Design the Islanders Jersey
New York Islanders Launch First NHL Fan-Driven Contest to Design 2027-28 Third Jersey
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Key Points
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The design tool includes team-approved fonts for numbers and names, ensuring all submitted designs use the Islanders' official typography.
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The entry process uses a 'paint-by-number' setup that confines submissions to the NHL jersey templates, helping entries stay compliant with league specs.
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One of the historic logos available for consideration is the mid-90s Fisherman logo, which could reappear on a future Islanders jersey if fans rally behind it.
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Entrants can leave notes with additional ideas and details beyond the pre-selected options, providing a channel for extras beyond the standardized choices.
The New York Islanders are letting fans design the team's next third jersey — a first in NHL history. Fox News reports the team launched an online contest where fans submit designs for the 2027-28 alternate jersey, using a digital tool stocked with 15 base patterns, historic logos, and a broad color palette.
Submissions close July 24. A team committee then picks five finalists, with player input, before a public online vote in early August decides the winner. AM New York reports the winning designer gets a team-signed jersey and VIP tickets to watch their design debut on the ice.
How the Design Tool Works for Fans
The contest uses what organizers call a 'paint-by-number' setup. Fans pick from pre-approved options inside a digital tool on the Islanders' website. All designs stay within official NHL jersey templates, keeping entries compliant with league specs from the start. Clutch Points notes this is the first contest of its kind in the league's history.
The tool includes team-approved fonts for player names and numbers, so no submission can stray from official Islanders typography. Entrants can also leave written notes with extra ideas that go beyond the pre-set options. That gives fans a way to pitch creative details the digital tool can't fully capture.
The Fisherman Logo Could Make Its Return
One of the most talked-about options in the tool is the mid-1990s Fisherman logo. The polarizing logo replaced the classic 'NY' crest from 1995 to 1997 before fan backlash led to its retirement. Now, Fox News says it is among the historic logos available for fans to select, meaning it could land on an official Islanders jersey again if the votes are there.
The inclusion of the Fisherman logo signals the team is open to bold choices. It also shows the contest is not just cosmetic — real design decisions, including some the organization once walked back, are on the table. Fans who want the Fisherman back now have a legitimate path to make it happen.
IP Rights Stay With the Team and League
The contest is designed so that no intellectual property transfers to the winning fan. All logos, patches, and fonts in the tool are owned by the Islanders and the NHL. Legal and IP teams were involved in building the contest structure to make sure licensing stays with the team and league throughout the process.
The New York Times reports the contest will be judged by a group that includes team and public voices, with the final call going to a fan vote. The jersey still takes roughly two years to produce, which is why a 2025 contest produces a 2027-28 uniform. The team has called this process 'historically unique' for the sport.
What the Winner Actually Gets
The prize is simple but meaningful. Dose.ca reports the winning designer receives a jersey signed by the team and a VIP experience to attend the game where the jersey makes its on-ice debut. Their design would be worn by the Islanders as the official third jersey for the entire 2027-28 NHL season.
Islanders officials say the jersey will 'belong to the fans,' chosen entirely by public voice. That framing is a direct response to the long history of fan complaints about team uniform decisions. If the jersey draws criticism next time, the team can point out that fans picked it themselves.
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