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Revolution gets a new kit

Kelyn Rowe models the Revs’ new kit. New England Revolution

The Revolution’s new uniform finally gets it white.

After years of taking the field in navy-heavy patriotic jerseys and shorts, the Major League Soccer team is finally putting the white back in red, white, and blue. The team, which opens its season Saturday night in Houston, unveiled its redesigned kit (soccer speak for jersey, shorts, and socks) Tuesday, and the news was the debut of white shorts.

“It’s a dramatic shift from where we’ve been,” said Cathal Conlon, director of marketing for the Revolution. “You always look for ways to make it new and different.”

Designed with a fashion-minded team at Adidas, the uniform arrives on the heels of Nike’s debut of a mostly white US World Cup uniform earlier this week. US captain Clint Dempsey said in a press release: “We will be travelling all over Brazil and playing in a lot of different conditions, so the innovative Nike designs will serve us well.”

But reaction on social media was just as heated as the expected 100-degree temperatures in Brazil.

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The new US Soccer uniforms.NIKE

On Twitter, one fan, @DEDoop2, wrote: “the new US Soccer jersey is boring and HORRIBLE! Start over! Redesign!” while soccer writer Nate Beckman dissed the preppy polo shirt: “US soccer is going to private school. Paired with khakis?”

But back to New England, where the Revs’ white shorts are meant to balance the navy jersey and socks. Conlon said the overarching theme is “Made in New England,” and there are numerous nods to the team’s roots.

The six stripes on the socks represent the New England states, and inside the neck of the jersey reads “New England EST 1996.” (Guess they’re referring to the team, not the region.) Finally, the Flag of New England, which fans often wave at games, gets prime real estate on the back of the jersey above the player’s name and number.

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“It’s the point of most respect,” he said. “There’s a huge local backing here.”


Jill Radsken can be reached at jill.radsken@globe.com.