The kit reveal for Minnesota United’s new 2018 primary kit took place on Sunday afternoon at Mall of America in front of four stories of fans. With fans resplendent in MNUFC gear and onlookers crowding the floor of the MOA Rotunda and squeezing in for a spot at the railings overlooking the event, broadcasters Callum Williams, Kyndra de St. Aubin and Jamie Watson took to the stage and first welcomed defender Brent Kallman.
Kallman — wearing a zipped up track jacked so as not to spoil the surprise — talked about the positive impressions he’s gotten from the rookies and newcomers as they’ve settled in over the course of the team’s recent stint in Florida. The Loons got victories over Florida International University (4-1) and Eastern Florida State College (8-0) during the trip.
Next, Adrian Heath joined Jamie Watson onstage and discussed the 44 training sessions the team has had in the past 20 days, a schedule that’s tired them out but also brought them closer together and put them well ahead of where they were last season at this same time. With an expanded range of sizes for jerseys available this season, Watson asked if Heath would be picking one up for his first grandson, born eight weeks ago in England. Heath quipped he could just get one in the diminutive Watson’s size.
Then it was time for the reveal, with players joining the broadcasters onstage in the two-tone grey kits, plus goalkeeper Alec Kapp in a new blue-striped kit. The kit features numerous little touches that set it apart this year, including a red button at the neck that harks back to the team’s 2013-14 kit with the NASL, “FOREVER UNITED” written on the inside of the collar and a raised black loon on the lower left of the jersey’s front. Forward Abu Danladi and midfielder Ethan Finlay discussed the kit and the team’s preseason before the show moved on to showing off the new women’s jerseys and then youth jerseys modeled by players from Minnesota United’s Development Academy. Target’s Bullseye — the actual dog — even came out with a dog jersey on.
Everyone put their scarves up and sang “Wonderwall,” and then while fans lined up to purchase the new kits and get autographs from players, Jamie Watson hosted a couple game shows with players. Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez faced off against roommates Alex Kapp and Sam Nicholson in a soccer version of the Newlywed Game and then Rasmus Schuller and Jerome Thiesson competed with Francisco Calvo and Brent Kallman in a rousing game of Head’s Up.
Fans rated the new kit highly.
“It has a lot more unique aspects that make it a lot better than the sort of cookie cutter one from last year,” said Ben.
“The logo is the best part,” said John, “and they didn't draw many aspects from the logo that I like in the last kit. They had the stripe, but it was at a different angle, it was weird that they didn't have any dark greys. There are little bits of it that say ‘Minnesota United’ and the attention to detail is much better.”
“I think it looks very sleek and I don't want to say slimming, because most soccer players don't care about that, but they look very nice,” said Nicki. “It's going to look really cool on the soccer field. I agree with Ethan [Finlay] that not a lot of the other clubs have grey, so it's cool that we stuck with the grey. I really like the new goalkeeper kit, too. The bright blue is amazing.”
Becoming a 2018 season ticket holder today guarantees you a seat at Allianz Field in 2019. Get your tickets for next season at MNUFC.COM or by calling 763.4SOCCER.
