First, it was the new brand identity. Now it's a new ball.
The paint is barely dry on the 2014 MLS Cup Final, but MLS continued to move inexorably toward 2015 on Monday when it unveiled the 2015 official match ball, made by adidas.
It's called NATIVO, and it exemplifies the league's "Next" identity with its red-white-and-blue color pattern, its US and Canadian iconography, and its name, which gives a nod to "the ball's stature in the game and pride in the domestic league."
“Our partnership with MLS is incredibly important to us because together, we’re ensuring our homegrown athletes have viable opportunities to play soccer at the highest level,” said Ernesto Bruce, director of soccer at adidas America, in a statement. “Entering the league’s 20th season, we’re excited to bring our most advanced ball ever to the soccer pitch so we can help players perform at their best.”
According to adidas, the NATIVO is the manufacturer's "most tested ball ever." It features six identical panels designed to optimize aerodynamics, stability, and symmetry in flight, and uses materials and technology that match the standards for in the Brazuca, the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
But the NATIVO's design, of course, is what fans will notice first, particularly, the incorporation of maple leaf and star imagery, representing MLS's two countries -- the United States and Canada.
