A new trend in jersey unveilings has struck again — this time involving Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United.
Players from the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks were photographed prior to their home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night wearing Atlanta United’s new secondary kit for 2024. The photos were then posted to the Hawks’ social media accounts.
Players Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela were captured wearing the kits as they entered State Farm Arena on Monday. The base of the kit is pale blue, with a tonal graphic of a phoenix dominating the front of the shirt. It’s a nod to the Atlanta city flag, which features a gold phoenix seal in the middle of a blue field.
The sleeve cuffs and collar are royal blue with yellow trim, and the Adidas shoulder stripes are royal blue. Yellow taping runs down each side and across the back hem. The Atlanta United crest on the chest is monochromatic royal blue, as are sponsor logos on the chest and sleeves.
After the game, reporter Caleb Johnson asked Bogdanovic about the kit and tweeted out photos of it, including a good look at the back of the kit. The side panels are royal blue, and Bogdanovic’s name and number were printed in royal blue. The gold seal from the flag is replicated on the back collar. “Me and Clint love soccer so we just wanted to show love to our soccer team,” Bogdanovic told Johnson.
This “leak” of Atlanta United’s new kits is similar to how the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights started having their NHL Winter Classic jerseys pop up in other media prior to their official unveiling in November 2023. The Kraken jerseys first showed up on Utah Jazz players prior to a game, and both were worn by All Elite Wrestling hosts in a social media live stream.
Atlanta United kicks off their 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, February 24, when they visit defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC. Their home opener is on March 9 when they host the New England Revolution at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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