"Are Toronto's Nightlife-Inspired Jerseys a Slam Dunk or a Foul?"

The Blue Jays are going Night Mode.

Toronto’s nightlife drove the design of their new City Connect uniforms, which was released on social media Thursday night just prior to a launch party on King St. West in downtown Toronto.

“The Blue Jays are at the core of the city and those who call Toronto home know how the city comes alive at night. Our new City Connect uniform aims to emulate that ‘Night Mode’ feeling in the vibrant colours, the rhythmic skyline reflecting off the lake, and all the distinct details that make our city so dynamic,” said Marnie Starkman, the Blue Jays’ executive vice president, business operations. “Toronto’s City Connect uniform breaks from our beloved lineup of traditional uniforms and introduces a bold new fashion statement that captures the rhythm, culture, vibe and spirit of the city.”

With a darker blue base, pops of a brighter blue and red outline the Toronto skyline across the chest. This is the first dark base to a Blue Jays jersey since 2011, the end of the line for the black jerseys, and the Blue Jays are calling this “pitch blue,” inspired by the reflection of Lake Ontario at night. That’s complemented the “hyper royal blue” and “speed red,” which all feature on the cap, where you see a “T” that emulates the pillars of city hall atop a maple leaf.

In the centre of the chest, surrounded by the CN Tower and buildings of downtown Toronto, rests Rogers Centre. If you live in Toronto, you probably have a friend whose condo balcony overlooks part of the stadium.

There will be some features you can’t see when the jerseys are on the players, too. Inside the cap, the Toronto skyline is again featured as a rhythmic heartbeat. Inside the collar of the jersey, where you’d find the tag on a shirt, it reads “Diversity is Our Strength,” which comes from Toronto’s coat of arms.

The Blue Jays will debut these jerseys Friday night when they open their series against the Pirates at Rogers Centre at 7:07 p.m. ET. They’ll continue to appear throughout the season, as well. Keeping with the theme, you’ll only see them at night games:

• June 3, 5, 17, 19, 28

• July 3, 19, 24

• August 8, 21, 23

• September 13, 23, 25
  

Friday’s game will kick off City Connect Week, which will be headlined by a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. City Connect bobblehead giveaway on Monday, June 3, and a City Connect backpack giveaway on Wednesday, June 5.