What Is it? It Is...Its Green

 

Its been a busy week so I'm just now getting around to talking about the new third kit.  My first impression was "that's it?".  After some time I've refined my take.

This is a good, possibly great, third kit.  This is not a good 30th anniversary throwback kit.

During the lead up to the reveal the Rapids used the wave theme you see on the old logo in the center of the kit a lot.  The 90's were also known for bold kits with memorable designs (not to mention baggy fits).  This is...not that.  Take a look at the 1996 home kit (below) and the 1999 away kit (in the upper left corner of the image above):

They have bold colors and interesting design elements.  The throwback kit is a green polo with the old logos put on it.  Compared to the rest of the throwback kits revealed on Wednesday it looks the least "90's" (in fact its on the bottom of a number of rankings of the kits).  It feels like the Rapids dropped the ball on the design of this one based on its intended purpose.

Like I said though, as a general third kit its pretty good.  I like the Balboa bike on the jock tag and the use of both old logos.  The shade of green is perfect.  And I really like that part of the proceeds go to a charity of Balboa's choice and its the Boulder Humane Society.  There's also a nice touch that the UC Health sponsorship has been moved to the back below the numbers, right where the old Pepsi logo used to be.  I would love it if this became part of our regular rotation in future years and wasn't just a one-year and done kit.

Of course the elephant in the room is the price, which the Rapids have nothing to do with.  These kits are $110 for the replicas and $150 for the authentics.  That is disgusting by Adidas.  Looking at English teams Aston Villa's Adidas kit is similarly priced but Nottingham Forest's is $86 (plus shipping from the UK).  Leeds United, in the Championship, is $94.  My Blackburn Rovers are outfitted by Macron and are selling their new kits for $80.  MLS needs to step in here and tell Adidas to cut prices by like 30%.

The Rapids will wear these kits four times this season.  Their next game, against Philly, will be the fist time and the only time on the road.  They'll wear them in their next home league match on August 16th when Balboa's number gets retired.  They'll also wear them on September 27th against Minnesota and on the final day of the season against LAFC.  I kind of want them to wear them in the Rocky Mountain Cup match in Sandy the week before that too, but they won't be (at least as of now).