The Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League are ready to play the “Anti-Hero” by donning Taylor Swift-themed jerseys for a game next month.
The Steel unveiled the jerseys on their website and social media channels on Thursday, January 18, and they’ll wear them on the ice on Saturday, February 17, for “Chicago Steel: The Eras Night” against the Tri-City Storm.
The cream-colored jerseys are meant to mimic the style of T-shirts being sold at Swift’s Eras Tour concerts, and the front features “images from different eras of Chicago Steel hockey including championship moments, top players and other memories from the club’s 24-year history.”
Around the waist are icons associated with Swift and her music, including “a clock set to midnight, a red scarf, diamonds, cowboy boots and the face of [one of her cats] Benjamin Button,” while a snake logo appears on each shoulder.
The sleeves of the jersey contain a pattern of Swift’s album titles written out in cursive. Each sleeve also has a friendship bracelet like those Swift’s fans exchange at her shows; the one on the right sleeve spells out “CHICAGO” while the one on the right sleeve reads “STEEL”.
Even the socks are a nod to Swift. While the left sock matches the jersey, the right one has a red and black pattern that matches the “Reputation”-era outfit that the singer wears on stage.
Rather than tolerate it, the Steel chose to Shake it Off, put aside the Bad Blood and play the role of Anti-Hero this season. The Steel are hopeful Karma will do its thing and restore the team to its rightful place in junior hockey as the last great american dynasty.
— Chicago Steel press release
With a Blank Space on the team’s promotional schedule for February 17, this idea became the 1. While the club is unable pinpoint a single Mastermind of the promotion, the organization has been Enchanted with the premise of a Taylor Swift-themed night for quite awhile.
“We wanted a promotion where fans could feel 22,” said Steel President Dan Lehv. “If it doesn’t work, Don’t Blame Me. If you do, it’s fine – my tears ricochet.”
The Steel’s press release announcing the jerseys is littered with Swift song titles and is worth reading on its own.
Along with the jerseys, The Eras Night will feature an all-Swift in-game music playlist, and special Chicago Steel friendship bracelets will be on sale. Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Geneva Academic Foundation.
Puck drop for The Eras Night is 7:05 p.m. CT at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.
Swift herself likely won’t get the chance to see the jerseys in person. She’s playing four shows at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, from February 7 to 10, and then starting a six-show run at the National Stadium in Singapore on March 3.
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