NFL
By Keith Richards
With the 2026 MLS Season just 10 days away, like all other clubs, the Colorado Rapids revealed their 2026 primary kit. Today, the Rapids unveiled their Colorful Kit. As the MLS enters its 30th year, the Colorado Rapids aim to honor the club’s legacy. With a bold design that’s sure to turn some heads. There is one question, though. Will turning heads be for the better or worse?
The Colorado Rapids hold a special place in MLS as one of its original clubs. The Colorful Colorado Kit is a design that is two years in the making. It “embodies all the colors of the Rapids, from 1996 to 2026, weaving every era into a bold design that represents 30 years of rich history as an MLS original.” When they say bold, they mean bold. It’s not a kit you’d expect from a club lovingly known by their fans as the Burgundy Boys.
The Colorful Colorado Kit has a black base. While the shoulders and shorts include burgundy stripes, outside the badge, they’re the most burgundy you will find on the kit. The sponsor (UCHealth) marks remain in sky blue. However, you will also find accents of green, gold, and royal blue, intended to incorporate the club’s past colors into the new design.
Rapids Executive Creative Director, Jordan Rothrock, states, “As we stand on the threshold of a monumental year for soccer in North America, this kit is more than just a jersey, it pays homage to the heritage of the Colorado Rapids. With the eyes of the global soccer community turning toward our pitches, we wanted to debut a look that honors our storied history and the enduring legacy we’ve built in this state since 1996.”
Rothrock concludes, “This design brings a fresh take on our traditional burgundy and blue, while also giving a nod to all the colors that have made our club and our community special.” There are three key elements to the new kit: The Jock Tag, Neck Detail, and Capsule Collection. The Jock Tag is a four-quadrant mark. The mark features the current mountain crest, a ’96 inaugural season call-out, the 1996 wave, and the Colorado ‘C’.
The Neck Detail features the Rapids’ modern wordmark on the back of the neck. This is set against a palette of colors that draw from Colorado’s most memorable kits. Finally, to celebrate the launch, the Rapids have partnered with Topo Designs, a local outdoor brand. There will be a seven-piece collaboration featuring a fleece pullover, a rain jacket, a backpack, custom New Era headwear, and a scarf by Ruffneck. This will be known as the Capsule Collection.
As with other kit releases, the Colorado Colorful Kit includes a new initiative. This new initiative, in partnership with UCHealth, will donate 10,000 soccer balls to youth across Colorado. It will take place over the next two years. The aim is to continue removing the primary barrier to entry into sport. It helps provide every child with access to a healthy lifestyle.
To bring this mission to life, the two organizations will embark on a week-long Road Show across five cities, engaging schools and local non-profits to foster a culture of wellness and inspire a healthier Colorado. To learn more, go to http://coloradorapids.com/ColorfulColorado.
The Colorful Colorado Kit goes on sale this morning and is available for purchase at the Altitude Authentics Team Store from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. In addition, you can also get a kit at the Rapids Crossover Night at Ball Arena when the Nuggets beat the Grizzlies.
So, what do we think? The purpose and idea behind the design are phenomenal. The subtle inclusion of all the club’s past colors is a nice touch. Black kits, which many fans have requested, are often fashionable and well-received. However, there is a slight problem. The kit as a whole is not the issue. The issue is that it’s the primary kit. If it is the third kit, I don’t expect any pushback from the fans.
With the fans calling them the Burgundy Boys, I don’t believe that they will be fond of the lack of Burgundy. That is not to say there is no burgundy. I just don’t think there is enough. It’s a great kit with a great purpose, but it will be a tough sell for fans. I could be wrong, though. Personally, I will be rocking one. We’ll see how many are in the stands when the season starts! On that note, stay tuned for our season preview for the Rapids coming soon!
