Sporting KC unveils ‘Hoops 4.0’ kit for 2023 season. Fans can buy authentic or replica

Sporting Kansas City on Thursday unveiled a new primary kit for the upcoming Major League Soccer season, a variation of the “hoops” theme that’s been part of the club’s style since 2014.

Dubbed “Hoops 4.0,” the kit looks similar to the team’s primary kit of the past two seasons, with smaller, dark-indigo bars complementing the traditional and lighter “Sporting Blue.”

The new kit is also reminiscent of the secondary kit that Sporting wore during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, which featured a dark-indigo base with tertiary horizontal blue bars. It includes the same collar and button.

Chad Reynolds, Sporting KC’s senior brand director, said the hoops theme is part of the club’s identity.

“This is a tradition that began in 2014,” he said. “The inaugural hoops kit was the first place we saw our gold star for the 2013 (MLS) championship.

“Almost a decade later, the hoops kit has become an iconic part of our brand. When you see the Sporting Blue and dark indigo hoops, you know it’s Sporting Kansas City. It’s who we are.”

Teams typically find an identity that translates into their kits year after year. They may get more creative with designs and colors on their secondary and third kits. Real Madrid rolls out the same white top with white shorts each year, for instance, with only small variations in tertiary colors. Like Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea FC, their iconic primary kit never changes.

Two versions of the new Sporting KC kit — authentic and replica — are available for purchase. The key differences, aside from material quality and price: The authentic kit is adorned with two stars above the Sporting KC crest (symbolizing the club’s two MLS Cup championships), an argyle SKC on the back of the neck-tape and the phrase “Paint the Wall” on the inside.

An uncustomized replica kit will cost $90, the authentic $150. Free customization of the Hoops 4.0 kit is available via the Sporting Style website, as well as at the MLS online store.

According to a team news release, fans who order the kit online by Saturday through Sporting Style can select a time to pick up their purchase at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, Kan. They can also sign up to participate in an exclusive happy hour with a special guest from the 2013 MLS Cup championship season.