With the apparel switch from Reebok to their parent company Adidas, the CFL decided it was a good time to change the look of the league. In his State of the League Address, commissioner Jeffery Orridge unveiled the new CFL logo and mentioned that each team would be getting updated looks. Other than that it has been pretty quiet until the league announced that May 12 would be the date where these new designs would be unveiled to CFL fans. So let’s go over what we know as we get closer to the big day.
2016 CFL Jersey Launch Preview: West Division
B.C. Lions
What we know: Black is the new orange. B.C. has been one of the few teams that has been very forth coming with hints of their new look. The Lions unveiled a few teaser videos last week featuring Adam Bighill in a dark locker room, which aside from being a running back’s nightmare, had some interesting things of note jersey wise. From the teasers, there appears to be absolutely no white on the home set. The helmet is black with a black facemask, single orange stripe, orange “BC” right above the facemask, and orange Lions logo on the sides. The jersey is all black with a horizontal orange stripe on the shoulder and orange numbers. The pants appear to be black with the same orange stripe down the leg.
What is rumoured: The team hasn’t teased their away jersey but one would assume that it would be very similar to the home just swap white for black on the jersey and keep the black pants and helmet.
What we hope for: This could be the best look out of the bunch coming out on the 12th. Will the lack of white numbers be a pain for the media and fans to follow (as with the Redblacks home jersey and Lions signature look)? Only time will tell…
Calgary Stampeders
What we know: The Stamps unveiled a teaser of their home jersey recently and if you look very closely it appears they are using their pointed signature series “Outlaw” numbers. Other than that it looks pretty similar to what they already have.
What is rumoured: Not much. The biggest buzz coming out of Calgary about the Adidas switch was Bo Levi Mitchell tweeting out pictures of prototype footballs.
What we hope for: The current Stampeders look is one of their best since Doug Flutie was at the helm, and they should keep something similar. However, similar doesn’t add to the dollars in the bank, so change is coming.
Edmonton Eskimos
What we know: Like their cousins to the south, its been all quiet with the reigning Grey Cup champions.
What is rumoured: Absolutely nothing. There is not even a blurry Instagram from an intern to be found.
What we hope for: Their home uniforms are close to perfect, honouring their past in a modern way. However, their away set is a tire fire. There is a green helmet, and there are thick green side panels on the white jersey with green pants; it just doesn’t work, and at certain angles it is hard to tell who the home team is. Hopefully the Eskimos find away to maintain the link with their past while still moving forward.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
What we know: The Riders released a teaser this past week and you couldn’t really tell much about the new jersey other than that it’s green and it has the updated logo on it. Darian Durant mentioned on Twitter that he isn’t “a fan of the dill pickle look,” which means the Riders home look, like the Lions’, will be a monochrome affair. Also like the Lions the numbers appear to be one colour, white, but…
What is rumoured: Early in the development of the new jerseys, the Last Word on Sports CFL department received a description from a trusted source that the Riders were going to go Reebok Signature Look “Wheat” numbers full time, like the Stampeders’ “Outlaw” numbers. The same source also stated that the jerseys were similar to what the Riders wear now, with white added to the shoulder yokes. That may have changed under the new regime, or possibly that was an early concept that never got past the first stages of development. We will see on the 12th.
What we hope for: Most of Rider Nation would tell you that nothing looks better than the Racing Stripe retro jerseys, and if they had their way the Riders would wear those full time. Simple is better when it comes to the Riders, and it would be a great way to honor Mosaic Stadium in its final year.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
What we know: The Bombers are going full old school in their new look. The team has sent a few images of their new look, featuring royal blue with white and gold horizontal sleeve stripes. They are basically using their throwback jersey, minus the gold collar and the plain W as opposed the “W-Ball” logo.
What is rumoured: The gold jerseys are dead as the dodo. The word around Winnipeg is that the Bombers are going back to the typical white jersey for their away uniforms.
What we hope for: Full retro with a modern touch will be a decent look for the Bombers. While some fans will hate that the gold jersey will be gone, it doesn’t look as clean with royal blue as it does with navy, so it’s probably better off being retired.
