The Golden Knights sparkly, gold jerseys are unapologetically Vegas and that’s the best part

Bright lights, big city.

After a few years of waiting, the Vegas Golden Knights have finally released their much anticipated third jerseys, and yes, they are in gold. The Golden Knights have never shied away from embracing the spirit of the city they call home, and honestly, nothing could be more Vegas than these glittery, sparkly sweaters.

The jerseys, described by one For The Win writer as “dijon left out for a day,” are similar in design to the team’s home and away jerseys, but with color shifts.  Per the Golden Knights, the sweater is the “first all-metallic gold jersey in the NHL,” and seeks to embrace the “bold and bright” Vegas community.  Like the team’s other jerseys, the nameplate and numbers will be black with white trim. The gold jerseys also feature a cool, embossed design on the white armband.

So far, the reaction on Twitter has been mixed!

Here’s the thing about the Vegas jerseys. It doesn’t matter if they’re aesthetically pleasing or not. I personally think they look like cheap polyester figure skating costumes and that glitter belongs firmly in the domain of children under 5, but there’s no denying that Vegas is going full on Vegas with them, and that is worth celebrating. What really matters is that they have personality because what the NHL desperatly needs right now is personality. The third jerseys are certainly a look, and in a culture as conservative as the NHL, draping big, manly men in glitter is a fine and subtle repudiation of traditional masculinity.

I love Vegas’ over-the-top pre-game shows, their showgirl aesthetic and their refusal to be embarrassed about the parts of Vegas that some people look down on. They are unapologetically of the city, and that city consists of bright lights and showgirls and gambling and plenty of flair.  To show just how Vegas they are, they went even further and dropped a collaboration between Wayne Newton and Lil’ John.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter whether this is your aesthetic or not, what matters is that Vegas is all about Vegas.

“It’s the lifestyle aspect of it,” Golden Knights chief marketing officer Brian Killingsworth said. “it’s not just a hockey jersey, but it’s a fashion statement.”

And yes, that it certainly is.