BOSTON – With just four days remaining until the start of the 2014 Major League Soccer season, the New England Revolution gave its fans one more important glimpse of the upcoming squad tonight when the team unveiled its new primary kits at a special event at Royale as part of MLS’ “Jersey Week.”

With a fresh, clean look heading into a season, the Revolution’s new uniform – designed in concert by the Revolution and adidas, Major League Soccer’s exclusive uniform supplier – is a sleek departure from the team’s primary kit used the last two seasons.

The new design features:

A simple dark navy jersey that is significantly lighter in weight than previous years

A larger, re-designed logo for the team’s official jersey partner, UnitedHealthcare

Three red stripes down both shoulders of the jersey

The Flag of New England centered between players’ shoulders on the back

“New England EST 1996” printed on the inside neck of the jersey

A red, white and blue interwoven stripe across the back, above the players’ names

White shorts with three red stripes down the sides

Blue socks with thin horizontal white lines spaced evenly down the leg and foot

“We’re very pleased with this design and are excited to begin wearing it,” Revolution president Brian Bilello said. “We worked with adidas to integrate some key design elements into the kit that are important to our club. For a long time, our primary kit has been solid navy, with only lesser red and white accents. We wanted this primary uniform to reinforce the region’s Revolutionary identity by having a greater balance of red, white and blue.

“The Flag of New England is also a key icon for our club, one which our supporters have been instrumental in growing. Unlike some teams that have their key icon or identifier on the ‘jock tag’ on the lower seam of the jersey, we were insistent that the flag be very visible and somewhere that everyone could see. And there is no better place than right above the players’ names and numbers – reminding everyone that they’re all part of New England,” Bilello said.

UnitedHealthcare, which is now in its fourth season as the team’s jersey partner, also adjusted the logo it uses on the jersey to coincide with the release of the new kits.

“We launched our relationship with the Revolution three years ago to raise awareness among New Englanders and soccer fans nationwide about the benefits of living healthier lives,” said Tom Paul, chief consumer officer of UnitedHealthcare. “Our collaboration with the Revs includes a first-of-its-kind online health and well-being program, community events with Revs players and team personnel and the UnitedHealthcare logo on the jersey.”

Other design changes were also important to the club.

“New England EST. 1996” printed into the jersey’s neck is one of the last things the Revolution players see before pulling the jersey over their heads. One of the original MLS clubs, launched in 1996, the Revolution represents the region’s soccer fans and is a reminder that the Revs players play for them as they dress for a match.

Finally, the thinly striped socks, in part, represent the ties that bind New Englanders: six separate states, joined together by a common identity.

The new 2014 jersey, which the team is scheduled to debut in competition this Saturday, March 8, when the Revs open the season at Houston, is now available for purchase at revolutionsoccer.net and mlsgear.com. Authentic jerseys are $120, while replica jerseys are $85. Women’s and children’s versions are also available. All jerseys can be customized with names and numbers for an additional fee of $20 through the Gillette Stadium ProShop.

The team’s secondary uniform – an all-white design with red accents and navy stripes – will be used for the third straight season this year when needed. However, the updated UnitedHealthcare logo will adorn this year’s white jerseys. The Revolution is scheduled to debut new secondary jerseys in 2015.

Primary and secondary kits are used in two-year cycles. The Revolution’s primary kit is scheduled to be updated in even years, while the secondary kit is scheduled for odd years.