Will Adidas Change Logo on 2022 MLS Kits For 2023?
With Adidas releasing a new logo, their football shirts will start to use the company's new branding with the 2022 World Cup kits (launch in September). We want to take a look at how they will deal with their MLS teams, as this situation could get complicated.
How Will Adidas Use Their New Logo on MLS Teams?
MLS teams, who are all sponsored by the Three Stripes due to a league-wide kit deal, will continue to feature the current Adidas logo on their 2022 jerseys. However, come 2023, we expect the new kits to make use of Adidas' new logo.
The interesting thing is that MLS teams always carry over one of their shirts from the previous season, as each new kit has a 2-year life cycle. This begs the question about how Adidas will deal with carrying over this year's new jerseys into 2023, since the 2022 ones still use the old company logo.
MLS teams always carry over one of their shirts from the previous season
We think there are multiple options for how Adidas will go about this issue.
Option 1: Change Nothing
This option would be both unspectacular and unsatisfying. Adidas could theoretically carry over the new 2022 MLS shirts into 2023 without altering the old logos that these have.
This would result in an inconsistent look between MLS clubs' home and away shirts during 2023, but it would also mean that Adidas do not have to make an extra effort to change half of the MLS's jerseys.
Option 2: Update the Logo on 2022 Shirts
Another option open to Adidas would be to simply change the carried over 2022 shirts by applying the new logo to them in 2023. This would mean changing the manufacturing process though, so it would involve a lot of effort from Adidas.
The new Adidas logo is not one that can easily be printed over the old one.
Option 3: Release All-New 2023 Jerseys
The third option for Adidas would be to release two new shirts for each MLS team, so all of them come with the brand's new logo.
This implies that the new MLS shirts for 2022 would only have a lifetime of 1 year, meaning Adidas would have to release double the amount of MLS jerseys within 2 years compared to what they normally provide MLS clubs with.
Adidas are certainly not going to change any existing products
We think it is extremely likely that Adidas will choose Option 1 - we will see two Adidas logos in the MLS in 2023.
What do you think is the best option for Adidas going into the 2023 MLS season? Comment below.
