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Tampa Bay Rays revealed their new Nike MLB City Connect Series Uniform today. The uniform was inspired by the skateboarding culture of the area, while adding a few nods towards the history of the team. The uniforms will make their debut on the field during a weekend series between May 3rd and May 5th. They celebrate the “Grit and Glow”, not just of the team, but also of the vibrant culture in Tampa Bay.
Overall, it’s a black uniform—this is the “Grit,” a black cap, black jersey, very dark grey pants, and skateboard grip tape patterning. The “Glow”, meanwhile, features a variety of neon colours. Blues, violets, and even greens are used as both solid colors and gradients. They’re also sprinkled around the black uniform.
The new City Connect uniform of the Tampa Bay Rays is deeply rooted within the culture. It draws significant inspiration from counterculture and the region’s vibrant skating scene. This is reflected in features like the aforementioned skateboard grip tape textures on the jerseys and caps, mimicking the surface of a skateboard and the tactile feel that is central to the skateboarding culture.
Now available: Shop the latest Tampa Bay Rays City Connect jerseys, caps and other merchandise.
In addition to skateboarding, the uniform incorporates visual motifs that reference the Rays’ own history and those that echo the Tampa Bay area—such as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
What really struck home with us [while designing this uniform] Bill Walsh is the Chief Business officer of the Tampa Bay Rays. In a conversation with SportsLogos.Net. It was a lot of fun. The Tampa Bay area has a unique vibe, and we wanted to capture that. The process has been fun.”
The words “Tampa Bay” are a welcome addition to the Rays’ uniforms. They have not been on them since 2007. Their “fauxback alternate jersey” The ’10s) This jersey features “Tampa Bay”, a wordmark in black, which is angled upwards from the bottom right corner to the top left. The wordmark from the original Tampa Bay Devil Rays road jerseys of 1998-2000. The new wordmark features a pattern reminiscent of grip tape, with the edges outlined in a gradient blue-green (another element that is familiar), with flames bursting out at each letter.
“[The Tampa Bay wordmark] is such an important part of the story for us,” said Warren Hypes, Tampa Bay Rays Vice President, Creative & Brand, in this same call with SportsLogos.Net. “It’s the first time ‘Tampa Bay is now back in the uniforms since 2007.. [For the flame logo]”We took our inspiration from the skateboarding culture and its effect on music, hip-hop, fashion, punk.
A pattern on the black base is meant to look like a shirt that has been left in Florida’s sun for a bit too long. It will slowly fade to a greyish-brown shade.
I personally love the new cap logo—it ingeniously merges a Ray with the Bay (rhymin’!) Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The logo appears on a crown in black with a purple button and visor.
The story of this team is important because we represent a whole region and not just one city. Sunshine Skyway Bridge is one of Tampa Bay’s most famous landmarks. “I think it’s a wonderful example of connecting people and the area together,” said Hypes. We had some fun with it. As the gradient descends beneath the bridge you can see water flowing under it in the logo.
The Devil Rays are almost the same as this version. Minnesota Twins Minnie and Paul’s logoThe image shows the two communities holding hands across a river. It’s brilliant, and I hope the Rays find a way to incorporate this into their regular identity somehow… maybe as a sleeve patch?
The grip tape is included on the underbill. Interior sweatband features 360-degree gradient goodness. It transitions from blue to green, and then back.
Player names appear on the back in a neon green with an arched shape. The player numbers are based off the TAMPA BEACH wordmark on the front, but without the flames. This numbering, which would have fit perfectly into the overall look of the original Devil Rays uniforms, incorporates the grip tape pattern and also includes the gradient-style trim around it.
Players sleeves are the latest in player sleeves. Rays “sun glint” logo in green. The gradient stripe appears on only one arm, leaving the other blank. It is the same pattern on both pants and sleeves. Why? The design is asymmetrical and quirky, like Tampa Bay and the Rays.
We’ve got a great accent down the left-hand side on our pants and it goes up the right-hand side on our sleeves. Hypes explained that it’s a way to stand out, not only as an organization but also as a regional entity, by doing things in a different manner. This design captures not only our innovation spirit but visually represents Tampa Bay’s dynamic and diverse nature. It is more than just a design choice; the symmetry represents the delicate balance of tradition and innovation, which are central to both our team and the community. This reflects the commitment of our team to embrace and be different in every aspect.
Now available: Shop the latest Tampa Bay Rays City Connect jerseys, caps and other merchandise.
On the rear of the logo, which is the part that goes into your pants (called the jocktag), you can see a sun glint-styled pelican. It is set on an oval, similar to that of the Devil Rays original logoThe three palms are inspired by the historic marker sign located at Perry Harvey Sr. Park, while behind them is a pelican. The three palm trees are inspired by the sign of the historical marker at Perry Harvey Sr. Park. While the pelican represents St. Petersburg, the signs were based on the old historic markers located in the park. The St. Pete Pelicans of the Florida State Negro League, who played in St. Pete from 1940 to 1950, also used this symbol.
The three palm tree logo is meant to represent the subtropical breeze beneath Florida palm trees as you dive into the bowl. Hypes explained that it was an ode in honor of the historical marker sign located at Perry Harvey Sr. Park. It is the first skatepark to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a Florida Heritage Site. The three-palm logo is used on all marker signs at Florida Heritage Sites. This logo not only honors the park’s rich history, but it also represents the vibrant and laidback spirit of Tampa Bay. “The palm trees that are synonymous with Florida’s scenic beauty, and leisure, have been depicted to invite fans and athletes alike to feel like they’re part of the local environment.”
On the front left of the pant and the collar back, a new Devil Ray Skateboarding Logo, which is another one of mine, has been placed. Design aims to combine skateboarding and baseball into the overall identity of the team. The logo shows a devil ray performing a skateboarding trick called a “stale fish” (get it? The logo shows a devil ray performing a skateboarding trick called’stale fish’ (get it? The ray’s front is adorned with purple baseball stitches. Another clever design element is the skate.
“My favourite little Easter egg about this is that the ray is shown doing the trick called a stale fish — when you go up and grab the board from the back,” said Hypes. If you’re not familiar with skateboarding you may miss it. But for those who are, it is a fun Easter Egg.
Stance socks will be included as part of this set. To break the darkness up, these socks feature a vibrant blue color with the Devil Ray bridge logo and TAMPA Bay flaming text on both sides.
At Tropicana, today from 2pm onwards the Rays are holding a City Connect Launch Event to “officially” reveal the new uniforms. On Thursday, May 2, a celebration of the new uniforms will be held at St. Pete Pier at 5pm. In addition, over the course of the next few months the Rays plan to host City Connect watch parties. They will begin on May 18th at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach at 2pm, then move onto Midtown Tampa at 3pm, and finally Payne Park at 3pm, all at Sarasota. All parties feature live Rays broadcasts, which allow fans to support their team while enjoying festive environments celebrating local landmarks.
TAMPA BEACH RAYS UNIFORM SCHEDULE 2024 CITYCONNECT
Rays players will be wearing their City Connect uniforms for fifteen games this year, including thirteen at Tropicana. The Rays will wear them as their regular Saturday home uniforms after the May 3-5 opening weekend. On Fridays, they will still wear the throwback Devil Rays jerseys.
The New York Mets will be playing on Friday, May 3.
The New York Mets will be the opponents on Saturday, May 4.
Sunday, May 5, vs New York Mets
New York Yankees on May 11, Saturday
Kansas City Royals, Saturday May 25, 8:00 a.m.
Sunday, June 9 vs Baltimore Orioles
Atlanta Braves, Saturday June 15, at Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals, Saturday June 29
Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, 13 July
Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, July 27, 2018
St Louis Cardinals, Wednesday August 7, at St Louis Cardinals
Sunday, August 10, vs Baltimore Orioles
Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday August 17, 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 31 vs San Diego Padres
Saturday, September 21 vs Toronto Blue Jays
The road games are worth noting (yes, these guys will be playing on the road! Both clubs will wear their City Connect uniforms on the 15th of June in Atlanta, and 7th of August in St. Louis. No, the Cardinals have not unveiled theirs yet, but they will have between now and then.
MLBShop is now offering the latest Tampa Bay Rays City Connect hats, jerseys and shirts.
Rays will be the third team that unveils their City Connect uniform in the 2024 Season, following the releases of the Philadelphia Phillies You can also find out more about the following: New York Mets. This season there will be six new uniforms: Cleveland, Detroit Los Angeles Minnesota St. Louis Toronto.
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