After looking at the yellow/sky blue uniform and badge designs in the Philadelphia forum I started to wonder: Why don't MLS clubs take colors or objects from their cities' or states' seal or flag? Outside of FC Dallas and Toronto FC, it doesn't seem like there's a connection between a city or state's colors/seal and the club's. I think it would be cool if Chicago or DC even did something simple and made their cities' flags into a captain's armband. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_dc
The Toronto flag is blue. Unless you mean the red for Canada/Ontario but we're still trying to find out where the grey comes from. A shame really, because there are some fake, white TFC kits on ebay and they actually look really nice.
Not sure we want to play up the national side too much in Toronto - it doesn't play well outside of the city and tends to alienate other Canadians. I do like the captains armband from the flag idea though: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Toronto_Flag.svg/800px-Toronto_Flag.svg.png
two or three seasons ago chicago wore a third jersey that was designed ala the city flag. im sure you can look it up. also, didnt dc have a white with red stripe uni? i seem to remember one quite recently.
Chicago http://web.mlsnet.com/t100/imgs/history/uniforms_2005.gif It doesn't look like DC did anything intentionally. http://web.mlsnet.com/images/2005/12/15/Ipl4M7K5.jpg
Something like this has been done in the NHL, where the main Columbus Blue Jackets logo (formerly on the third jersey) is essentially a stylized Ohio flag. It works rather nicely too. As a former Philadelphian, I will admit that I am hoping for "Philadelphia Atoms"--but we shall see....
After completing my site behindthebadges.co.uk i was aproached to see if i would research the emblems you mention. It was a large task to find the meaning behind all our soccer club badges. do you think there would be enough interest to make it worth my while to do the same for your MLS clubs?
you realize shitcago's crest is based off their city history right? they burned their own town to the ground and celebrate by naming their team after a horrible tragedy!
I was a little dissapointed too when I didn't see Toronto in blue, like the Leafs, Jays and Argos, I always thought it was great that every team in T.O. wore crayon blue, white, silver and baby blue. But I see from an international branding perspective the decision to look like Team Canada, it just means the CSA values TFC as the premier national club. Plus, when the Caps join MLS it might make for confusion in the away stands if home and away was wearing blue .
(Insert favorite Rivalries smacktalk comment about the City of Columbus in general being a horrible tragedy here.) And if you don't know the role the Fire had in Chicago's history, I suggest you read up on it. Or at the very least read "Devil in the White City."
I'm an American history major and I'm fully of aware of the role it played in the city history. I just find it very ironic that you'd name a club after a tragedy is all. No need to getcha panties in an uproar bud
The WPS team in Chicago nailed the "city" theme you're talking about. Badge and Kits look astounding. http://www.womensprosoccer.com/chicago/?team=chicago