Major League Soccer 2014
The 2014 season will be last in which 19 teams compete in MLS. In May 2013 it was announced that New York City FC would be awarded the 20th franchise, which was sold for $100m to Manchester City FC (who own 80%) and the New York Yankees (20%). Six months later MLS announced that Orlando City FC would become the first Florida based team since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny folded in 2001. Both franchises are being built from scratch and will enter MLS in 2015. A third expansion franchise has been announced for a team to be based in Miami FLA, which will be part owned by David Beckham who exercised his contract option to purchase an MLS franchise at a discount ($25m) when he ended his playing career last April. Provided Beckham and his associates can secure a new stadium, the Miami team is expected to enter MLS in 2017.
With some exceptions the trend this year is towards understated designs with accent colours reduced to a minimum or removed altogether. Most of the franchises have introduced just one new strip this season but these are now available in "authentic" and (less expensive) "replica" versions.
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Chicago finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last year (12th overall) and reached the semi-finals of the US Open cup. Their new first choice kit is a break with recent tradition by removing the usual chest hoop and dividing the front of the shirt horizontally. The key feature is a graded light blue band with a diamond pattern superimposed. The light blue motif is taken from the city's flag as are the four red stars embroidered into the neck ribbon. The change kit is retained for a third season. The third strip was chosen through a competition among fans for the team's anniversary game against Montreal.
Chivas are wearing a straightforward version of their usual striped shirts and dark blue shorts. The change strip has a curious red inset in the crew neck collar but is otherwise unremarkable.
The state flag of Colorado appears on the lower left of Rapid's shirts and also forms the motif printed across the chest. The blue change strip is retained from last season.
Columbus have updated their all-yellow first kit, which now has a diamond pattern printed into the front of the shirt.
With a mere 16 points, DC United finished last season with the worst record in MLS. It is perhaps appropriate that Leidos, part of America's enormous military-industrial complex now sponsor the team from the nation's capital.
There is an unfamiliar look to Dallas' new home shirt, on which the hoops are now sublimated into the fabric rather than being printed in contrasting white. The change strip is unchanged.
Houston were knocked out of last season's play-offs in the conference finals by Kansas City after finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. "Space blue" has returned as trim on the new change strip while the first choice outfit is unchanged.
The sash motif worn for the last two seasons has been updated to considerable effect in Galaxy's new home strip. The alternatives are unchanged.
Montreal's blue first kit has the fleur de lys embossed into the fabric in the shape of two arms of a cross, motifs taken from the flag of Quebec. A small appliqué fleur de lys is also attached to the lower left of the shirt.
The Revs have introduced a new primary strip. Although the white alternative is retained from last year, two "authentic" versions are on sale in the MLS shop, one of which has last season's sponsor logo.
In any other any other league New York would have been champions after finishing the 2013 regular season with the best record in MLS, winning the Supporter's Shield and a place in the CONCACEF Champions' League. This being the USA, however, they then had to contest the play-offs and were knocked out by Houston. A new change strip is introduced for 2014.
The Zolos' distinctive home strip has been given a facelift, now appearing without the light blue accent colour and is all the better for it. The second and retro third kits are unchanged.
Portland finished top in the Western Conference last year and reached the play-off semi finals, their best finish since they joined MLS in 2011. the home strip is unchanged but a new change kit is introduced that fades from black to rose red on the body (Portland is known as the Rose City) with a subtle thorn effect. The third strip is also new, a retro design based on the colours of the original Portland Timbers team that played in the NASL in 1975-82, and is very good indeed.
Real finished second in the Western Conference last time out and were beaten in a dramatic MLS Cup final by Kansas City that was settled in a penalty shoot out. The new first choice kit is once again predominantly red with gold features. The MLS shop is selling "replicas" for $85 with a plain gold chest band: for an "authentic" replica with the complex detailing fans have to shell out $120.
San Jose have been rebranded and although they have retained their blue/black colours for their first kit, red is now used for their reserve strip, a reference to the NASL team that preceded them. The broken chevrons in the new crest (also embossed into the shirts) invoke the geological fault from which the team takes its name.
Seattle's first and second strips are unchanged and a new third kit in black and rather unpleasant lime green makes its debut. 
Kansas City won the MLS Cup beating Real Salt Lake City 7-6 in a penalty shoot out in their own stadium. The match was played in December when the United States was in the grip of arctic weather and was the coldest match ever played in MLS (-6ºC). The change strip is new.
Toronto have kept their red first kit with its attractive maple leaf motif and introduced a grey second strip. The key feature is a curious arrangement of dark spots on the body.
Vancouver's change kit has been updated for this season. A triple diamond motif, based on the team crest, is embossed in a flowing pattern on the left side of the new shirt.