NY Islanders fans shatter expectations with 30,000 jersey design entries

If there was any doubt about how much New York Islanders fans care about jerseys, it disappeared in less than 24 hours.

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the Islanders had already received 30,000 submissions for their "Design the Next Third Jersey" contest as of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. That's an astonishing response for a promotion that gives fans the chance to create the team's next alternate sweater for the 2027-28 season.

And honestly, is anyone surprised?

Islanders fans have never been shy about their opinions when it comes to uniforms. Whether it's bringing back the Fisherman, debating the Stadium Series jersey, or arguing over the blue "NY" alternate, the fan base has always treated jerseys as more than just merchandise. They're part of the franchise's identity.

That's what makes this contest so fascinating.

Rather than simply unveiling another alternate jersey behind closed doors, Islanders president of business operations Kelly Cheeseman has flipped the process on its head. Fans can use an online design tool featuring official Islanders logos, fonts and approved jersey templates to create their own designs. After submissions close on July 24, a committee made up of team executives, players and staff will narrow the field to five finalists before Islanders fans vote on the winner.

The winning designer will receive an autographed jersey and tickets to the game where the sweater makes its debut and make a mark on the history of the franchise.

The early response suggests the Islanders may have tapped into something much bigger than a marketing campaign and something that could be copied throughout hockey and other sports more broadly. Thirty thousand submissions before lunch speak to the passion of a fan base that has spent decades debating every logo, stripe, and color combination imaginable.

Now those opinions actually matter. Whether the winning design ends up being a modern look, a throwback, or even incorporates elements of the beloved Fisherman era, one thing is already clear.

As far as increasing engagement, this idea has been a smashing success.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow