High above the Dallas skyline, inside Reunion Tower, FC Dallas showed off their new secondary kit for the next two seasons. The all-white design features fine, diagonal stripes and a new tribute badge for Lamar Hunt, both of which include design elements tied back to Dallas architecture.

Tuesday's shirt reveal marked an event celebrating season ticket holders with perfect attendance, and each given their own shirt as a gift.

1 / 7FCD Dallas 2019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 2 / 7FCD 2019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 3 / 72019 FCD Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 4 / 72019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 5 / 72019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 6 / 72019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD) 7 / 72019 Reunion Kit(Jessica Tobias / FCD)

The shirt will replace Dallas' divisive "starry night" design, and follows what appears to be the now league-wide adidas template of secondary -- or "away" kits -- being all-white. Only a few teams remain with a secondary kit that is not all-white*, and in the graphic below you can see just how far the league has gone toward mimicking the dark/white model of the NHL. (Not all kits are represented here.)

2018 MLS kits that are all white or all black/grey. (unknown / unknown)

*DC and Colorado are two teams who have not had all white secondary kits, but, like Dallas, are due to get an update here in the next few weeks. Houston, NYCFC, Columbus and NYRB seem to be the remaining teams without an all-white kit of some kind, but none of those were due to get a new secondary in 2019. New England got a new secondary, and it's all but an all-white design. Seattle is also due a new secondary and rumor is it will be black with pink trim, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Called "The Reunion Kit," the new Huntsmen shirt will continue to feature a left sleeve badge with the "LH" initials, but now in front of a pattern reflective of the Reunion Tower light cage. (We initially thought this pattern would be the base of the entire shirt). The torso's diagonal pattern is "...inspired directly by the Margaret Hunt Hill (Lamar's sister) Bridge with its twisting cables that span the Trinity River." There is Texas flag on the nape of the shirt, and the collar and sleeve trims are a red/navy combo.

In the provided photos, white shorts and socks (with navy trim bits) will round out the kit. There is no indication if blue shorts will continue to be an option as they have been the last couple of seasons.

Fans who may be disappointed in the plainness of an all-white design may or may not find comfort in learning MLS clubs have little leeway with adidas around designs. Clubs give input 18-plus months in advance, adidas shows up with a design and the club reportedly has a very short time to approve or give feedback. There's a very good thread on Twitter (below) about the process from a graphic designer who's been involved. It should also be noted adidas is in the middle of a $700 million-plus contract with MLS for the rights to be the equipment supplier. MLS teams get a new primary and secondary kits on alternating years. Next season the club will get a new primary kit.

With it being MLS kit reveal season, and hot takes on designs pouring out of every tube in the internet, I figured this would be a great time to dispel some common misconceptions and provide some clarity about the process.



A thread. — D.J. Switzer (@wrongsideofpond) February 12, 2019