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Miami Marlins City Connect Jersey Schedule: Can New Branding Save the Miami Marlins' Image?

The Marlins' new City Connect uniforms tap into Miami's bold culture, but is a fresh look enough to help fans buy into the product on the field?
ByRiley Clingman|
May 3, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins designated hitter Matt Mervis (36) slides under the tag of Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller (19) following a wild pitch during the at bat of left fielder Ronny Simon (41) in the ninth inning at loanDepot Park.
May 3, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins designated hitter Matt Mervis (36) slides under the tag of Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller (19) following a wild pitch during the at bat of left fielder Ronny Simon (41) in the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Can a new uniform really change how people feel about a team?

That's the question circling around the Miami Marlins after the debut of their "Retrowave" City Connect jerseys–a neon-drenched, Miami Vice-inspired look that feels ripped straight from a South Beach nightclub in the 1980s. They're flashy, and they might just be the most unapologetically Miami thing the franchise has ever worn.

But, beneath the buzz and aesthetic lies something deeper: an identity crisis that has defined the Marlins for the past 20+ years.

This is a team with two World Series titles (1997 and 2003) and almost no lasting legacy from either. It is a franchise known more for fire sales/rebuilds than a big market. For all the excitement around Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, the Marlins have never quite managed to belong to the city like the Heat or Panthers do.

Enter the "Retrowave" uniforms–an attempt not just to stand out, but to finally connect.

To be fair, branding alone can't fix what is already broken. New colors won't magically boost attendance or make ownership spend more aggressively. But branding is a signal and a statement, and this one says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

These jerseys lean into the Miami that locals know–the music, the murals, our colores. They speak to fans of all ages, the ones who have been waiting for the original colors of the Florida Marlins to once again make a return. Now, for the first time in a while, the Marlins aren't just wearing a uniform, they're wearing a piece of history–and that matters.

But it only matters if the team follows through. To truly change their image, the Marlins need to pair style with substance. That means building a winning culture, engaging the community, and showing fans that they are ready to bring good baseball back to Little Havana.

When will the Miami Marlins wear their new City Connect uniforms?

Naturally, Miami plans on wearing their new jerseys during every Saturday home game. Here are all of the dates that Miami will show off their new jerseys:

  • May 17 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
  • May 31 vs. San Francisco Giants
  • June 21 vs. Atlanta Braves
  • July 5 vs. Milwaukee Brewers
  • July 19 vs. Kansas City Royals
  • August 2 vs. New York Yankees
  • August 23 vs. Toronto Blue Jays
  • September 6 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
  • September 13 vs. Detroit Tigers
  • September 27 vs. New York Mets

So, can a new uniform save the Marlins' image?

Not by itself, but it can spark conversation, shift a perception, and offer a new lens for fans to see a franchise that could finally be headed in the right direction. In a city built on image and success, that's more powerful than it seems.

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