City Connect uniforms will return for the 2022 Major League Baseball season. The Citizens of Washington announced their design Tuesday morning in honor of one of the national capital’s iconic flowers.
Cherry blossoms dominate the new Nationals design, the first of seven City Connect kits to be revealed for the 2022 season. Pink and ivory details decorate the jersey along with flowers. The iconic cherry trees bloom in Washington, DC, in the spring. Other details include the city flag and a typeface that evokes the architecture of the city.
Among the additional details include embossed floral trims on a dark gray background, anthracite and cream pants contrasted with the gray jersey and black cap.
We @Nationals
🤝
🌸🌸🌸🌸 pic.twitter.com/AgiNvGWEmE– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 29, 2022
The cherry blossom theme will extend to the basketball court with the Washington Wizards wearing a similar City Edition uniform, becoming Nike’s first uniform that connects multiple teams in a city with a single theme. .
Although the Nationals and Wizards seasons fall on different parts of the calendar, the two teams wanted to work together to create a unified alternative look for the sports. The Nike partnership is the first unified campaign between MLB and NBA teams from the same market, but the Wizards won’t launch the pink replacements until the 2022-2023 season.
The National Team will wear the cherry blossom uniform in select matches throughout the 2022 season, making their field debuts on April 9 and April 10 before New York Mets for the opening day of the weekend at the team’s home ground.
While the National team marks the first team to announce City Connect’s uniforms for the 2022 season, they won’t be the last. The Houston Astros will be launching their uniform on April 20th, Kansas City Royals on April 30th, Colorado Rockies on June 4th, Angel of Los Angeles on June 11, Milwaukee Brewers on June 24 and San Diego Padres on July 8th.
Major League Baseball hopes to draw momentum from City Connect’s success in the 2021 season.
MLB’s chief revenue officer, Noah Garden, said: “We had high hopes and perhaps we underestimated demand for this product. “Coming out from the first year, there are some clubs that want them to go a little further. Some are already preparing to debut this year or next and be a little more aggressive.”
Garden says the biggest takeaway from the inaugural season with the uniform designs was the importance of tying the designs to stories that resonated with the local fan base.
“It goes a long way,” he said. “Baseball is a huge local sport with a passionate local fan base, but to get that connection from your local fans and also apply it to the city you’re in. in an iconic way we were hoping [for success]but it is not predictable. “
Garden sees the national team’s uniform as the first step towards bolder designs in 2022.
“It was a departure,” Garden said. “We were looking to reach a younger, more diverse audience in creating that ‘great’ moment. But a great moment that fans can be proud of, bringing together fandoms and cities. together.”
