Good Friday morning Caps fans. I hope you all are having a lovely week and that you’re enjoying your last Whitecaps-free weekend.
Well, it is the best time of the year. No, it isn’t because we have real, meaningful soccer games to watch in less than a week. We don’t even have a new signing to unpack. Instead, it is something far better: jersey release time.
The Coastal jersey looks like … well, a Whitecaps away kit. That isn’t meant as a knock — in fact, Vancouver consistently has some of the best jerseys in the league, so the bar is pretty high here. And the latest offering is very good, even if it isn’t going to win any awards for fashion innovation.
The selling point of this one is the patterned collar and sleeves, which are sharp and help distinguish it from past blue kits. The faint pattern and texture of the shirt are nice wrinkles as well. Overall, this looks stylish on the players and will probably look good on the fans as well.
This is the first time in a while the Caps have strayed from the hoop, and I’m good with embracing a new visual motif. The fans seem to agree, as it has apparently set a new record for day one kit sales. I’m sure a fresh stock of Thomas Mueller jerseys doesn’t hurt, but it is exciting that fans are showing that, rumors be damned, they are backing this team in full force.
Adidas has taken few risks with modern MLS kits (aside from San Diego’s kit this year, which looks … rusted?), and it shouldn’t be a surprise that we aren’t seeing another iteration of the arbutus brown kits. Given that Vancouver’s number has seemingly come up for a throwback kit, I expect that considerable marketing energy will be thrown into flogging those when summer rolls around. I haven’t purchased a kit since the Sea-to-Sky kit from years ago and probably won’t this season, but if I do, it will likely be the throwback one. But if you’re yearning for a Mueller kit, this one is a strong option in the meantime.
Shameless Self Promotion
Caleb takes an interesting historical look at the Caps’ track record of selling players in the post-Alphonso Davies era and the results are better than I expected.
Best of the Rest
At least some Leagues Cup matches will reportedly be played, meaning the Caps could be in for even more travel this year.
Canada Soccer has extended its deal with CSB in the run-up to the World Cup.
Marcelo Flores is officially making a one-time switch to Canada, giving them another option at winger.
Indianapolis’ stadium situation for a possible MLS side has gotten murkier — something we can definitely relate to.