Before the hockey strike, the teams used to wear the white jerseys for home games, then it switched. Why?

Question

OK. You're right - it was a lock out.

Answer 1

There were several factors in play.

The switch, was made prior to the lock-out.

Obviously, merchandise sales was a big one. "Dark" jerseys are a better seller for most teams and this allows the fans at the game to match what the players are wearing on the ice. Come playoff time it also helps get home crowds unified with a common theme resulting in a "sea of red" if you are a calgary flames fan, "reveal your teal" if you are a Sharks fan and so on.

Secondly, and this was the primary reason. Most teams third jerseys were a dark color. If teams wanted to wear the third jerseys at home it required the visitors to wear the traditional home whites. With the switch to home teams always wearing dark jerseys, a team can wear their third jersey at home and not have visitors wear something other than the traditional visiting whites.

Some teams have chosen to schedule a specific night for third jersey usage while others target specific games. The San Jose Sharks for example, have "Black Thursday". They wear the third jersey at all Thursday night homegames. Their opponnents wear white whether they are in the home teal, or 3rd jersey black.

Answer 2

It wasn't a strike it was a lock out and it happened long before the lockout.

When teams started coming out with 3rd jerseys. Things got complicated and expensive. They now had to take 2 sets on the road, and remember each player has 3 or 4 jersey's. (Fighters have more, you can't wear a ripped or blood stained sweater.) There was added cost, and weight in relation to traveling and also if you can believe it not all rinks have laundry facilities for away teams, so they had to dry clean all the time. The league and the PA didn't want to get rid of the 3rd jersey though, it was making money, so they just switched to white on the road. Home fans can enjoy the dark colored sweater options. And it wasn't that big of a deal because that's how it was back in the day, white on the road!

Answer 3

It's all merchandising... a way for more people to see different jerseys and in an ideal situation buy both (or even three as some teams have a third jersey). It's all about the $$.

Answer 4

I don't know why, but I think its cause they look better. FYI, they didn't wait for the strike, it happened somewhere between 02-03 and 03-04. It may have happened later than that, but I know it changed before the lockout.

I like it better that way. The dark ones look more customized, because the color you choose becomes the main color. On the road the main color is always white, which doesn't go as well since the ice is white.

GO STARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

It's just something to catch people's eyes that's all. I used to think that it had something to do with a protest to the labour situation at the time, but my prof told me otherwise. Too bad though, I like the home whites; it just looks stupid to have the Leafs wear the blue now at the ACC. Full blue and ACC don't mix.

Answer 6

marketing. Colored Jerseys always sold better than white ones/ So if your team was at home, and you attended the game, What better way to display your teams' colors

Answer 7

it was like that back in the good old days meaning in the 50's and and earlier. all teams back then were wearing dark colors for home games. they decided to bring it back and they can make some money on it.

Answer 8

Coloured jersey's would sell more for home games.

Answer 9

I play hockey at the International Level on USA SELECT but i know it is still the same

Answer 10

It wasn't a strike, it was a lock out.There is a difference you know.