The Crew debuts new ‘VeloCITY’ secondary kit ahead of 2023 MLS season

With just a week and a half until the 2023 Major League Soccer season kicks off, the Columbus Crew unveiled the team’s new secondary VeloCITY kit on Wednesday. The black kit will pair with the gold outfit the Black & Gold wore last year to complete the team’s look for the 2023 season.

This new jersey brings in the classic black and gold look with which Columbus fans are familiar, as well as some unique features to this year’s kit that speak to the community in which the team plays. According to the club, the VeloCITY kit was inspired by speed and movement, “as the club looks to take the energy and passion of its home city of Columbus with them on the road.” The club wants to emphasize a clear direction on and off the field.

Courtesy of Columbus Crew

“We are proud to launch the new VeloCITY kit and a special capsule collaboration with the Columbus Fashion Alliance,” Crew president of business operations Kristin Bernert said in the press release announcing the new kit. “The inspiration of the kit reflects Columbus as a City on the rise and makes a nod to the energy of the neighborhoods we are proud to call home. We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Columbus Fashion Alliance and local emerging designers to highlight the incredible creative talent that exists in Columbus, one of the top fashion communities in the country.”

The colors of the kit, both black and gold, are those that are traditionally linked with the first-ever MLS team. The concept of never wanting to stand still is also demonstrated on the VeloCITY kit and signs of upward movement with the isometric checkerboard design on the front.

Returning to the kit are the Crew logo, the Adidas logo and the team’s official jersey sponsor, Nationwide. Additionally, as was the case last season, Tipico Sportsbook will be the club’s sleeve sponsor.

Courtesy of Columbus Crew

“As the official jersey sponsor since 2021, Nationwide is proud to have our brand incorporated into the fabric of this team which represents our city across the MLS community and beyond,” executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Nationwide Ramon Jones said in the release. “The Crew’s creative approach to launching the new VeloCITY kit in partnership with our local fashion community is a great example of the collaborative spirit that makes Columbus so special.”

Printed in the yellow stripes down the side is the mantra “Never Stand Still,” as a sign of the club’s commitment to growth. On the jock tag near the bottom of the jersey is ”The Crew” italicized and moving in an upward position in a new font to stick with the theme of the rest of the VeloCITY kit.

Courtesy of Columbus Crew

With the announcement of the new kit, the Crew also announced a partnership with local non-profit, the Columbus Fashion Alliance. This will allow fashion designers, photographers and videographers to create merchandise inspired by the new VeloCITY. The Black & Gold will work with the Columbus Fashion Alliance to provide “opportunities for the city’s creatives to dive deeper into their craft” and to tell stories of Columbus’ “up and coming creatives throughout the 2023 season,” as, according to the press release, “Columbus is home to the third highest concentration of fashion designers in the country, behind only New York and Los Angeles.”

“At first, just having the opportunity to collaborate with the Crew was dope. But once we got our eyes on the new VeloCITY kit, we really started to get excited,” founder of the Columbus Fashion Alliance Yohannan “Yogi” Terrell said in the release. “Just like the Crew, Columbus is a city on the move, and the fashion scene here is on the move too. We wanted to use this moment to shine a light on the people of the city. Those who are making moves in sports, fashion and in the community. We appreciate The Crew supporting local fashion creatives and we cannot wait for this limited-edition capsule to drop. Crew fans and fashion fans will love it.”

Courtesy of Columbus Crew

The new VeloCITY kit is now available for fans to purchase ahead of the start of the 2023 MLS season. The Crew opens the new year on the road at the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Feb. 25 before the home opener on Saturday, March 4 against D.C. United.