Why doesn't the NHL allow both teams wear their home jerseys during a game?

[Giant Panda]

Money plays a big role, gotta sell as many jersey variants as possible

 

[BurgoShark]

Money plays a big role, gotta sell as many jersey variants as possible

True.

I think the home/away jersey concept originated for practical reasons (B&W tv, avoiding clashes, etc.) but once the jersey sales become a thing the sport was stuck with it.

 

[Breakers]

The NHL is aware of certain disabilities from certain players in regards to color and jerseys.

Tyson Jost is colorblind and differentiate between red and green
Justin Schultz is colorblind
Curtis Lazaar is also color blind

 

[Giant Panda]

The NHL is aware of certain disabilities from certain players in regards to color and jerseys.

Tyson Jost is colorblind and differentiate between red and green
Justin Schultz is colorblind
Curtis Lazaar is also color blind

The refs are blind

 

[Halakitlikethat]

I hope the Habs and sens wear their reverse retros against each other

 

[Mickey Marner]

Half the teams in the league have a blue jersey.

 

[DJ Man]

In MLB here is an example of a game between Tampa vs Cleveland where both teams were wearing blue jerseys.

The only difference is Tampa Bay had grey pants and Cleveland had white pants.

Realistically, in baseball you have nine defensive players wearing gloves on the field standing their ground against one to four offensive players doing different things like batting and baserunning, so it's not much of a chore to figure out who's at first and who's on first.

In the other sports, the players mix rather freely, and without distinct colors, it looks like practice.

 

[treple13]

It's like people in this thread are purposely dense.

OP isn't saying red teams should play other red uni teams both in red, or that teams will no longer have white unis.

It wouldn't be hard at all to have a uniform schedule where there was plenty of colour vs. colour.

Take the Western Canada road trip. If you have a red uniform, Flames can wear black, and both Oilers and Canucks can wear blue. If you have a blue uniform, Flames wear red, Oilers wear orange and Canucks wear something that isn't blue (white, green, yellow, black, whatever other colours they've worn).

And some road trips you'll bring white as it's harder to colour match. But home teams wearing white occasionally isn't bad either.

Also, of course you aren't going to generally put Dallas/Minnesota in green against a red team as that's by far the most common colourblindness. You can figure out what combos are easier for everyone to see.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Half the teams in the league have a blue jersey.

If you look at this picture I would say those teams are Toronto, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Columbus, St. Louis, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.

 

[Drake1588]

There actually is an answer to this, and the answer is money. The road team always wears whites. At home, teams can wear their regular colors, or their thirds, fourths, or however many sets the team might have at a given time.

In the past, communications have not always been solid and a team was planning to wear its thirds at home, only the road team was unaware. It's about logistics. This way, the road team always knows just what color gear to pack (whites). Could they pack two sets of gear on the road? Sure. Multiply this across the league for 82 games each, and it makes for a ton of additional travel costs. So this way simplifies things for the team travel coordinators, and removes the risk of a cockup due to communications foul ups.

 

[LeafsNation75]

There actually is an answer to this, and the answer is money. The road team always wears whites. At home, teams can wear their regular colors, or their thirds, fourths, or however many sets the team might have at a given time.

In the past, communications have not always been solid and a team was planning to wear its thirds at home, only the road team was unaware. It's about logistics. This way, the road team always knows just what color gear to pack (whites). Could they pack two sets of gear on the road? Sure. Multiply this across the league for 82 games each, and it makes for a ton of additional travel costs. So this way simplifies things for the team travel coordinators, and removes the risk of a cockup due to communications foul ups.

In the 2003-04 Season when the NHL changed it where the home team would wear their dark jerseys and the road team would wear their white jerseys, this was the alternate jersey Toronto had that time. Since it was already white they had no problems wearing it on the road, especially in the 2004 playoffs since they used that for their road games against Ottawa and Philadelphia.

Plus when the home team would wear white prior to the 2003-04 Season, that's the jersey Toronto was wearing in the 2002 and 2003 playoffs for their home playoff games.

 

[adsfan]

I was at a minor league game (IHL). The Milwaukee Admirals wore dark blue jerseys (Old Glory Blue) and the visitors (Peoria Rivermen) wore light blue jerseys. I thought it was going to be a problem, but as a fan, I got used to it in about 5 minutes. I think that Peoria had played the night before in Chicago and their white jerseys didn't get laundered.

You can see the Admirals old blue jerseys in the video lnk.

Something similar happened another time and the Admirals switched jerseys and called it "Reverse Jersey Night".

 

[MadLuke]

In the past, communications have not always been solid and a team was planning to wear its thirds at home, only the road team was unaware. It's about logistics. This way, the road team always knows just what color gear to pack (whites). Could they pack two sets of gear on the road? Sure. Multiply this across the league for 82 games each, and it makes for a ton of additional travel costs. So this way simplifies things for the team travel coordinators, and removes the risk of a cockup due to communications foul ups.

That explain why a team would always wear white, but why the NHL disallow a team to wear their colours on the road if they are ready to pay for it and bring the 2 sets and so on seem to be more than a question of saving them money by force.

Risk of even for a team trying to do things right and spend the extra money to remove some of the risk of a mixup (always still bring the white equipment) that it would still happen I imagine could be a reason or the color blind audience issue, it is quite prevalent.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Red v Blue is the best.

How much of that helped it being an outdoor game compared to a regular game played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto or Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

 

[Butch 19]

Realistically, in baseball you have nine defensive players wearing gloves on the field standing their ground against one to four offensive players doing different things like batting and baserunning, so it's not much of a chore to figure out who's at first and who's on first.
.

And you would be wrong. It's (can be) hard to tell who's who on plays at the bases. - especially 2nd base.

Spring training is the worst where both teams will essentially wear the same colors / design.

 

[westc2]

Because they designed those jerseys so they'd have good contrast against each other. When I play hockey, if one team isn't primarily white jerseys and the other NOT, I get really confused about which players are on my team out of the corner of my eye.

 

[LeafsNation75]

And you would be wrong. It's (can be) hard to tell who's who on plays at the bases. - especially 2nd base.

Spring training is the worst where both teams will essentially wear the same colors / design.

Here is an example of that from a Spring Training game between Toronto and Tampa Bay, even though the Blue Jays jersey is a darker shade of blue.

 

[kook10]

It would be cool if they just did this (or 3rds) regularly for nationally broadcast Saturday games. It wouldn't be difficult to figure out. It would be like dressing up for the occasion.

 

[StreetHawk]

Here is an example of that from a Spring Training game between Toronto and Tampa Bay, even though the Blue Jays jersey is a darker shade of blue.

There is good contrast here, but when Cleveland/Boston wear their dark blue/black uniforms or the Reds/Cardinals wear their reds it can be a bit confusing. But, in baseball, when the ball is in play the fielders have designated areas where they are supposed to be. So that other infielders and outfielders know where to throw the ball to for a double play/force out or hitting a cutoff man or to throw out a runner.

Same for the pitcher in a pickoff attempt. They are throwing to a spot more than locating their teammates on a pick off attempt.

 

[civic204]

Team's wearing white 50% of the time has got to go, especially with the success of the reverse retro jerseys.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Won't some people say the Maple Leafs and Lighting jerseys already have color clashes no matter who the home and road teams are, because it looks like Tampa used the same color blue Toronto has had for years.

I mean, that's nothing compared to two teams wearing the same uniform.

 

[Butch 19]

There is good contrast here, but when Cleveland/Boston wear their dark blue/black uniforms or the Reds/Cardinals wear their reds it can be a bit confusing. But, in baseball, when the ball is in play the fielders have designated areas where they are supposed to be. So that other infielders and outfielders know where to throw the ball to for a double play/force out or hitting a cutoff man or to throw out a runner.

Same for the pitcher in a pickoff attempt. They are throwing to a spot more than locating their teammates on a pick off attempt.

add the Angels to that list. (the red and dark navy / black) It's ugly baseball.

 

[Sheppy]

Imagine watching the Leafs & Lightning.

 

[Chloraflora]

Makes you wonder how soccer got to be so popular despite not having one team wear white in every game...

 

[Rubi]

How will all those people watching games on black & white tv's be able to tell the teams apart if one team isn't wearing white jerseys?