The NYCFC Kit Bracket - Away Quarterfinal #1

Well, the votes have been counted: "Racing Stripe" has edged out "Inaugural Season" in a back-and-forth affair in the first home quarterfinal of the tournament. Congratulation to the competitor and to all of its loyal supporters - "Racing Stripe" is headed to the semi-finals!

A big thank you to all that voted, liked, and re-tweeted! Your participation is what makes this whole bracket worth doing. But now, let's turn our attention to the other side of the bracket - the away quarterfinal.

Our next matchup should be a heavyweight classic: we have the #2 seed “Black Kit” vs the #3 seed “Gotham Kit” in the first away quarterfinal of the bracket.

Away Quarterfinal #1

The “Black Kit” was our first ever away kit, worn exclusively in the 2015 inaugural season. To this day, it remains the only kit in NYCFC history that was replaced after just a single campaign.

And in my opinion that’s a real shame, because this kit was an absolute classic. Who doesn’t love a blackout kit? It’s always a bold choice, but one that usually pays off for any club that goes for the dark look, especially when its done properly like NYCFC’s effort.

Kwadwo Poku in the "Black Kit" for NYCFC in 2015 (Via NYCFC.com)

The orange accent through the collar really pops, and sky blue crest, sponsor and piping reminds everyone that this is still very much an NYCFC kit. The top also features faint, diagonal stripes across the torso that just add a little bit more personality to a shirt that was already quite outgoing.

But, one drawback could be that we barely ever wore this kit. Not only did we only wear it for one season, but we ended up wearing our home kit on the road many times in 2015, leaving this kit with very few appearances for the club. So, could its lack of use impact its lasting legacy?

Its opponent, The Gotham Kit, has zero shortage in appearances or legacy, as it was the away kit donned in the 2021 season that saw NYCFC crowned as MLS Cup champions.

And, if my memory doesn’t fail me, this is the first kit in NYCFC history to be given an official name by the club. “The Gotham Kit” isn’t something that I made up, or a nickname given to it by supporters, it’s the kit’s legal birth name from the minds of CFG.

James Sands in the Gotham Kit (Via Hudson River Blue)

And the kit itself is no slouch either, also sporting a darker look with a deep navy color scheme employed for the first time in NYCFC history. The crisp, white accents really pop against the deep blues, and the subtle patterns through the body provide a much needed drop of character.

One drawback for me, however, is the collar. It’s not super ugly on the field, its just a bit unusual and takes away from the “wearability” of the shirt for fans off the field. Which, at the end of the day, is a HUGE deal.

So, which kit gets the nod for you? Place your vote in the twitter poll, comment why you like the kit, and share with some fellow supporters! The more the merrier!