Looking Back at MLS Expansion Kits

New kits are a key part of every club’s season, but they hold even greater importance for a club’s inaugural year. With the 2021 MLS season coming up, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the inaugural jerseys from ten MLS expansion teams in the last decade. 

Austin FC (2021)

Austin FC’s striking verde and black colors are on full display in this jersey. The vertical stripe pattern gives this primary home jersey a classic look that connects it with kit designs seen across the globe. Most importantly, though, the vertical stripe pattern reinforces the “two intertwined oak trees featured within the Club crest -- representing the Club and the City -- which grow stronger together.” Austin FC definitely have a killer jersey to kick off their first season in MLS.

Inter Miami CF (2020)

Although Inter Miami could’ve played around more with the classic pink and ‘Miami Vice’ colors, the club still came out with a clean home kit for their debut season in 2020. The white jersey is accentuated with touches of light pink across the shoulders and sleeves, and the predominantly black badge contrasts nicely against the white background. Miami’s home jersey is cool in its simplicity, but they might have played it a little safe overall, especially considering the great palette they had at their disposal. 

Nashville SC (2020)

Nashville SC chose to go with a straightforward design for their first-ever jersey. According to the club, they decided on a “relatively uncomplicated design to establish our arrival in an authentic, bold kit that celebrates our club colors and our ‘Boys in Gold.’” The jersey acts as an extension of the club’s crest, with the electric gold taking center stage and the acoustic blue trim adding a nice contrast. 

FC Cincinnati (2019)

Cincinnati’s inaugural jersey features a royal blue base with short diagonal orange accent lines of varying widths that form virtual vertical stripes on the front. This jersey was based on a Mi Adidas template, and it is slightly underwhelming for being the club’s first-ever home kit. 

Los Angeles FC (2018)

It’s hard to ever go wrong with black and gold. LAFC had a great inaugural jersey in 2018, featuring the team’s primary colors and “inspired by LA’s Art Deco past and the iconic architecture of downtown Los Angeles.” The jersey also used the club’s emblematic and unique wings throughout the kit to “evoke flight and speed” and communicate the Club’s identity during their inaugural season. A classy jersey all around.

Atlanta United FC (2017)

Back in 2017, Atlanta’s jersey reveal event broke a record for kit sales by an MLS expansion club -- and deservedly so. Atlanta chose to go with a traditional, iconic look with their striped jersey. According to the club, “the five vertical stripes, two victory red and three black, represent Atlanta United’s brand pillars: Unity, Excellence, Community, Determination, and Innovation.” Beyond the meaning of the stripes, the combination of black, red, and gold throughout the jersey make for a fantastic kit all around. 

Minnesota United FC (2017)

Minnesota’s inaugural kit from 2017 features the club’s classic blue and grey colors, symbolizing the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s Iron Range. The diagonal band across the front of the jersey is a great touch, and the loon badge stands out nicely. The Target logo also does not detract from the design, and it is perhaps one of the most appropriate sponsors considering that Target has called the Twin Cities home for over 50 years. 

New York City FC (2015)

Being part of the City Football Group, it was expected that the team’s inaugural home kit would have the iconic City Blue as its primary color. The white and dark blue detailing kept the jersey looking sharp, but overall the design was perhaps a bit too similar to Manchester City’s kits from around that time. 

Orlando City SC (2015)

Thanks to Orlando City, purple officially became part of the MLS color palette for the first time back in 2015. The solid purple was a great choice to keep with the team’s history, and the gold crown at the back of the neck is a cool callback to the club’s USL championship titles. Seeing new colors in MLS is always a plus, and having Kaka don this jersey in Orlando’s first season was an even bigger boost for this kit.

Portland Timbers FC (2011)

Portland’s inaugural MLS jersey featured Ponderosa green as its primary color, paying tribute to the Timbers’ rich history. The body fabric was specially engineered with the Timbers signature chevron repeating down the middle, tying together the two shades of green that made up the shirt's body. The inaugural jersey also paid homage to the Timbers Army and “further celebrated the team’s unique history with an axe prominently featured on the back of the neck and a subtle, lower-back emboss of a rising sun.”