Then take a look at link
Wow. I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit.
[quote comment=”43336″]If there has to be advertising on soccer uniforms, I like the idea of it being on the shorts only. Fans don’t often buy shorts, so we supporters would still be able to walk the streets in our favorite teams’ jerseys without looking like living billboards. (Unless the advertisers plan to give away replica jerseys for free…)
[/quote]
Well, sponsors don’t pay for shirt sponsorship strictly because it shows up well on tv. They also buy shirt sponsorship because it ends up on every single replica shirt, which is then worn on the chest of literally millions of people worldwide.
Sponsors on American Soccer Uniforms go back before MLS.
There was a team in the old American Soccer League called the Pennsylvania Stoners that Alpo as their sponsor.
link
link
link
link
[quote comment=”43287″][quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
All kits all over the world have “iron on” numbers and sponsors. It isn’t just unique to MLS.
As for Beckham, yellow and green….link.
Paul thanks for giving MLS and other footy some love today. Great article.[/quote]
I think what I ment to say was that it looked like cheap lettering compared to, say, the link I wasn’t talking about the actual material. They need a new, distinctive font. The MLS ones are too plain, like they got them done by the local t-shirt shop.
Paul – appreciate the love and the link, but a few things:
1 – Liverpool may have been the first top-flight team to ink a shirt sponsorship deal, but they weren’t the first UK team to do so. That was Kettering Town, a semi-pro outfit.
2 – Even when showing us some love, you have to be snarky (“So for all of the people (the five or six of you) who may take a first look at the MLS this season…”). Why does everyone have to make reference to this idea that no one in this country likes soccer? I was one of literally thousands of Americans who spent their own dough to go to the World Cup in Germany. Millions of Americans watched the World Cup final. MLS doesn’t draw NFL or even MLB-type numbers, but it’s average attendance is comparable to the NHL and no one says “Who follows hockey? Five or six people?”
3 – It’s not “the MLS.” It’s just “MLS.” Saying “the MLS” is like saying “the Major League Soccer” and you wouldn’t say that, would you? You say “the National Football League.” You don’t say “the Major League Baseball,” do you?
Still love the site and appreciate the soccer mentions. Just sayin’.
[quote comment=”43336″]I love soccer but hate the advertising on the jerseys. If the lack of TV commercial revenue is a problem, why not do what they started (?) in the 1994 World Cup and put small ads near the clock or score so that fans would see “commercials” when they looked at that part of the screen, yet they wouldn’t miss a minute of the game.[/quote]
They do that already. If you love soccer, you should know that.
My favorite video game series of all time is Winning Eleven. It’s a soccer game, and the best part is that you can link all the unis down to the smallest detail. Any color, any style. AWESOME. (Would love to see it for Madden or NCAA Football.)
[quote comment=”43250″]The Blue Jackets’ third-jersey logo — an Ohio flag swirled around a star — will replace the “CBJ” logo on the club’s home and away jerseys for the 2007-08 season, team president and general manager Doug MacLean said yesterday.
“We’ll unveil them at some point during the offseason,” MacLean said.
The NHL’s 30 teams will begin wearing a lighter, sleeker and more durable jersey next season, which prompted the Blue Jackets’ changes. The concept will be unveiled during All-Star activities in Dallas.
The Blue Jackets’ new look will include Civil War cap emblems on the shoulders. The lettering and number fonts are expected to remain the same. The shoulders will not be black, as they are on the current third jersey, nor will there be a lace-up under the neck.[/quote]
AWESOME
Their third is head and shoulders above their usual two sweaters. I wish they were keeping the lace-up, but I’m glad they’re doing away with the dark blue/black combo. It just looked awkward. Now if only the Canucks will follow suit…
I think what I ment to say was that it looked like cheap lettering compared to, say, the EPL. I wasn’t talking about the actual material. They need a new, distinctive font. The MLS ones are too plain, like they got them done by the local t-shirt shop.
I believe MLS uses the same font as Ligue 1 (France). The French teams, however, have team-specific colors.
Soccer…
zzz…
wake me up when the uniwatch returns to sports that I actually care about.
[quote comment=”43344″][quote comment=”43287″][quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
All kits all over the world have “iron on” numbers and sponsors. It isn’t just unique to MLS.
As for Beckham, yellow and green….link.
Paul thanks for giving MLS and other footy some love today. Great article.[/quote]
I think what I ment to say was that it looked like cheap lettering compared to, say, the link I wasn’t talking about the actual material. They need a new, distinctive font. The MLS ones are too plain, like they got them done by the local t-shirt shop.[/quote]
link, it’s the same link
[quote comment=”43350″]
I believe MLS uses the same font as Ligue 1 (France). The French teams, however, have team-specific colors.[/quote]
I think it’s also very similar to the SPL numbers. (Scottish Premier League, for those unaware).
[quote comment=”43347″]
They do that already. If you love soccer, you should know that.[/quote]
They don’t do it so much on the English Premierl League telecasts that I’ve seen. That might be what he was referencing.
[quote comment=”43351″]Soccer…
zzz…
wake me up when the uniwatch returns to sports that I actually care about.[/quote]
Cool! Have a good weekend!
The kits last year started using this “felt” fabric “iron ons” for the link.
[quote comment=”43354″]
They do that already. If you love soccer, you should know that.[/quote]
They don’t do it so much on the English Premierl League telecasts that I’ve seen. That might be what he was referencing.
![/quote]
You’re right, they don’t have any ads on the actual EPL telecastals. You get the sponsor on the kit and with the big clubs, the flashy ads from the pitch barrier.
[quote comment=”43357″][quote comment=”43351″]Soccer…
zzz…
wake me up when the uniwatch returns to sports that I actually care about.[/quote]
Yawn.
You’re probably thrilled to read about striped socks and curved nameplates as long as it’s about the NFL, aren’t you?
Jackass.[/quote]
hey – no personal attacks. if they don’t wanna discuss futbol (or soccer), then let them sit this one out. let’s not get personal here.
[quote comment=”43357″][quote comment=”43351″]Soccer…
zzz…
wake me up when the uniwatch returns to sports that I actually care about.[/quote]
Yawn.
You’re probably thrilled to read about striped socks and curved nameplates as long as it’s about the NFL, aren’t you?
Jackass.[/quote]
Leave him be. He just likes konwing that there are sports he likes. You know, the sports we’re good at like… basketball (how are we finishing in the world championships and the olympics again?)
Or true World Champions like the Patriots. World Champions of America maybe since we are really the only country playing it (minus the cool English American football league).
Or the action packed sport called baseball where usually 16 athletes wait to see what happens between pitcher and batter. Also the Baseball “World” Series, how did USA do there again?
I was once a soccer hater before I went to one game. Now I watch it more than any other sport because it’s year round.
or the comment will get scratched.
[quote comment=”43361″]or the comment will get scratched.[/quote]
Exactly.
Complaining about the content on the site is fine; interpreting such complaints as an attack, and responding with an attack on the complainer, is not.
Meanwhile: What’s with all the comments directed toward me? Isn’t anyone reading the editor’s note at the top of the entry? Today is Vince’s day!
Another great site for histories of English teams’ shirts is link
It wasn’t as much a complaint about content as it was an attack on soccer. So that’s okay, apparently.
Okay, Vince – thanks for the love, but…. ;)
So I get home last night and check out what my wife had ordered for me. link
I can’t wait for baseball season so I can wear it to games. I seriously outkicked my coverage when I married her.
Logo creep and ad creep…Yes, it’s a business, but where does it stop? I know this topic has been discussed here before. And the “virtual” ads on telecasts are driving me crazy! Might as well run constant banner ads on one side of my widescreen and be done with it!!!
Ok, rant over…
[quote comment=”43362″]
Meanwhile: What’s with all the comments directed toward me? Isn’t anyone reading the editor’s note at the top of the entry? Today is Vince’s day![/quote]
I know you’re not here, Paul, but will you be having the ESPN article for Monday re: the new NHL jerseys covered in pictures? Please say “yes”. Please?
[quote comment=”43367″]Logo creep and ad creep…Yes, it’s a business, but where does it stop? I know this topic has been discussed here before. And the “virtual” ads on telecasts are driving me crazy! Might as well run constant banner ads on one side of my widescreen and be done with it!!!
Ok, rant over…[/quote]
It ends when it finally starts to affect viewership, and by association, dollars in. As long as fans put up with it, advertisers and corporations will continue to push the envelope of what they can use as a source of income. If shirt sponsorship alienated fans to a degree that they no longer bought the shirt, no teams would have shirt sponsors.
Look, I hate to be the “babysitter” but if soccer isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t comment on it – as previous threads can tell you, soccer is actually pretty popular on here. I love the game – just never played it and never really thought about the unis or “kits” to not offend the soccer lovers.
Keep the derogatory stuff to yourself – and referring to the “sleeper” as a jackass only adds to the hostility. I’m actually looking forward to MLS this year for the first time ever becuase of all the discussion about it on here.
Stepping off the soapbox now….
I always thought the MISL had the coolest logos…..
link
link for example…
[quote comment=”43370″]Look, I hate to be the “babysitter” but if soccer isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t comment on it – as previous threads can tell you, soccer is actually pretty popular on here. I love the game – just never played it and never really thought about the unis or “kits” to not offend the soccer lovers.
Keep the derogatory stuff to yourself – and referring to the “sleeper” as a jackass only adds to the hostility. I’m actually looking forward to MLS this year for the first time ever becuase of all the discussion about it on here.
Stepping off the soapbox now….[/quote]
Others must have been thinking the same thing…
“Outkicked my coverage?” That’s an AWESOME analogy – although if I ever said that to my wife, she wouldn’t get it – she hates football. By the way – SWEET shirt – you need to get a Joe Morgan personalization on that!
Teebz, you and I will have to sit here with our virtual beers awaiting 2PM on Monday.
[quote comment=”43372″]
Teebz, you and I will have to sit here with our virtual beers awaiting 2PM on Monday.[/quote]
I may call in sick on Monday just to deal with the article. And possibly call in sick through to the beginning of March if they are as bad as once can imagine. :o)
[quote comment=”43373″]once[/quote]
I hate mistakes. That should read “one”.
Don’t all the MLS jerseys have adidas stripes on the sleeves, not just DC United? I don’t know anything about soccer, but that’s what they look like on the kenn.com site for the 2006 kits.
I always thougt that “Beckham font” was called “Mary Tyler Moore”…
2 1/2 days to Armageddon- er sorry, new NHL uniform debuts!
link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…
[quote comment=”43352″][quote comment=”43344″][quote comment=”43287″][quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
All kits all over the world have “iron on” numbers and sponsors. It isn’t just unique to MLS.
As for Beckham, yellow and green….link.
Paul thanks for giving MLS and other footy some love today. Great article.[/quote]
I think what I ment to say was that it looked like cheap lettering compared to, say, the link I wasn’t talking about the actual material. They need a new, distinctive font. The MLS ones are too plain, like they got them done by the local t-shirt shop.[/quote]
link, it’s the same link[/quote]
The FONT looks cheap. As in the style, not the material. (And the numbers are too small.) Read, interpret, then post.
I don’t really have anything constructive to add that hasn’t already been covered, I just want to show my support for some futbol talk on the site! Soccer is my favorite sport, but it is just so much easier to follow the NFL or MLB. Don’t get me wrong, I love American football, but all things being equal I would pick soccer over any other sport any day of the week. I just look forward to the day when soccer talk is not odd, but it is as commonplace as other sports discussions.
[quote comment=”43376″]Don’t all the MLS jerseys have adidas stripes on the sleeves, not just DC United? I don’t know anything about soccer, but that’s what they look like on the kenn.com site for the 2006 kits.[/quote]
They do all have the three adidas stripes on the sleevs (though last year was the first year that all the teams did). What he’s referring to in the DC united kits is the fact that DC’s design, since the team’s inception, as included three stripes across the front of the jersey as well. Sometimes, these stripes have even been massive. It’s gotten to the point that these three stripes have become synonymous with the DC logo, which brings up some interesting branding issues: If and when DC doesn’t wear Adidas, will they still be able to wear three white stripes across the front of the shirt? Can Adidas really trademark something as simple as a series of horizontal lines?
Does anyone know if MLS is planning any league-wide tributes to Lamar Hunt this season? Maybe a jersey patch or something? You know, since the league would not even exist if it were not for him continuously pouring money into it.
[quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”
Some caller on Rush Limbaugh is discussing black alternate uniforms as a result of gangs and etc. and how it relates to the Chargers-Pats incident last week. (we’re still talking about that?!) For once, Rush isn’t buying the black alt-causes-brawls-argument. But it’s still interesting.
The Nuggets were wearing their darker alts for the ‘Melo brawl, right?
[quote comment=”43345″]MLS doesn’t draw NFL or even MLB-type numbers, but it’s average attendance is comparable to the NHL and no one says “Who follows hockey? Five or six people?”[/quote]
Well, really, there are plenty of jokes made about hockey’s audience. Not so much here for some reason, but still, it’s far from immune to those jokes.
[quote comment=”43370″]Look, I hate to be the “babysitter” but if soccer isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t comment on it – as previous threads can tell you, soccer is actually pretty popular on here. I love the game – just never played it and never really thought about the unis or “kits” to not offend the soccer lovers.
Keep the derogatory stuff to yourself – and referring to the “sleeper” as a jackass only adds to the hostility. I’m actually looking forward to MLS this year for the first time ever becuase of all the discussion about it on here.
Stepping off the soapbox now….[/quote]
Yeah, that, Babysitting Banker Bill.
I most likely would not watch sports as much if the majors starting putting sponsors on the jerseys. I wouldn’t mind if the televised games ran commercials at the top like futbol does as that’s relatively unobtrusive, but no way I want to be staring at a big-assed ‘Qwest’ on the Wild! jerseys anytime soon.
I would, however, make an exception for a nonprofit charity being paid to put its logo or name on a jersey like Barcelona did with UNICEF.
[quote comment=”43389″][quote comment=”43345″]MLS doesn’t draw NFL or even MLB-type numbers, but it’s average attendance is comparable to the NHL and no one says “Who follows hockey? Five or six people?”[/quote]
Well, really, there are plenty of jokes made about hockey’s audience. Not so much here for some reason, but still, it’s far from immune to those jokes.[/quote]
There have been those jokes here as well, plus the smart-aleck ‘Is hockey a major sport any more?’ comments. There have been people dissing the NBA, the NFL, and most likely (can’t remember) the MLB.
Hey, Vince. I, too, want to know about the black soccer ball at the top of the page—where can I get one?
As for the black alternates inciting ugly incidents, there is the hypothesis that black increases aggression just as blue calms it. I don’t think it would be fair to say, however, that there wouldn’t be any fights if there were no black uniforms.
[quote comment=”43355″]The kits last year started using this “felt” fabric “iron ons” for the link.[/quote]
yeah, and its turned the jerseys into cheap pieces of crap. As a Fire fan, I can say that the adidas jersey was almost universally attacked for the cheap felt, the smaller badge, and smaller font on the kits. It was a huge step back from the previous Puma (large patch) and Nike (embroidered) kit badges.
I have no problem with the font the MLS uses on the numbers, though it would be nice if they went EPL style and used felt…
Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….
Just down the road from Cleveland, I remember the good old days of the Canton Invaders of the AISA (forerunner of the MISL). Check out the link. It looks like a guitar gun.
As a kid it was awesome. The uniforms had a lot of silver and orange and they introduced the team coming out of a huge spaceship/soccer ball. In retrospect, the unis were hideous:
uni 1
link
[quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
I would have to put the Colts and the Bears tied for first with the Saints just slightly behind (I’m neutral on the fleur de lis), and the Pats wouldn’t even make my list with their blah unis and, of course, the Flying Elvii. Hey, what a coincidence—I am rooting for the Colts and the Bears to make the Super Bowl.
P.S. I am glad to see that not all men fall under Brady’s weird spell. What is that about?
Stop calling the Premiership “EPL”! It’s Premier League or Premiership…
[quote comment=”43298″]
That is something I wish we could see here. We’ve all got color tv’s now. Why can’t the Flyers (in black) play the RedWings (in Red), or the Eagles (in Green) play the Chiefs (in Red)?[/quote]
It happens in America from time to time. When UCLA and Ohio State met in the Rose Bowl one year, each wore the color uniform. This may have happened more than once, if I’m not mistaken. Also, there was a college basketball game earlier this year, in which Kansas wore red alternates, and the other team wore blue.
Then there are the goofy teams like the Lakers that use yellow as a home, versus other team’s road colors, and earlier this season Paul noted that the Jazz wore their baby blues versus another team’s road colors.
Easy call on the uni’s. Bears and Colts this weekend. For the Super Bowl winner you just can’t beat this link.
I had no idea about the Barca/Unicef collaboration. That is fantastic. More pro teams should be giving back instead of taking.
In refernce to Soccer jerseys and sponsorships, I think of it like this. The sponsor on the jersey is more than a sponsor, their logo or name actually BECOMES part of the jersey. When Manchester United was sponsored by Vodafone, the jersey was recognizable BECAUSE of the Vodafone scrawled on the front. Its not as if I were buying a Yankees or Knicks Jersey with “cablevision” plastered on the front. In fact, I would never buy a european soccer jersey WITHOUT the sponsors.
Oh, and one more thing, to my knowledge no high club in europe plays their homegames at “tropicana field” or “barclay arena”. Give me the jersey sponsors over stadium sponsors any time. Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?!
[quote comment=”43397″][quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
I would have to put the Colts and the Bears tied for first with the Saints just slightly behind (I’m neutral on the fleur de lis), and the Pats wouldn’t even make my list with their blah unis and, of course, the Flying Elvii. Hey, what a coincidence—I am rooting for the Colts and the Bears to make the Super Bowl.
P.S. I am glad to see that not all men fall under Brady’s weird spell. What is that about?[/quote]
Coincidence? Please elaborate….
I hate Tom Brady. He just looks like the quarterback in high school who always publicly said and did the right thing, but didn’t seem genuine about it – and then later on find out he’s the one who gets ripped at a party and assualts an underclass cheerleader. I don’t buy into the “holier than thou” persona – and his chin looks like an ass to me.
Major-level team uniforms in America have remained largely ad-free.
True, but don’t forget about NASCAR which has rarely (if ever) been shy about ads on its drivers, cars, pit crew… etc.
Is that the NFL’s 50th Anniversary patch? That’s great! I love the placement, too. Of course, jerseys are too busy these days to put a patch there, what with TV numbers on the shoulders and all.
Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?!
Actually, it’s Old Trafford
I grew up in Columbus when there was a hey day with the Crew, I voted for Orage Traffic Cones, but thats another point. My point is, the back of MLS Jersey have been advertised on for years. Although I can’t find any right now pics from anyhting earlier than ’04 right now, the Crew Has always been sponsered by Snickers now its Pepsi and it has been on the back and bottom of their jerseys. link So possibly this isn’t the first time. I also reemebr watching early on in the MLS that other teams did it too, can’t find pics though.
[quote comment=”43406″][quote comment=”43397″]
I would have to put the Colts and the Bears tied for first with the Saints just slightly behind (I’m neutral on the fleur de lis), and the Pats wouldn’t even make my list with their blah unis and, of course, the Flying Elvii. Hey, what a coincidence—I am rooting for the Colts and the Bears to make the Super Bowl.
P.S. I am glad to see that not all men fall under Brady’s weird spell. What is that about?[/quote]
Coincidence? Please elaborate….
I hate Tom Brady. He just looks like the quarterback in high school who always publicly said and did the right thing, but didn’t seem genuine about it – and then later on find out he’s the one who gets ripped at a party and assualts an underclass cheerleader. I don’t buy into the “holier than thou” persona – and his chin looks like an ass to me.[/quote]
Coincidence meaning that I think the Colts and the Bears have the best unis, and they are the ones for whom I am rooting to make the Super Bowl. So, are you rooting for or against the Colts based on you Baltimore love?
Re: Brady—to me, there is no there, there. He just doesn’t seem like a real person to me. As for the angry homeless man, how in the world has the No Fun League not come down on his ass for his (and I use the word lightly) ensemble?
[quote comment=”43398″]Stop calling the Premiership “EPL”! It’s Premier League or Premiership…[/quote]
The Scottish league also goes by Premier League, so that’s where the “EPL” comes in handy. Its also quicker to type.
Oh, and one more thing, to my knowledge no high club in europe plays their homegames at “tropicana field” or “barclay arena”. Give me the jersey sponsors over stadium sponsors any time. Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?!
Arsenal plays at Emirates Stadium.
[quote comment=”43398″]Stop calling the Premiership “EPL”! It’s Premier League or Premiership…[/quote]
Yeah, link!
Interesting photo of the councilmen with the US flag-themed balls going to Iraq. Paul, do you think it’s a bad idea because:
1) it’s another example of our wonderful leaders ramming the flag down everyone else’s throats; or
2) the idea of having a flag pasted on a ball that is going to be kicked, muddied, bloodied, etc. is arguably flag desecration, which in the last century our wonderful leaders tried to ban by constitutional amendment?
It’s probably enough to distract Bush, Cheney, and co. from running the country into the ground. Quick, someone call Fox News…
[quote comment=”43415″]Oh, and one more thing, to my knowledge no high club in europe plays their homegames at “tropicana field” or “barclay arena”. Give me the jersey sponsors over stadium sponsors any time. Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?!
Arsenal plays at Emirates Stadium.[/quote]
Bolton plays at the Reebok Stadium. Not coincidentally, Reebok is the sponsor on Bolton’s shirt.
[quote comment=”43405″]Oh, and one more thing, to my knowledge no high club in europe plays their homegames at “tropicana field” or “barclay arena”. Give me the jersey sponsors over stadium sponsors any time. Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?![/quote]
Bolton plays at Reebok Stadium, sometimes lovingly referred to as “The Reebok”
[quote comment=”43416″][quote comment=”43398″]Stop calling the Premiership “EPL”! It’s Premier League or Premiership…[/quote]
Yeah, link![/quote]
Check out the menu bar of the web page you linked to. “EPL” is right there. Probably not a good idea to say nobody calls it that and then reference a website that does in fact call it the EPL.
Also, in Germany, Hamburg plays at AOL Arena.
[quote comment=”43422″][quote comment=”43416″][quote comment=”43398″]Stop calling the Premiership “EPL”! It’s Premier League or Premiership…[/quote]
Yeah, link![/quote]
Check out the menu bar of the web page you linked to. “EPL” is right there. Probably not a good idea to say nobody calls it that and then reference a website that does in fact call it the EPL.[/quote]
Sorry that you didn’t pick up the sarcasm. And really sorry that Matt R. types faster than me.
Alright, Alright.
link the link if anyone really wants to buy a skull and crossbones soccer ball.
For the (5 or 6 ;-{)} ) hockey fans on the forum today, SI is running a gallery of NHL All Star jerseys/sweaters. See link.
Scott
Sorry Miguel, I initially thought you were making nico’s point. I guess that’s what I get for trying to go back and forth between the blog and work.
[quote comment=”43426″]For the (5 or 6 ;-{)} ) hockey fans on the forum today, SI is running a gallery of NHL All Star jerseys/sweaters. See link.
Scott[/quote]
Love the shoulder stripes from 1992, notice the referee with his NAMEPLATE and not a number in 1988, and the 1984 pic…I’ve never seen the Great One without his Chiclets!
[quote comment=”43427″]Sorry Miguel, I initially thought you were making nico’s point. I guess that’s what I get for trying to go back and forth between the blog and work.[/quote]
It’s Friday afternoon, man! you should’ve brushed off work around 9:00, like me.
[quote comment=”43352″][quote comment=”43344″][quote comment=”43287″][quote comment=”43272″]Loved the article today, Paul. I have to put in a word about the league-wide link in the MLS. The font isn’t that bad, but the numbers are cheap-looking iron-ons. MLS should really do something about that.[/quote]
All kits all over the world have “iron on” numbers and sponsors. It isn’t just unique to MLS.
As for Beckham, yellow and green….link.
Paul thanks for giving MLS and other footy some love today. Great article.[/quote]
I think what I ment to say was that it looked like cheap lettering compared to, say, the link I wasn’t talking about the actual material. They need a new, distinctive font. The MLS ones are too plain, like they got them done by the local t-shirt shop.[/quote]
link, it’s the same link[/quote]
WRONG WRONG WRONG
It’s NOT the same as EPL. EPL uses Lexan numbers from Chris Kay, Ltd. Everyone else around the world uses the same thing as MLS, but EPL’s are pure class. Trust me, I can feel it on my Robbie Keane Tottenham jersey that I’m wearing right now.
[quote comment=”43276″]oh, the good ol’ cleveland force. i believe they outdrew the Cavs for a few years at the old coliseum, but dont quote me on that. had darth vader as a mascot, until lucas caught wind of it, and then they had something that looked like an “if they mated” between darth vader and c3po.
they went to the championship one year, folded the next, came back as the “crunch” two years later.
had the good fortune of going to many force games back in the day (i’d have to ask my dad, but i think he got us season tix), and somewhere buried away at the ‘rents house i have sets of MISL trading cards. also still hanging in my parents basement is my big blown up signed picture with dennis mepham.
this is more the force uniform i remember (and had, as a kid), and i think the “new” force has/had a version of it too.
link
I echo your sentiments man. The Force used to sell-out Richfield Coliseum. My uncle knew a guy who played for them and we’d routinely go to games. I still have a picture from when I was 7/8 with Ali Kazemeni from a Force soccer camp. Kai Haaskivi, Bernie James, Chris Vaccarro, et al…too bad they left. The Cruch and “new” Force just are not the same. I still have a Force 10-year anniversary yearbook at home somewhere. C-town needs an MLS franchise. I think we’d suport it.
[quote comment=”43382″]I don’t really have anything constructive to add that hasn’t already been covered, I just want to show my support for some futbol talk on the site! Soccer is my favorite sport, but it is just so much easier to follow the NFL or MLB. Don’t get me wrong, I love American football, but all things being equal I would pick soccer over any other sport any day of the week. I just look forward to the day when soccer talk is not odd, but it is as commonplace as other sports discussions.[/quote]
It’s possible to see any English game you want to, so long as you have broadband. I won’t link, but for that reason I find it much *easier* to follow than pointy football. Also, the matches are on either first thing Saturday and Sunday morning, or right after school on weekdays, making it a bit easier to see without forsaking other parts of your life.
[quote comment=”43367″]Logo creep and ad creep…Yes, it’s a business, but where does it stop? I know this topic has been discussed here before. And the “virtual” ads on telecasts are driving me crazy! Might as well run constant banner ads on one side of my widescreen and be done with it!!!
Ok, rant over…[/quote]
Don’t give them any ideas!
[quote comment=”43387″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”[/quote]
you thought link was wonder woman’s belt buckle.
i thought it was the link logo
OR
vince mcmahons link
[quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
The Cincinnati Kids, another team in the long line of failed Cincinnati soccer teams (including the Silverbacks, Riverhawks, Cheetahs, Comets, and Excite). Just a bit of trivia, I believe Pete Rose was a part owner of the Kids. Love the stripes on the sleeves.
[quote comment=”43437″][quote comment=”43387″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”[/quote]
you thought link was wonder woman’s belt buckle.
i thought it was the link logo
OR
vince mcmahons link[/quote]
Careful Todd – Vinnie Mac had to change the logo due to the World Wildlife Fund winning a court case granting them the rights to “WWF”. They cut the little tail off of the F now – in fact when they changed to WWE, they had a “Get the F out” T shirt they sold.
[quote comment=”43413″]
…snip… As for the angry homeless man, how in the world has the No Fun League not come down on his ass for his (and I use the word lightly) ensemble?[/quote]
Been wondering that myself. They pride themselves in micro-managing everything and yet allow him to look like that? I guess it’s a perk you are allowed when you win championships.
I know that had I ever showed up on the sidelines looking like that on a Friday night I’d have been standing in front of the school board Monday night.
If we’re going to start putting corporate logos on unis, let’s at least have some fun here. Let’s start with:
–Viagra
–Trojan
–KY
–Prozac
–Limisil
–Kaopectate
…and see where we can go from there. Anything goes, right? :-)
Thanks to Vince for the link to the soccer ball; too bad it only comes in a size 1. My son would’ve loved to have brought that to practice just for fun.
my local football (soccer team) Slough ahven’t had a sponsor for the last two and a half seasons and I was quite disappointed when we got one
Thanks for posting the MISL logo page!!!! Without football in Baltimore in the 80’s I was a die-hard Blast fan! I still think it’s one of the best soccer logos ever made.
[quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
Here are mine – I think all the uniforms are fine
1. Saints yes, good choice for the best
2. Colts with the grey facemask. I like the pants they wore in the mid 80s better.
3. Patriots cool uniform except for the logo on the sleeve is too in-your-face
4. Bears – the jerseys are fine but I think the pants could be improved and I always wish they could replace the “C” logo on the helmet with the Bearhead that serves as their other logo. There must be a way to include the bear somewhere on the uniform. The “c” logo is too much like MLB’s Reds.
Not uni-related but funny anyways:
While looking at the NHL All-star photo gallery, I noticed the SI On Campus photo gallery and link was in it. Nice placement for the street sign.
[quote comment=”43387″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”[/quote]
As a former New York Arrows fan (Branko Segota, Steve Zungul and Shep Messing!) I love the memories these old logos evoke . . .I remember balls being kicked into the stands and the Coliseum (when it wasn’t such a dump!) and scrambling to be the one to get to throw it back into the filed. The P.A. announcer always gave a big “Thank Yooooooooouuuuuuuu” after the ball was thrown back.
As an aside, the Cincinnati Kids????
Really???
Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks
[quote comment=”43451″][quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
Here are mine – I think all the uniforms are fine
1. Saints yes, good choice for the best
2. Colts with the grey facemask. I like the pants they wore in the mid 80s better.
3. Patriots cool uniform except for the logo on the sleeve is too in-your-face
4. Bears – the jerseys are fine but I think the pants could be improved and I always wish they could replace the “C” logo on the helmet with the Bearhead that serves as their other logo. There must be a way to include the bear somewhere on the uniform. The “c” logo is too much like MLB’s Reds.[/quote]
That would be like putting link on the Browns helmets, it would look bad, in my opinion. It may look like the Reds, but the Reds (besides the “C” on the hat) have the word Reds through the middle of the “C”. The only thing the Bears put in the middle was link. Plus it looks as if the Reds “C” is in line, while the Bears “C” is not
[quote comment=”43453″][quote comment=”43387″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”[/quote]
As a former New York Arrows fan (Branko Segota, Steve Zungul and Shep Messing!) I love the memories these old logos evoke . . .I remember balls being kicked into the stands and the Coliseum (when it wasn’t such a dump!) and scrambling to be the one to get to throw it back into the filed. The P.A. announcer always gave a big “Thank Yooooooooouuuuuuuu” after the ball was thrown back.
As an aside, the Cincinnati Kids????
Really???[/quote]
I remember Steve Zungul for the three years he played in Tacoma. Along side Preki (who went on to get two MVPs in the MLS and was just named coach of Chivas USA).
[quote comment=”43436″][quote comment=”43367″]Logo creep and ad creep…Yes, it’s a business, but where does it stop? I know this topic has been discussed here before. And the “virtual” ads on telecasts are driving me crazy! Might as well run constant banner ads on one side of my widescreen and be done with it!!!
Ok, rant over…[/quote]
Don’t give them any ideas![/quote]
I’m afraid it’s coming to that (sooner, rather than later)…link what it would look like.
[quote comment=”43455″]Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks[/quote]
Is #14 on the left wearing her first name on her jersey?
[quote comment=”43462″][quote comment=”43455″]Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks[/quote]
Is #14 on the left wearing her first name on her jersey?[/quote]
Link closed
[quote comment=”43273″][quote comment=”43267″][quote comment=”43266″]the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I went to the Flyers games a couple of months ago and thought that was odd, but the fans didn’t seem to mind…they actually enjoyed it! The girl next to me was screaming PECO Power Play along with the announcer.[/quote]
PECO has been sponsoring the Flyers PP’s for quite some time, at first I thought it was annoying, but Lou Nolan has turned it into something fun for the fans to scream along with.
At least that’s one fun thing about the Flyers this season…[/quote]
Well, i think the best part of that is that they play the beginning of Guns N Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” thats the part that gets everyone fired up !
[quote comment=”43463″][quote comment=”43462″][quote comment=”43455″]Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks[/quote]
Is #14 on the left wearing her first name on her jersey?[/quote]
Link closed[/quote]
or her link…
[quote comment=”43421″][quote comment=”43405″]Oh, and one more thing, to my knowledge no high club in europe plays their homegames at “tropicana field” or “barclay arena”. Give me the jersey sponsors over stadium sponsors any time. Can you imagine seeing a game at Vodafone’s Old Stafford?![/quote]
Bolton plays at Reebok Stadium, sometimes lovingly referred to as “The Reebok”[/quote]
For those that don’t know, Bolton is the town where Reebok was started in 1895.
Down the coast from me, Bournemouth play in the Fitness First Stadium.
[quote comment=”43466″][quote comment=”43463″][quote comment=”43462″][quote comment=”43455″]Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks[/quote]
Is #14 on the left wearing her first name on her jersey?[/quote]
Link closed[/quote]
or her link…[/quote]
Yeah, I thought of that right after I sent the post . . .it’s Friday. I shut my brain off at 2:00.
[quote comment=”43458″][quote comment=”43451″][quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
Here are mine – I think all the uniforms are fine
1. Saints yes, good choice for the best
2. Colts with the grey facemask. I like the pants they wore in the mid 80s better.
3. Patriots cool uniform except for the logo on the sleeve is too in-your-face
4. Bears – the jerseys are fine but I think the pants could be improved and I always wish they could replace the “C” logo on the helmet with the Bearhead that serves as their other logo. There must be a way to include the bear somewhere on the uniform. The “c” logo is too much like MLB’s Reds.[/quote]
That would be like putting link on the Browns helmets, it would look bad, in my opinion. It may look like the Reds, but the Reds (besides the “C” on the hat) have the word Reds through the middle of the “C”. The only thing the Bears put in the middle was link. Plus it looks as if the Reds “C” is in line, while the Bears “C” is not[/quote]
The Colts would trump them all if they could just find a way to extend those shoulder stripes completely aroung the sleeve of the jersey (the famous “half-assed” striping technique that they currently employ is a defacing of what should otherwise be a timeless look). When I look at Peyton’s jersey and how the front of his shoulder stripes actually end in a diagonal, it almost makes me ill.
Since were on the subject of football today, my local team, Southampton FC, are one of the rare ones to manufacture their own shirts rather than use Adidas, Nike, Reebok etc.
link & link they use.
[quote comment=”43348″]My favorite video game series of all time is Winning Eleven. It’s a soccer game, and the best part is that you can link all the unis down to the smallest detail. Any color, any style. AWESOME. (Would love to see it for Madden or NCAA Football.)[/quote]
I prefer FIFA Soccer (EA Sports) but thats not the point. I remember Madden 04 having a uniform editor but it was very basic. Haven’t played Madden in a couple of years so I don’t know if it got better or if it even came back.
[quote comment=”43469″][quote comment=”43466″][quote comment=”43463″][quote comment=”43462″][quote comment=”43455″]Since the subject is soccer. If you fancy the look of female soccer players wearing white knee high socks[/quote]
Is #14 on the left wearing her first name on her jersey?[/quote]
Link closed[/quote]
or her link…[/quote]
Yeah, I thought of that right after I sent the post . . .it’s Friday. I shut my brain off at 2:00.[/quote]
i love womens soccer…
err, umm, here is your answer.
link
Madden is still very basic, very basic. And the worst part is that while you can edit the color of the helmet, you cannot affix any type of logo to it. So you wind up playing with a blank helmet.
[quote comment=”43467″]For those that don’t know, Bolton is the town where Reebok was started in 1895.[/quote]
And the palindrome of Bolton is Notlob!
[quote comment=”43407″]Major-level team uniforms in America have remained largely ad-free.
True, but don’t forget about NASCAR which has rarely (if ever) been shy about ads on its drivers, cars, pit crew… etc.[/quote]
NASCAR is not a team sport and drivers nor pit crew wear a uniform per se, so I wouldn’t count that.
When MLB had a season opening series in Japan a few years ago and played in the Tokyo Dome, earch team wore advertisments on their batting helmets. I’m fairly certain the Yankees were playing, but I can’t remember who the other team was (possibly the Mariners or the Tigers or the Twins).
[quote comment=”43483″][quote comment=”43407″]Major-level team uniforms in America have remained largely ad-free.
True, but don’t forget about NASCAR which has rarely (if ever) been shy about ads on its drivers, cars, pit crew… etc.[/quote]
NASCAR is not a team sport and drivers nor pit crew wear a uniform per se, so I wouldn’t count that.
When MLB had a season opening series in Japan a few years ago and played in the Tokyo Dome, earch team wore advertisments on their batting helmets. I’m fairly certain the Yankees were playing, but I can’t remember who the other team was (possibly the Mariners or the Tigers or the Twins).[/quote]
Mets and Cubs did the same thing in ’02 as the first series of the year.
[quote comment=”43483″]When MLB had a season opening series in Japan a few years ago and played in the Tokyo Dome, earch team wore advertisments on their batting helmets. I’m fairly certain the Yankees were playing, but I can’t remember who the other team was (possibly the Mariners or the Tigers or the Twins).[/quote]
The other team was the Devil Rays, and both teams wore ad sleeve patches as well as helmet decals. This wasn’t the first time this had happened, however: The Mets and Cubs did the exact same thing when THEY played in Japan to open the 2000 season.
[quote comment=”43384″][quote comment=”43376″]Don’t all the MLS jerseys have adidas stripes on the sleeves, not just DC United? I don’t know anything about soccer, but that’s what they look like on the kenn.com site for the 2006 kits.[/quote]
They do all have the three adidas stripes on the sleevs (though last year was the first year that all the teams did). What he’s referring to in the DC united kits is the fact that DC’s design, since the team’s inception, as included three stripes across the front of the jersey as well. Sometimes, these stripes have even been massive. It’s gotten to the point that these three stripes have become synonymous with the DC logo, which brings up some interesting branding issues: If and when DC doesn’t wear Adidas, will they still be able to wear three white stripes across the front of the shirt? Can Adidas really trademark something as simple as a series of horizontal lines?[/quote]
Look at the New England Patriots’ socks. Those look like vestiges of a point in time where adidas was their uniform sponsor. Now that adidas is no longer their uniform sponsor, it’s interesting that the stripes have remained patterned as such.
[quote comment=”43483″][quote comment=”43407″]Major-level team uniforms in America have remained largely ad-free.
True, but don’t forget about NASCAR which has rarely (if ever) been shy about ads on its drivers, cars, pit crew… etc.[/quote]
NASCAR is not a team sport and drivers nor pit crew wear a uniform per se, so I wouldn’t count that.
When MLB had a season opening series in Japan a few years ago and played in the Tokyo Dome, earch team wore advertisments on their batting helmets. I’m fairly certain the Yankees were playing, but I can’t remember who the other team was (possibly the Mariners or the Tigers or the Twins).[/quote]
The Yankees played the Devil Rays. The sacred Yankee pinstripes had advertisements. What a peculiar sight.
The Columbus Blue Jackets use a mix of lowercase and capital letters in their jerseys.
link
link
But I think its only for the letter “n”.
[quote comment=”43497″][quote comment=”43384″][quote comment=”43376″]Don’t all the MLS jerseys have adidas stripes on the sleeves, not just DC United? I don’t know anything about soccer, but that’s what they look like on the kenn.com site for the 2006 kits.[/quote]
They do all have the three adidas stripes on the sleevs (though last year was the first year that all the teams did). What he’s referring to in the DC united kits is the fact that DC’s design, since the team’s inception, as included three stripes across the front of the jersey as well. Sometimes, these stripes have even been massive. It’s gotten to the point that these three stripes have become synonymous with the DC logo, which brings up some interesting branding issues: If and when DC doesn’t wear Adidas, will they still be able to wear three white stripes across the front of the shirt? Can Adidas really trademark something as simple as a series of horizontal lines?[/quote]
Look at the New England Patriots’ socks. Those look like vestiges of a point in time where adidas was their uniform sponsor. Now that adidas is no longer their uniform sponsor, it’s interesting that the stripes have remained patterned as such.[/quote]
Well, seeing as how Reebok (current NFL outfitter) is owned by Adidas, it’s really not all that surprising. At least not to me.
After spending hours on the italian font site (fascinating to me…) I am wondering if anyone knows the font used by the US Military Academy (Army)…the link to their trademark page is link. Thanks.
“Brady is lucky. Belichick isn’t a good coach….”
yeah simmons is right. The pats are the Yankees of the NFL now. People hate winners. Even if they work hard like the Pats. Just be honest and say you are sick of seeing them win.
The Blue Jackets’ third-jersey logo — an Ohio flag swirled around a star — will replace the “CBJ†logo on the club’s home and away jerseys for the 2007-08 season, team president and general manager Doug MacLean said yesterday.
The design firm who did the 2002 NBA All-Star Game (NYC firm, hint, hint,nudge, nudge) should give the NBA their money back for using the SaME star design for the:
-2002 “NBA” All-Star Game logo in Philly.
link
-2007 NHL Draft in Columbus.
link
-Blue Jackets alternate design as mentioned above.
link
Coincidence?
Impossible.
[quote comment=”43480″]Madden is still very basic, very basic. And the worst part is that while you can edit the color of the helmet, you cannot affix any type of logo to it. So you wind up playing with a blank helmet.[/quote]
Very true, but using the uniform editor isn’t the reason we play video games, right? And I play the FIFA franchise because of the gameplay, not because of the off-field features.
[quote comment=”43395″]Well hello Minna! First off, with them being on the road, we won’t get your All Black Saints uni this weekend – but out of the 4 teams left – who wins the Aesthetically pleasing Super Bowl? In my humble opinion, I go:
1 – Saints
I have always loved the fleur de lis – hence why I miss my Nordiques so much!
2 – Bears
Timeless classic.
3 – Colts
Nice and simple, but I can’t put Indianapolis with them without shedding a small tear – I miss the BALTIMORE Colts.
4 – Patriots
Between my hatred for Bum-ichek and that smamry Tom Brady, who I’d really like to see smacked once in the mouth, the Flying Elvis really needs to leave the building.
Your responses please….[/quote]
Saints – after what the city’s been through, they deserve it. Hate the black on black though.
Colts – Indy – Baltimore…meh. Hate the Pats.
Bears – agree with timeless classic, as long as they’re not orange.
Pats – your comments work for me too.
[quote comment=”43453″][quote comment=”43387″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
I always laugh when I see the Wichita Wings and wonder to myself “Why did they use Wonder Woman’s belt buckle as a logo?”[/quote]
As a former New York Arrows fan (Branko Segota, Steve Zungul and Shep Messing!) I love the memories these old logos evoke . . .I remember balls being kicked into the stands and the Coliseum (when it wasn’t such a dump!) and scrambling to be the one to get to throw it back into the filed. The P.A. announcer always gave a big “Thank Yooooooooouuuuuuuu” after the ball was thrown back.
As an aside, the Cincinnati Kids????
Really???[/quote]
I remember going to Arrows games too. Really good seats were only 15 or 20 bucks. I remember Zungul would score 5 or 6 goals a game. Shep Messing and Zoltan Toth were the goalies. Their big rivals were the Philly Fever, Houston Summit Soccers and the St. Louis Steamers. What a pisser.
The best thing I remember about the Cleveland Force is going to a game and finding $20 bucks on the floor. It was during a birthday party and I remember treating the other kids to some Italian Ices with my windfall… I would have preferred to have gone to the Ritchfield Coliseum on a night when they had wrestling instead.
Okay, one more Oakland University Golden Grizzlies mention and then I’m done, I swear. They got press coverage this time.
Here’s the story
Like, I said, I’m done now.
[quote comment=”43453″]
As an aside, the Cincinnati Kids????
Really???[/quote]
Yes, really. If you listened to AM radio you could hear Pete Rose on radio ads for ’em back in the day (WLW? Not sure). And on 3WE ads, also for The Force, and Philadelphia’s Fever on the old WCAU.
Amazing level of marketing to be had for MISL back then, come to think of it.
My favorite MISL experience: A TV pregame interview for an Arrows broadcast with an eastern-sounding European. “What’s your strategy for this match?” “To put the ball in the net more than they do.”
(Of course his English beat the heck out of my whatever–I have no second language. But it was gut-busting to hear the announcer try to segue out of it.)
[quote comment=”43266″]There’s a lot more sponsoring in the AFL than just the jerseys. I was fortunate (I think) to go to the Philadelphia Soul’s first game ever and just about every situation was sponsored by something. When a ball would go into the crowd, the announcer would shout “Borgata ball in the stands!” (obviously sponsored by the Borgata Casino), touchdowns were sponsored by the local water heater company, and I don’t remember, but I’ll bet that interceptions were sponsored by some anti-virus software company.
In the NHL too, the Flyers’ power plays are sponsored by the local energy company, when they’re a man up, the announcer shouts “Time for another PECO Power Play”[/quote]
I’ve always wondered about this kind of situation. I mean, if PECO pulled out of the sdeal and the Flyers couldn’t find a replacement, would that mean that the team wouldn’t be able to go on a power play anymore?
[quote comment=”43438″][quote comment=”43380″]link
I’m partial to the Tacoma Stars.
I was at game 7 of the 1987 Championship between Dallas and Tacoma. Dallas ended up winning in OT, but I think that the game still holds the record for attendance at a indoor soccer game (21,700+, or something like that)…[/quote]
The Cincinnati Kids, another team in the long line of failed Cincinnati soccer teams (including the Silverbacks, Riverhawks, Cheetahs, Comets, and Excite). Just a bit of trivia, I believe Pete Rose was a part owner of the Kids. Love the stripes on the sleeves.[/quote]
And just for logo fun, let’s not forget a long-gone GREAT LOGO…The Cincinnati Stingers.
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Formerly of Terrace Park, Mariemont, and Hyde Park
[quote comment=”43497″][quote comment=”43384″]Look at the New England Patriots’ socks. Those look like vestiges of a point in time where adidas was their uniform sponsor. Now that adidas is no longer their uniform sponsor, it’s interesting that the stripes have remained patterned as such.[/quote]
For the last time, just because the socks have 3 stripes does not make them adidas socks. If the 3 stripes were specifically due to adidas, then they would have had a different design when Reebok outfit the league, because at the time of the change, Reebok was not owned by adidas.
If the Patriots’ stiped socks are adidas socks, why aren’t the Bears’ socks? They have 3 orange stripes, and have had them pretty much forever.
The now-defunct Orlando SolarBears of the IHL used to have Upper and lower case nameplates. link. For some reason, I always liked link.
The Cubs signed Jeff Samardzija today and at the press conference Samardzija had an Under Armour pin on his suit.
[quote comment=”43536″]
If the Patriots’ stiped socks are adidas socks, why aren’t the Bears’ socks? They have 3 orange stripes, and have had them pretty much forever.[/quote]
As Paul said a few days ago, sometimes three stripes is just three stripes- they aren’t Adidas socks, they are simply striped socks.
Soccer’s use of uniform sponsors is a major turnoff to me. I just have a hard time taking a team seriously when their name and colors are covered up by a corporate logo.
I’m sure it’s all a matter of what people are used to, because obviously the people who have grown up watching teams plastered with ads aren’t bothered by it. Not saying they’re wrong.
But as to the points people have been raising– the fact that American stadiums sell naming rights hardly bothers me. I might hear the stadium name twice during the course of a game. I have to look at the uniforms the whole time.
Would I trade ad-free uniforms for sports with no commercial breaks? I’m sure that’s where the “we like what we’re used to” comes in, because– honestly, no I wouldn’t! It strikes me that baseball and American football are actually designed to have natural breaks during the course of the action (funny “coincidence” how that allows for commercial breaks, huh?), and I actually like that aspect of the game, believe it or not. The suspense/strategy. Of course, greed naturally dictates that the breaks become longer and more frequent, to the point that it starts to hurt the game (like with the new college football timing rules this year).
The main reason I don’t like the ads on uniforms is that I can see where this is heading. Even if I would have traded uniform ads for commercial breaks, no one will get that choice. Eventually, everyone will have both.
link & link they use.[/quote]
That must be pretty succecsstul for Soton. They’ve been abt ti for what, 4 years now? Do you know much about the ins and outs of their self-branded operation? I can’t imagine too many Championship sides have lucrative kit deals.
Anybody know what level of the English league designates the difference between getting paid to wear certain kits and paying to wear kits?
[quote comment=”43514″][quote comment=”43480″]Madden is still very basic, very basic. And the worst part is that while you can edit the color of the helmet, you cannot affix any type of logo to it. So you wind up playing with a blank helmet.[/quote]
Very true, but using the uniform editor isn’t the reason we play video games, right? And I play the FIFA franchise because of the gameplay, not because of the off-field features.[/quote]
this is very true.
but it would be nice, since i always like to design an alternate home uni, if i could put the Cowboys star on the side of the helmet.
and no i don’t like the uni’s that are given.
Hi
I read with great interest your thread about soccer uniforms, I am a Liverpool fan from Northern Ireland ,but I have been a collector of Sports shirts for years I have hundreds of Soccer ,NFL,MLB NHL jerseys of verious vintages including the rare Auhentic Apex One 75th Annaversary Cowboys Doublestar E.Smith jersey.(and im a NY Football Giants fan)
Unlike most people here in the UK and Europe I hate jersey sponsorship on soccer shirts ,I think it takes away from the teams identity and purity of a teams image but people here just accept it without any thought ,thats why I love US sports shirts a teams image can last form generation to generation like the Yankees ,Dodgers, Red Sox etc and maybe even my beloved Mets if they could ditch the black. Unlike US sports another trend over here in Europe is that teams change uniforms(kits) on an annual basis once again identity can be lost like your example of the brused banana Arsenal kit of the early 90s, but one advantage of this if a team does bring out a rabid dog of a kit, at least you know it will likely be gone within 12 months or sooner.
keep ip the good work with all the uni watch stuff I really enjoy the ESPN articles and blog.
Regards
Les McCaughan
Co.Antrim ,N.Ireland
Check out that Cleveland Force team photo. It appears that after Elvis faked his death, he became the head trainer for an indoor soccer club…
You don’t say “the Major League Baseball,†do you?
One of my wife’s biggest pet peeves is hearing “MLB Baseball”. “Major League Baseball Baseball? Sounds stupid!” she’ll say. I tried to explain that MLB is the organization and such, but no luck.
AS Roma this year ditched their strip sponsors–only the shirtmaker’s name appears. The link look a heck of a lot better than link, imo.
While I agree with your general opinions about uniform importance and significance, especially when it comes to disliking dorky trends and the imporatnce of uniform consistancy, you’ve got a lot of specific and nitpicky opinions, don’t you? This NHL all-star jersey issue is a great example. You ref tirade is reasonably well-founded, but then again, so what? Its really not a big differance, honestly, is it? I’m sure it has something to do with the NFL, changing their ref stripes to make it more specific to their league and therefore copyright protected. Welcome to modern society and its obsession with making and protecting money, nothing new there. And what’s with you and your hatred for side panel designs? So what if they don’t always line up? I am against anything gaudy but side panels can work, when done right, like anything else. Besides, what’s worse is the insistance of football teams to conitune to use awkward sleeve striping that worked on jerseys that actually had sleeves (not since the late 1980s), and not on the current sleeveless vareity. (See the Packers, Steelers, etc.) Yet, I’ve never read any rants on that. Next, we have the low collar. Its barely noticable, for one, nothing to write home about anyway. Personally, I think the regular collar style is far more ugly. And if you’re wearing them, this new style is more comfortable-doesn’t pinch the neck as much. And no, the new NHL jerseys are not that different, aesthetically. What I don’t understand is why its big deal that they’re doing all the teams at once. It is one league, they should work together for the sake of consistancy (take a note MLB.) And why are there these rumors that almost or all of the teams’ unis are going through graphic design changes? What does one have to do with the other? These changes don’t change anything on that front, you can still use all of traditional design elements on this style. I agree that many NHL uniforms look like crap, but I don’t see the connection to this new uniform style.