D.C. United’s die-hard fans got a chance to rub shoulders with players on Saturday evening at the club’s annual pre-season season ticket holder event. The get-together, held at Pinstripes in Georgetown, served a dual-purpose this year, also giving supporters their first opportunity to see the new home jersey in the flesh.
The jersey—which was first leaked in December and elaborated upon by Sports Illustrated’s Brian Straus just a few days ago is, as a whole, relatively unremarkable (as are most jerseys across MLS, where sales concerns and a partnership with Adidas leave little room for creativity). Done up in the club’s traditional black-and-red color scheme, Adidas’ three white stripes are featured down the sides of the kit, while sublimated stripes run horizontally across the front. The club’s primary sponsor, Leidos, appears front and center, beside the club’s new crest.
The devil, however, is in the details. At the base of the jersey is a nice touch: the outline of the District itself, with a D.C. flag embedded in it. The “neck tape” also features perhaps the city’s most popular political statement: Taxation Without Representation.
But as SI revealed last week, early versions of the kit were manufactured incorrectly, leading to some bungled-up versions of the slogan—”Without Representation Taxation,” among them.
“Head Coach Ben Olsen has long been a public supporter of DC Vote’s mission,” a statement released by the team read, “and it was his involvement that sparked discussions on how the team could help the cause.”
“We applaud D.C. United for leveraging their brand’s international reach to bring attention to the city’s cause for equal democratic rights.” added DC Vote Executive Director Kimberly Perry.
The new jersey is the latest in a refresh of the club’s image as they prepare to move into their new home at Buzzard Point, slated to open some time in 2018.
After years of trying to find a facility more suited to their needs than RFK—a process that saw the club entertain the possibility of leaving the District altogether—United partnered with the D.C. government on the Buzzard Point venture. The city is investing some $150 million (and millions more in tax breaks) in the project. Even after the agreement was reached and work toward finalizing the pact proceeded at a snail’s pace, the club was engaged in exploratory discussions about a potential move to Loudoun County. With their future more clearly defined, it’s good to see the club has chosen to give D.C.’s voting rights issue a nod.
On Saturday afternoon, fans seemed pleased with the design and eager to get their hands on the new kit. Feedback on social media was also largely positive. If anything, the botched slogan on the neck tape seemed to make the jersey a bit more collectible. Fans who prefer the corrected version, however, will be able to exchange their misprinted jerseys for a corrected model sometime down the line, the club says.
