Here’s a first look at the City Connect uniforms the Kansas City Royals will wear
When the Royals take the field for their game Saturday against the New York Yankees, they’ll be wearing uniforms unlike any seen in the team’s history.
That’s the point of the City Connect series from Nike and Major League Baseball.
“The designs,” Nike wrote in a news release, “continue to explore a franchise’s connection to its city and its fanbase, each with distinct personalities, values, customs and traditions.”
The Royals are unveiling their City Connect jerseys and caps on Monday ahead of the game, and team chairman/CEO John Sherman believes the look will appeal to people all over the Kansas City area.
“This design is one that fans of any age can truly appreciate,” Sherman said in a statement from the team. “From the fountains that are a part of Kansas City’s heritage to the colors of the jersey signifying the rich history of baseball and the Kansas City Royals, the uniform showcases the distinct elements of our community.”
The Royals began working last fall with Nike and Major League Baseball on a design that would be special to Kansas City. Four macro themes were discussed in the early days, said Sarah Tourville, the team’s Senior Vice President-Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer.
That was cut to two and then a main idea emerged for the team in the “City of Fountains.”
“What we really worked with Nike and the league is to create a story that was going to unite our city,” Tourville said. “We wanted to lean in towards the heritage and the distinct history of Kansas City, the unique nature and elements, to tell that story. Our story focuses around some of the elements in Kansas City that people have adored, so the fountains will be a primary focal point.
“The fountains have become a gesture of the welcomeness and the openness that remain in our city. And then as we had a broad theme, we really wanted to bring in other elements that were unique to the storytelling of Kansas City.”
A closer look
The fountain theme is evident in the caps and the logo on the breast of the jersey.
These are some of the other touches of the uniforms, which are two-toned with powder blue and dark blue.
- The stripes on the sleeves are an homage to the jerseys of the 1980s
The KC on the front of the jersey has a crown embedded in it to acknowledge “the simplicity and the tradition of baseball and the Royals themselves”
- There is a different script R on the sleeve has a crown above it
- The KC logo on the cap clearly is a nod to the fountains found in the city and the area
- The letters and the numbers were chosen to reflect an art deco style from many buildings in downtown Kansas City
- The phrase “Hey, hey, hey, hey,” which fans and the team share on social media after each Royals victory, is sewn into the collar
“I think that the intersection of art and culture and history allows this platform to speak to people of all ages and demographics,” Tourville said. “The baseball purist will love it. But I think you’re going to find the appeal amongst a younger, more diverse audience that is connected to not just the Royals, but feels a sense of pride in wearing the whole array of apparel that will come from this rollout.
“Because there’s this pride for Kansas City, and it isn’t just about the Royals, but it’s more broadly the community that we get to represent every day.”
There is a small fountain logo at the bottom of the jersey on the left side.
This has a look at the back of the jerseys, including the color and the font.
Connecting to fans
The Royals’ team store will open at 9 a.m. Monday and these jerseys, caps, hoodies and more will be on sale. Fans will also find them at the MLB team store.
On Saturday, the Royals will wear them for the first time in a game, and the team is planning content on the Crown Vision board associated with the City Connect uniforms. Afterward, there will be a drone light show, the first time the Royals have held such an event. Tourville said tickets for the game are still available.
Here are some more photos.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 12:01 AM.
