Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa is ready to give back to its community through its new primary jersey for 2024.
Atlético gave season ticket members a sneak peek at the new “Community First Kit” at an event on Sunday before officially launching it on their website and social media channels Monday. For every jersey sold, club sponsor Maple Lodge Farms will donate a case of frozen chicken to community food centre partners, including the Caldwell Family Centre. This would be enough to provide a meal to 30 people, or six families.
“We are incredibly proud to unveil our 2024 Primary Jersey, not just as a symbol of our club’s identity on the field, but as a real measure of Atlético’s continued support in the community,” said Atlético chief executive officer Fernando López on the club’s website. “Through our partnership with Canadian Premier League sponsors, Maple Lodge Farms, and the Caldwell Family Centre, each jersey sold directly contributes to fighting hunger in Ottawa.”
The jersey itself, manufactured by Macron, maintains the red-and-white striped motif that Atlético Ottawa shares with parent club Atlético de Madrid. The stripes themselves are thinner than years past, though, and each red stripe has two tones of red and a pattern of diagonal lines through them.
Two of the stripes on the left side of the shirt contain the text “FOR OTTAWA” and “POUR OTTAWA” near the bottom, “signifying our ongoing passion and commitment to the community.”
The sleeve cuffs on the jersey are navy blue, as is the polo collar, which also has a red placket and navy blue buttons. The back of the shirt is solid red, with a navy blue bar at the top and navy blue side inserts that start at the hem and taper as they move up the shirt.
According to Atlético Ottawa, one in seven households in Ottawa deal with food insecurity, which equates to 150,000 people in a city with a population of just over 1 million (as of 2021).
“I feel so much pride in being part of a partnership to address the food insecurity crisis in Ottawa,” said Eugene Williams, executive director of the Caldwell Family Centre, in a press release. “We are very excited to be part of this initiative with Maple Lodge Farms as we are going to be able to help hundreds, if not thousands of families who are currently experiencing food insecurity in Ottawa.
“When I come to TD Place this season, and I see the players and the fans wearing this jersey, it’s going to make me feel such gratitude for the support of a community-focused club like Atlético Ottawa who aren’t just talking about tackling food insecurity. They are doing something about it.”
Atlético are the second CanPL club to unveil kits for the upcoming 2024 season. Calgary-based Cavalry FC released their new primary and secondary jerseys earlier in February prior to their Concacaf Champions Cup tie against MLS side Orlando City.
Atlético’s 2024 CanPL regular season kicks off on Saturday, April 13, when they host York United at TD Place.