Petition to Preserve the Utah Jazz Purple Mountain Jerseys

Ryan and Dwyane, as concerned, lifelong Jazz fans, we urge you to reconsider the imminent rebranding of our beloved Utah Jazz. We appreciate the strides this ownership has made towards modernization and the commitment that has been made towards winning, but we feel that the rumored black, yellow, and white rebranding strays too far away from the history, culture, and tradition that has made the Utah Jazz a respected NBA franchise. 

The reasons black, white, and yellow don’t fit:

• No real tie to Utah–these colors, while complimentary, reflect nothing distinctive or historical of the state. Absolutely no one thinks “black and yellow” when they think Utah Jazz. Instead, one thinks of the dominant color scheme of Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Furthermore, within the NBA, multiple teams have embraced a black and yellow color scheme such as the Warriors and Lakers alternate jerseys. 
• Yellow stinks– The yellow Statement Jerseys have long been the least popular color among fans and have consistently panned among the fanbase. We are not the Lakers nor the Warriors– in fact, we rather despise those two teams. 
• Black and white, although classy, have very little character and suggest big, urban, metropolitan cities (See recent LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets rebrandings and courts), not the beautiful and one-of-a-kind Utahn landscape. 
• We have a branding problem–Admittedly, the handful of rebrandings and jersey variations have resulted in Jazz gear in just about every shade of the rainbow. Yet with this proposed change, we will be adding yet another color scheme to the palette which will create even greater brand identity confusion and dissonance. Plus, the limited release of the new brand this season has created large amount of pushback as it is. 

Why the Purple Mountain Majesties should be embraced:

• Embracing our roots– The color purple is a Mardi Gras-inspired remnant from the New Orleans Jazz and has been the most commonly worn color since the inception of the franchise in 1974. The 1996 creation of the Purple Mountain Uniforms perfectly married both history and Utah in a singular brand. 
• Historical Precedent–The Purple Mountain Jerseys were worn during the Jazz’s two most successful seasons and finals appearances, and universally remind people of the Jazz’s golden era– featuring legends such as John Stockton, Karl Malone, and Jeff Hornacek. Donning them again would signify a commitment to return to greatness. Additionally, the 2019-2020 revival of the jersey was an incredible success and looked dang good. 
• Everyone loves purple- Retro Purple Mountain Jazz gear fetches an incredible price on the secondary market, and many Jazz fans prefer to wear that gear today over any subsequent color scheme. Additionally, the retro jerseys are consistently rated as some of the best, most distinctive jerseys in the history of the NBA.
• Purple is unique- Outside of the Sacramento Kings, the Utah Jazz are the only team that has embraced the color in the NBA, and very few have done it in American professional sports. Additionally, the Wasatch Mountains are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Utah and take the breath away of locals and visitors alike with stunning hikes, slopes, and views. To stray away from the state’s most distinguishing symbol and characteristic on the state’s most visible professional sports franchise is confusing, to say the least. 

To conclude, we respectfully request that you reconsider the upcoming rebrand and instead embrace the spirit of the Utah Jazz by returning to the Purple Mountain Jerseys. Now, we recognize that much of this might already be set in motion, but we request their preservation whether as a primary color scheme, an alternate jersey, or incorporation into upcoming uniform lineups. We understand the economic incentive to modernize, rebrand entirely, and embrace an entirely new set of colors, but we feel that doing so would be a disservice to the history and character of our beloved franchise. 

Lead us towards the future, Dwyane and Ryan, but don’t forget where the Jazz came from nor the unique state the team represents.