Tuesday night at Royale in Boston featured something of a fashion show as the New England Revolution revealed their 2014 home kit. It is less busy than the home kit of the previous two seasons, and while the 2012 and 2013 designs were pretty good, this one is beginning to grow on me.
"We’re very pleased with this design and are excited to begin wearing it," Revolution president Brian Bilello said. "We worked with adidas to integrate some key design elements into the kit that are important to our club. For a long time, our primary kit has been solid navy, with only lesser red and white accents. We wanted this primary uniform to reinforce the region’s Revolutionary identity by having a greater balance of red, white and blue.
"The Flag of New England is also a key icon for our club, one which our supporters have been instrumental in growing. Unlike some teams that have their key icon or identifier on the ‘jock tag’ on the lower seam of the jersey, we were insistent that the flag be very visible and somewhere that everyone could see. And there is no better place than right above the players’ names and numbers – reminding everyone that they’re all part of New England," Bilello said.
The main kit is navy blue and made of a light material, with red stripes running down the sleeves and a new, aesthetically-pleasing United Healthcare logo across the chest. The Flag of New England is again featured on the back of the jersey, above the player's name.
The shorts are white with three red stripes down the side, too. Interestingly, the Revs and Adidas even took into account some symbolism when designing the socks: they are solid navy-blue, except for six thin white stripes ringing the players' calves and ankles. The six stripes represent the six states of New England.
Reaction to the jersey has been a healthy mix of excitement coupled with a touch of disdain. Generally, though, it's been positive:
New kit grades... #NERevs: A (real sharp, love the socks). #USMNT: solid B. Clean look works
— LeftD22 (@leftD22) March 5, 2014
Do #NERevs have any legal leverage vs UHC for destroying their shirts with that logo? #JokingButSeriously
— Astroheader (@Astroheader) March 5, 2014
I want one! RT @NERevolution You've seen the new kit, now get your 2014 #NERevs Primary Jersey here: http://t.co/IexjvXMTrA
— Milton Valencia (@MiltonValencia) March 5, 2014
Check out Kelyn in the new #NERevs kit! It's gonna look even better on him after he scores a goal on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Q38qXraL5g
— Rowers for Kelyn (@RowersForKelyn) March 5, 2014
The new #NERevs primary kit is fresh #ItAllStartsHere
— Morgan DaSilva (@Morgan_DaSilva) March 5, 2014
And the boring kits keep rolling. So that's $160 +/- that I'm going to spend on jerseys I'm ambivalent about. #NERevs #USMNT
— Abram in 4-bits (@MindOfAbram) March 5, 2014
Have I mentioned how much love the #NERevs new kit yet. Simply outstanding.
— RevGunner (@RevGunner) March 5, 2014
