Uni Watch: White or colored jerseys? (2024)

Aug 12, 2014

Which uniform does a team wear for a home game? It depends on which sport we're talking about. In baseball and basketball, the home team usually wears white. In football, the home team usually wears a color. And in hockey -- well, it depends on which era we're talking about.

Until 1951, some NHL teams had only one uniform, so the question of what to wear at home was often moot. In 1955, the league mandated that teams wear colors at home and white on the road. That arrangement was reversed in 1970, when teams began wearing white at home. And then it was reversed again in 2003, when teams went back to wearing colors at home, the format that's still in place today.

That brings up one of those classic questions that fans can debate for hours: Which uniform is better at home: white or colors?

And then there's a related but distinct question: Does a hockey team look better wearing a white uniform or a colored uniform?

Uni Watch has always been in favor of NHL teams wearing white at home. Part of this is no doubt because your friendly uniform columnist grew up in the white-at-home era, but there's more to it than that. The feeling here at Uni Watch HQ is that most NHL teams just look better in white. For starters, the pants on the white unis always provide a nice measure of contrast, while some of the colored unis are essentially monochromatic, which doesn't provide as much visual interest. Sure, some colored uniforms do have contrasting pants, but most of those uniforms still seem less satisfying than their white counterparts.

Or at least that's this observer's perspective. What's yours? Let's take a team-by-team look at the NHL's white/color divide. For the table shown below, you can click on each team's name to see its basic white and colored unis (we'll leave alternate uniforms out of this discussion) and then vote for which one you think is better. Remember, we're not talking about just the jerseys here -- we're talking about the visual impact of the full uniforms, including the pants and socks. Ready?

Here we go:

OK, so Uni Watch's preference is clear: White trounced color, 21 to 5 (with four cop-outs ties). Will you folks out there agree? It'll be interesting to find out.

Paul Lukas predicts the NHL will go back to having teams wear white at home at some point within the next decade. If you liked this column, you'll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program, be added to his mailing list so you'll always know when a new column has been posted or just ask him a question? Contact him here.

Uni Watch: White or colored jerseys? (2024)

FAQs

Are away jerseys white or color? ›

In the National Football League (NFL), most teams often wear their "official team colour" at home, with the road team wearing white in most cases. White road uniforms gained prominence with the rise of television in the 1950s. A "white vs. colour" game was easier to follow in the black-and-white television era.

Why do the Dallas Cowboys always wear white? ›

The idea, Schramm thought, was that the Cowboys, then playing at the Cotton Bowl, would be cooler in the heat in white jerseys. Dallas kept the home whites tradition going, as they moved to the partially open-air Texas Stadium in Irving.

Are white jerseys for home or away? ›

Home teams traditionally wear white, while away teams sport colors that contrast with the home team's jersey. This tradition originated in rugby where players would change clothes between halves to create an effect of “a different team”.

Which team wears white NFL? ›

With the choice being made by the Eagles, this means that as the designated road team, the Chiefs will be wearing white jerseys. The last time the Chiefs made it this far was in 2020 when they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9, in Super Bowl LV and wore their red jerseys.

What color jersey do you wear away? ›

The home team shall wear their darker colored jerseys and the visiting team shall wear their lighter colored jerseys. If there is still a conflict, the home team must change. For example: If a team has red and black as their colors, their home jersey will be their black kit and their away jersey shall be their red kit.

When did away jerseys become white? ›

Until 1951, some NHL teams had only one uniform, so the question of what to wear at home was often moot. In 1955, the league mandated that teams wear colors at home and white on the road. That arrangement was reversed in 1970, when teams began wearing white at home.

What color jerseys do Cowboys wear for away games? ›

MOST often teams choose their darker uniforms with their team colors on it for home games. So thus most often the road team is wearing white or gray. When the Cowboys started, almost every team wore their color jersey at home, but Tex Schramm wanted the Dallas fans to see all of the colors of the NFL.

Why don't Cowboys wear blue? ›

“The 'Cowboys Star Blue,' which is the pants you see with the home white jerseys now, actually originated with Tex Schramm. Apparently, he had a car that he had seen – I'm not sure if he owned the car or if he just saw it – but he saw a car with that color interior and fell in love with it. So we had dye lots.

How do NFL teams decide which jersey to wear? ›

By July 1, each club must declare to NFL Football Operations which jersey color it wants to wear (either white or the official team color) for each of its home games in the coming season. Visiting clubs must wear the opposite, based on the home team's choice.

Is it OK to wear an away jersey to a home game? ›

Basketball answer: it's fine to wear an away team jersey at a home game. Fans follow players throughout college before they get to the pros.

Why do NBA teams not wear white at home anymore? ›

Eventually, every team in the league had at least one alternate jersey to use at home games, and the inevitable color-swap must have been confusing to the casual viewer. In an effort to avoid such confusion and simplify team equipment managers' lives, the league swapped the home and away color scheme.

Why were white jerseys home? ›

The home team would wear dark, the visitor white. It was Hockey Night In Canada that suggested that the NHL switch in 1970 to the home team wearing white jerseys in order to show off visiting team's away jerseys (which were deemed more interesting) for colour broadcasts.

What NFL team has the most Caucasian players? ›

For one, no other team in the NFL has more white players and less black players than the Eagles do. The Eagles have 25 players identified as white, 27 as black, and 1 as Hispanic. The team with the second most white players and second least black players is the Houston Texans with 20 and 30, respectively.

What are the whitest positions in the NFL? ›

Despite a nearly 50-50 split along the offensive line, at center more than 81 percent of the players are white. Conversely, cornerback is the blackest position on the field: 99.4 percent of players are African-American. On defense overall, roughly 80 percent of the players are black.

Do NFL players get a new jerseys every game? ›

No, players in the National Football League do not repeat jerseys, and they haven't for a while. In-game worn jerseys aren't worn again by the players once they've been used in a match.

Which color jersey is best? ›

Just like yellow and purple, green and orange make a great match because they are placed directly across each other on the Colour Wheel. This pairing is particularly gentle and pleasing to the eyes.

Can you wash a white jersey with colors? ›

With jerseys, it's important you don't wash them with any other apparel. The dye in these garments — especially blue jeans — can run and cause color streaks in your jersey. You should also wash white jerseys and black jerseys by themselves separate from any other jersey colors.

How do you look cute in jersey? ›

How to Style a Jersey, According to Fashion Stylists
  1. Tuck It In.
  2. Elevate the Look With a Pop of Leather.
  3. Ditch Bottoms Altogether.
  4. Crop It.
  5. Opt For Leggings as Pants.
  6. Layer Up.
Jan 31, 2023

Why are all blacks wearing white jerseys? ›

While every New Zealand rugby player growing up wanted to wear the All Black jersey, the novelty of playing in white was something the players appreciated for its uniqueness. Because of how schedules fell, some players could play 50-60 Tests and never experience playing in a different coloured jersey.

Do home teams wear white or dark uniforms? ›

Many teams have a home uniform which is mostly white and referred to as the "home whites". The road team will generally wear a version of its uniform with one of the darker of its official colors as the main color, or in baseball with a grey main color referred to as the "road greys".

What are white jerseys? ›

Numerous cycling stage races award a white jersey to signify the current leader and overall winner of a certain competition, or to signify the best young rider in the race.

What color jersey do Raiders wear for away games? ›

Since then, the mascot has remained the same. The actual uniforms, on the other hand, have been primarily the same. For away games, the Raiders don silver pants and white jerseys with black numbers.

What colors do the 49ers wear away? ›

Being they have the white shirts, they can easily get those things stained in condiments still, but the gold pants can protect them from any food fouls. It's a bit odd the 49ers can't wear all white. Technically they are still in white jerseys designated for away teams, even if the pants match.

What color are away jerseys in college football? ›

The home team must wear dark-colored jerseys, visitors light-colored. Visitors are responsible for changing jerseys in the event both teams wear dark; with the referee's permission the home team may change jerseys.

What color were most Cowboys? ›

Cowboys as portrayed in Hollywood were almost always gun-slinging heroes, and they almost always had another thing in common: They were white. This is not how the West really was. Really, the Western frontier in the late 1800s was as diverse as America is today, and maybe even more so.

Did Cowboys actually wear jeans? ›

All traditional Wild West cowboy outfits use jeans as the pants. This material was made popular at the end of the 19th century. Likewise, it was common to wear denim shirts.

Did Cowboys wear pink? ›

Real cowboys did not wear spangles on the windy prairie. But some wore pink underwear. Before central heating, “Union Suits” were important. The long underwear was available in white, gray, ecru, light blue, and, finally, in 1909, pink.

Can NFL players wear shorts? ›

'” While strict rules prohibit NFL players from wearing anything nontraditional during games, Diggs wears his short shorts whenever he's practicing, working out, or doing other game prep.

Do NFL players get a new helmet every game? ›

Do NFL Players get a new helmet every game? No, the league does not provide new helmets for each game. Players are only allowed to wear helmets that are approved by the NFL. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment certifies the helmets.

Do NFL players pay for their helmets? ›

NFL players are required to wear a helmet, but once they choose the one they want to play in, their team pays for it. There is no limit on how many helmets an NFL player can have, as long as they are all used within the season.

What do players wear under their jersey? ›

Are they sports bras, or are the football players actually wearing vests? The simple answer is: Yes, football players wear vests during training and games to track and measure their performance on the field. They are wearing a GPS vest that just happens to look like a sports bra.

Is it OK to wear a retired players jersey? ›

Retired players' jerseys are not restricted to the field, and they can be worn anywhere, especially if they are retired. You should be able to wear your player's jersey for as long as you want as long as he is not traded, so there is no reason why you cannot.

Do you wear a shirt under a sports jersey? ›

Because basketball jerseys can be relatively revealing, wear a tee shirt underneath them to adhere to public etiquette. In warm weather or at the beach, basketball jerseys can also acceptably be worn as tank tops. However, most circ*mstances will call for wearing an undergarment as well.

Why don't MLB teams wear grey at home? ›

Legend has it that in the early days of professional baseball, the visiting team had no access to laundry facilities and thus the players were not able to clean their uniforms. The darker uniforms or the “road greys” could conceal the dirt and grass stains better than the white uniforms.

Why are so many NFL teams wearing white at home? ›

Because dark colors absorb and retain more heat. So for these early-season games, when the weather is still fairly balmy, more and more teams are opting to wear white at home and make the visiting team sweat it out in the dark shirts.

When did NBA teams stop wearing white at home? ›

Until the 2017–18 season, the league mandated the away team wear dark colored jerseys and the home team light colored jerseys.

Why LSU wears white jerseys home? ›

It started in 1958 when Tigers coach Paul Dietzel decided that his team should wear white at home. When LSU won the national championship that year, well, the white jerseys were destined for longevity in Baton Rouge.

Why do the Cowboys never wear their home jerseys? ›

When the Cowboys entered the league as an expansion team in 1960, then-team president Tex Schramm decided they would wear white jerseys at home. It gave fans a chance to see the different colored jerseys of visiting teams.

Why do the Lakers wear white on Sundays? ›

Since 2003, the Los Angeles Lakers have occasionally bared their white uniforms to battle, most notably on Sunday games and Christmas Day. The white jerseys were designed by Jeannie Buss, symbolizing a tribute to the late Laker's PA announcer, Chick Hearn.

What NFL team has the most black fans? ›

The Los Angeles Kings have the largest percentage of nonwhite fans by a significant margin, followed by the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals.

What race is the biggest in the NFL? ›

In 2022, the greatest share of players by ethnic group in the National Football League (NFL) were black or African American athletes, constituting just over 56 percent of players within the NFL.

What NFL team has the most minorities? ›

Find this useful? Share it with others
  • Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh Steelers 63.16% diverse (1st) ...
  • Houston Texans. Houston Texans 60% diverse (2nd) ...
  • Seattle Seahawks. Seattle Seahawks 59.09% diverse (t-3rd) ...
  • New York Jets. New York Jets 59.09% diverse (t-3rd) ...
  • Chicago Bears. ...
  • New York Giants. ...
  • Dallas Cowboys. ...
  • Miami Dolphins.
Nov 18, 2022

What is the blackest NFL team? ›

The Raiders also had the NFL's highest percentage of Black players (82.3 percent) in 2016, according to ProFootballLogic.

Are there any white NFL cornerbacks? ›

In 2020, Apke was named the starting free safety after beating out Sean Davis during training camp. Due to poor performance to start the season, he lost his starting position after Week 5. He converted to cornerback in 2021, making him the first white NFL player at the position since Dustin Fox in 2008.

What NFL team doesn't have white? ›

Every current NFL team except the Seattle Seahawks has worn white at home at some time in its history.

Do NFL players shower after the game? ›

Showers were always in order following every game regardless of how much you played. This naturally also applies to the backup quarterback who just held a clipboard all game.

How do NFL players use the bathroom during a game? ›

"Guys are peeing all over the sideline in every game, into cups, on the ground, in towels, behind the bench, in their pants, everywhere," says Panthers center Ryan Kalil, who covered this topic and others in The Rookie Handbook, co-authored by Gross and Geoff Hangartner.

What does a NFL helmet cost? ›

NFL Price Guide
Riddell NFL Authentic Full-Size HelmetRiddell NFL Speed Full-Size Replica Helmet
MSRP & MAPP:$359.99$154.99
Unit Price for 1 to 2 units:$239.50$102.50
Unit Price for 3 or more units:$226.75$97.50

Are MLB away jerseys white? ›

If you are the home team – your team is wearing white. If you are the visiting team – your team is wearing grey. But why is it this way? Legend has it that in the early days of professional baseball, the visiting team had no access to laundry facilities and thus the players were not able to clean their uniforms.

Are away baseball jerseys white? ›

In NBA and NCAA basketball, the home team always wears the white uniform. The visiting team wears its colored uniform. In baseball, the starting pitcher of each baseball team decides what color the team will wear today. According to the rules of MLB it is no problem if both teams decide to wear the same colors.

Are all NHL away jerseys white? ›

Since the 2003–04 season, NHL teams typically wear the dark colour at home and the white for road games; there are occasional single-game exceptions.

Why are NHL away jerseys white? ›

Eventually, every team in the league had at least one alternate jersey to use at home games, and the inevitable color-swap must have been confusing to the casual viewer. In an effort to avoid such confusion and simplify team equipment managers' lives, the league swapped the home and away color scheme.

Are black jerseys home or away? ›

Home teams wear dark colors like blue or black on their jersey while away teams wear lighter colors like white or yellow.

Why are baseball home jerseys white? ›

By wearing grey or another dark color the visiting team was better able to conceal the dirt and grass stains that had accumulated on their uniforms over the course of the series. The home team, having access to laundry facilities, was able to wear clean white uniforms each day, hence the term "home whites".

What is the whitest team in baseball? ›

The Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise that broke the color barrier with Jackie Robinson in 1947 and has been a model for diversity in baseball for decades, will field a starting lineup this year that is nearly all white.

What team wears white in sports? ›

The home team shall wear light game jerseys and game shorts and the away team shall wear dark game jerseys and game shorts. This rule may be altered by mutual consent of the competing institutions.” How did this tradition start?

Why did NHL switch home away colors? ›

The decision to make the switch was made to give Blues fans an opportunity to see the clubs' iconic road jersey at a home game, which hasn't been a regular occurrence since the 2001-02 season. Beginning with the 2002-03 season, the NHL required all teams to begin wearing dark jerseys at home.

Which sports have white home jerseys? ›

The home team in baseball typically wears white jerseys and the away team wears gray. However, there are no rules that dictate what color jerseys teams must wear, so some teams choose to wear their white jerseys at home and their gray jerseys on the road.

Why do NHL players tuck their jerseys? ›

Some reporters suggested that enforcing uniform rules was the National Hockey League's attempt to reduce freak accidents where a player's body was cut by skate blade while others said the league was laying down rules for eventually selling advertising space that would display prominently on the entire jersey.

Do they sell away team jerseys at NHL games? ›

No, only home team . Enjoy your game!

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