NFL
By: Kristen Ashly
For the first time since the formation of the team 152 years ago, Atlanta Braves made a major uniform change. Fans call the new change “hideous”.
On Thursday, the Braves put out a press release announcing their intent to add a patch to the sleeve of their uniforms, marking the first time the club has changed the uniform, due to a partnership with QUIKRETE—a company focused on the manufacturing of packaged concrete; a business one would not immediately associate with baseball.
The patch debuted in the Braves’ match against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 18, 2023
The addition to the uniform was described in their press release as the infamous yellow bag. Read the entire press release below.
The Atlanta Braves on Thursday announced Atlanta-headquartered concrete and cementitious products manufacturer QUIKRETE® as the team’s official jersey patch partner for the next five seasons. An expansion of the long-standing partnership between the Braves and QUIKRETE, the QUIKRETE logo, including the famous yellow bag, will be stitched on the Braves’ jersey sleeve, marking the first time a partner has appeared on the Braves’ uniform. The QUIKRETE jersey patch will be debuted on-field Friday, May 19 when the Braves take on the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park.
“Our expanded partnership with QUIKRETE ushers in a new era for our team, as this will be the first time in the organization’s 152-year history that our jerseys will feature a sponsored logo,” said Derek Schiller, President and CEO of the Atlanta Braves. “With the visibility of this opportunity, it was important for us to engage a trusted partner, industry leader, and a company with a history of supporting the Braves and the Atlanta community.”
“We are proud to have our hometown team wear our iconic yellow bag QUIKRETE logo on their sleeve,” said Will Magill, CEO of QUIKRETE. “It’s exciting to deepen our relationship with the Atlanta Braves as we work to connect with Braves Country and Major League Baseball fans through this first-of-its-kind partnership.”
In addition to becoming the official jersey patch partner of the Atlanta Braves, QUIKRETE will continue its wide-ranging partnership with a significant brand presence at Truist Park, on the Braves Radio Network, and at CoolToday Park, the team’s spring training facility in North Port, FL.
The patch was intended to look like the yellow bag, but the design was labeled as confusing. Fans in general were not happy with the change, which clashed with the Braves traditional colors. One fan noted that a Coca-Cola sponsorship would have made more sense.
Would've liked to have seen the Braves get a Coca-Cola patch. Red and white would have matched, and Coke is based in Atlanta.
— Beetenheimer🐝 (@Beet_R) May 18, 2023
QUIKRETE was ultimately the club’s choice for collaboration, despite being owned by the same company that also owns Formula One and SiriusXM; brands more well-known worldwide. Fans will have to get accustomed to the patch; it’s going to be stuck to the sleeve for five seasons.
The ugliest possible patch on one of MLB’s best uniforms. Terrible. They can’t really be that hard up for money?!?