Nike x New York Mets
City Connect 2.0 Concept

Branding/Merchandise

In the past 10 years in sports, we've seen an increase in alternate jerseys and league-wide jersey programs or series. In 2021, Nike and Major League Baseball launched the City Connect program, which allowed teams to have a special jersey that bonded the team with the culture and history of their home city. In 2024, the New York Mets introduced their first City Connect jersey, which was inspired by the ‘Concrete Jungle’ moniker of New York as well as the Queensboro Bridge and the 7 train subway line. Despite the jersey deviating from the team's orange and blue that they have kept since their inception in 1962, the rest of the uniform was in line with the team's pre-existing identity. It featured a multitude of different details and Easter eggs implemented into the uniform. As Nike has started the rollout of the second iteration of City Connect uniforms, I wanted to design a New York Mets City Connect uniform that told a story that is more representative of the team’s identity and Queens. To connect to the team in a more substantial way, I wanted each of the design directions that I explored to have some elements of a previous Mets uniform to pay homage to the team’s established visual language.

My final design ended up being representative of both the team's origins in Queens with their first home, Shea Stadium, and the overall city of New York. I find most projects that tackle this subject matter and purpose seem to stop at the uniform that is worn by the players on the field. However, the purpose of a league-wide jersey program like the City Connect program is to sell merchandise, and I wanted my brand identity to work in that application just as effectively as it should on the diamond. While most City Connects are focused on baseball history within their city, I also wanted to take inspiration from the overall sporting history of New York. Aspects have been taken from other sports but have been reworked for the purpose of a modern baseball uniform and brand identity.

Explored Directions

The Redbirds

An evolution of the Mets' first City Connect uniform, concrete is swapped for burgundy to pay homage to the old Redbird trains that took fans to Mets games.

The City That Never Sleeps

Inspired by the neon signage around the city’s iconic nickname, a black base is contrasted with bright orange and blue accents throughout the uniform.

The 1964 World’s Fair

Inspired by the programs and branding of the World's Fair as well as Shea Stadium. The opening of Shea Stadium in 1964 coincided with the World's Fair in Flushing, Queens.

Lady Liberty

Despite being in New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty is undoubtedly the most iconic symbol of New York. Featuring the iconic green patina of copper.

Inspiration

The 1964 World’s Fair

The 1964 World's Fair took place right next to Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. While the iconic Unisphere remains, almost everything else, including Shea Stadium, no longer exists. For most of its history, Shea’s exterior was that of the Mets' royal blue, derived from the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the venue's early history, it was a lighter, more desaturated shade that resembled the World's Fair branding.

Logo Process

Crest/Alternate Logo

Inspired by the Unisphere, the team's origin for the name "Mets," the Metropolitans, and their home in Queens, New York.

Wordmark/Jersey Script

Inspired by typography found on programs from the 1964 World's Fair as well as other typography found in the city's other sports teams.

Brand

Crest System

The badge features the design of the Unisphere with the Mets' primary “NY” mark centered within it. Five lines at the equator and prime meridian represent each of the five boroughs of the city and come together to form the Unisphere. The diagonal half-and-half coloration is derived from various programs from the World's Fair as well as an anniversary patch worn by the Mets in 2004 for the 40th anniversary of Shea Stadium. The crest features the Mets' elongated name. The jersey crest utilizes silver metallic embroidery, while print and digital applications utilize white for the Unisphere.

Colors

The Mets’ primary color of royal blue has been swapped for a lighter shade inspired by the World's Fair and the early iterations of the exterior of Shea Stadium. The team's secondary Orange has been retained, and the Royal blue has been shifted to an accent color.

Wordmarks

The typography was inspired by programs and branding surrounding the 1964 World's Fair as well as the varsity New York scripts found on the jerseys of the New York Knicks and earlier National League baseball teams in New York.

Iconography

Featured throughout the accents of the uniform, the tricolor stripes of the New York City flag (royal blue, white, and orange) are represented in two variations, with the center seal being swapped out for versions of the badge and crest. The flags are joined by the “UniApple,” combining the Unisphere, Home Run Apple, and 7 Train into one mark. Mr. Met is also given a refresh with retro-inspired orange accents.

Uniform

The Hat is a standard Mets primary “NY” mark in white, trimmed in orange on the lighter shade of blue derived from the earlier years of Shea Stadium and the World's Fair. The jersey mirrors the hat’s base color but with pinstripes like the team's first home uniform. New York across the chest in white, trimmed in orange, inspired by typography from the World's Fair. The sleeves feature the crest of this identity with silver embroidery of the Unisphere, as well as the team's sponsor in a color-matched patch. The trim of the sleeve is taken directly from the New York City flag, the Mets' standard royal blue followed by white and orange. A matching light blue undershirt will also be worn. White pants will continue the stripe of the NYC flag on the side of the leg. Instead of the traditional approach of socks, I decided to take inspiration from France's and Mexico's football (soccer) home kits, with the tricolor design of the flag informing the color blocking of the uniform elements. Within the city, New York City Football Club’s current away uniform features a tri-color design of navy, white, and orange inspired by the flag of New York. The socks utilize the standard Mets sock design, featuring a faint skyline and bridge against the orange backdrop.

Merchandise

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