Eight fan-submitted jersey concepts have been named finalists in the New York Islanders' third-jersey design contest, which the team launched in July with the intent of giving supporters full creative ownership of the design. The team is calling this round the Elite 8. One entry will advance through a bracket to become the next third jersey, scheduled to debut next season. Social media has rejected all eight options.
The premise the contest was built on
When the Islanders launched the contest in July, the logic was that fan authorship would interrupt a years-long cycle of jersey criticism. The franchise has worn multiple jerseys that drew complaints from its own fanbase. Give the crowd the pen, and the crowd cannot reasonably attack the result.
The finalist announcement tested that logic and broke it. Critics emerged across social media whether or not they had submitted designs. Fans whose concepts did not advance formed a ready-made opposition. At least one member of the press also submitted a design that was not selected, adding to the pool of entrants who feel the stronger options were left out.
The eight designs in the bracket
The finalist field covers several directions. One entry uses a navy base with the "ISLANDERS" wordmark and a chest stripe. Another drew direct comparisons to the Edmonton Oilers' old orange jerseys. The full field was described as neither offensive nor exciting, landing somewhere between the two that produced no enthusiasm.
The submission tool the Islanders provided was broadly praised. The criticism is not about the tool. The objection is to the eight designs the Islanders selected from it.
Prize and timeline
Per the team's original release, the winning designer receives a "VIP gameday experience." The bracket runs until one of the eight survives. That design debuts on ice next season as official team equipment.