via the Cincinnati Reds
The Reds announced their City Connect jersey schedule for 2026, and it's a setup we'd love to see more teams adopt. The existing City Connect jersey (the black "Cincy" design) will be worn during Friday home games. A brand new City Connect 2.0, which hasn't been revealed yet, will debut on Saturday home games.
The City Connect 1.0: Friday Home Games
We reviewed the Reds City Connect 1.0 when it leaked earlier this year and gave it a C+. The all-black base with "CINCY" across the chest, red pinstripe accents, and that angular logo didn't fully click for us. The color palette was solid but the logo brought the grade down.
That said, having a dedicated day for it makes sense. Friday night baseball already has a different energy. The lights are on, the crowd is bigger, and there's a weekend feel in the stadium. A City Connect jersey fits that vibe. It gives fans a reason to associate Friday games with something specific, and it gives the Reds a built-in merch push for a jersey that might not get enough wear otherwise.
The City Connect 2.0: Saturday Home Games
The Reds haven't revealed the 2.0 yet. The teaser graphic shows a silhouette of a player against a red background with the Cincinnati skyline, which doesn't tell us much about the actual jersey. What it does tell us is that the 2.0 will probably lean into red as the primary color, which would be a smart contrast to the all-black 1.0.
We'll do a full breakdown and grade once the jersey drops. Based on the teaser, we're expecting something cleaner than the 1.0. The Reds have a strong visual history with red and white, and a City Connect that leans into that instead of running away from it would be a welcome direction.
Why More Teams Should Do This
This is one of those ideas that seems obvious but almost nobody does. Most teams just throw their City Connect into the rotation randomly. You never know when they're going to wear it. The Reds are giving fans a schedule: Fridays you get one look, Saturdays you get another.
That's smart for a few reasons. Fans who like those jerseys know exactly when to show up wearing theirs. Season ticket holders get variety built into their experience. And from a merchandise standpoint, having dedicated days creates a recurring visual on social media that keeps both jerseys relevant all season.
The Dodgers do something similar with their alternates, and it works. We'd love to see more teams commit to a uniform schedule instead of leaving it up to random game-day decisions.
What to Expect
The City Connect 2.0 reveal should come soon. Nike and MLB have been rolling out new City Connect jerseys across the league this spring, and the Reds clearly have theirs ready to go if they're already announcing the schedule. We'll update this post and publish a full review and grade as soon as the jersey drops.