With all the hubub about new jerseys, there’s been a lot of speculation about what the new jerseys will look like. Turns out, they’re going to look pretty much like the old jerseys (well, except for the absence of the gorgeous third jerseys). This was confirmed in an email from Altitude Authentics (not to me, but I’m pretty confident that it’s legit):
The Avs jersey will not be drastically different, same logos and looks.
The main difference will be the material of the jersey. We will have
these in stock sometime in mid September.Thanks,
AltitudeAuthentics.com
customerservice@altitudeauthentics.com
866.443.4321
Wow, I can’t believe I just read 9 pages of that drivel! How do you post over there? Is it a requirement to be a 13-year-old boy and never have kissed a girl?
Seriously, I want those ten minutes of my life back.
On topic, I haven’t heard anything about any jersey changes for the Avs, so other than the new material, I’m not expecting anything. The guy on the board that keeps touting “Altitude Athletics confirmed…” about the switch to a practice jersey (which, correct me if I’m wrong is a two color RBK with no trim and not striping) worries me. He’s either deranged or knows something. If he knows something and it comes out that he’s right, I’ll be upset, as I don’t see any reason to make any changes to the current jersey.
I can’t spend much time there, or I’d go insane. I checked out of that thread a long time ago, but couldn’t resist linking it for all the bizarre stuff people throw out there. Although I have yet to hear about a team board that isn’t teeming with immaturity, so the Avs board isn’t unique in that regards (sadly).
Back when Reebok got the exclusive NHL deal, the first thing that changed was the practice jerseys, which, yes, are 2 color uniforms and have some funky verticle stripes (like this). That led a lot of people to think the new jerseys would all copy that silly “futuristic” look of the practice jerseys. And, of course, the NHL PR team totally fucked up any opportunity to put peoples mind at ease as we waited to see the new designs.
Now that the new jerseys are being unveiled, it looks like all the rumors from the kiddie board and elsewhere were unfounded. Thankfully.
Mike,
That population of Avalanche posters has to migrate somewhere. They started at the ESPN forums from around ‘97 to 2002ish. Then the Hockey’s Future forums grabbed some of them and now, almost all of them go to the official site. Believe it or not, it’s a good thing.
If they are going to be like the practice jerseys then the really significant change to me will the that all the decals will be “screened” on like a T-shirt rather than the stitched/ironed on decals that the current jerseys have. I find the huge “A” decal on the front to be a bit awkward because it doesn’t bend at all and it almost acts like a big medieval chest piece. However, I absolutely love the thick lettering on the back of the jerseys for the numbers and name. It makes them feel like they are worth over $100. If they go to a screen print then I can officially call those $190 jerseys in the Avalanche store a rip off.
My understanding of the new jerseys (across the league) was that the ‘authentic’ jerseys would have stitched on patches and numbering, while the ‘replicas’ would feature the screened on logos and lettering. I for one, wouldn’t pay $190 for a jersey, replica or authentic, unless it came with some kind of guarantee that the Avs would buy it back if they missed the playoffs or something. And paying upwards of $300 just for a fight strap and reinforced shoulders and elbows is just silly…
My current 3rd replica has the custom nameplate and numbering on the back and shoulders, and due to the weight difference on the back compared to the front (Colorado on the front, two giant numbers and my last name on the back), it kinda tugs on my neck a little. Still, I can’t imagine that the ‘authentic’ would be any different. Stiched or ironed on wouldn’t make much difference either.
Then again, I just dropped 60 bones for a Nordiques goalie jersey to wear at pick-up and it doesn’t have any nymbers on it! (that would have cost another $30-40)
I don’t remember where I saw it, but I think the screened on replica thing has been put to bed. sorry I can’t dig up the direct quote.
found it:
The Classic (550) Replica jersey, will be available next year in the same designs as this year, but in Dark (Home) version only. Teams that will change their uniforms will not make this jersey available in the new design… only in this year’s design. The price for these jerseys should remain under $90 USD.
The new Premier Replica Jersey will retail for approx. $110 USD, however this jersey will no longer come with screen printed crests as originally feared. Instead, it will include a full twill and embroidered front crest and screen print on twill sewn shoulder crests. This jersey will be offered in both Home and Away versions.
The new RBK EDGE Authentic Jersey will not retail at the current $345 USD price for the 2007 All-Star Jersey. In 2007-2008 you will be able to pick up a RBK EDGE Authentic Jersey for around $250 USD.