Nashville SC highlights Middle Tennessee communities with new jersey patches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Ahead of Nashville Soccer Club’s home opener at GEODIS Park, the club unveiled a meaningful personalization option for its new “615″ kits, both for players and fans.

Nashville SC released 35 neighborhood and Middle Tennessee-specific jersey patches designed by local artist Cymone Wilder to celebrate the individuality of NSC fans and the communities they live in.

The Boys in Gold chose patches and wore them on the back of their jerseys for the home opener match at GEODIS Park, which resulted in a 0-0 draw between Nashville and the New York Red Bulls.

Local leaders around Nashville weighed in on the big meaning behind the small jersey patches and how they connect the club to the community.

Fall-Hamilton Elementary School Executive Principal Karen Bacigalupo has seen GEODIS Park grow from the ground up across the street from her school, stating the club’s impact has been tangible from the beginning.

“This school has been in this community since 1971, so it’s been here for a very long time,” Bacigalupo said. “Wedgewood-Houston is part of our identity, so being able to look for that patch at the jersey release was just amazing to be able to see our community represented.”

She added that she and her family are “fanatics” for Nashville SC, and she’s seen sprouting soccer fans among her students, especially with the club helping to install a mini pitch at the school.

“It’s amazing to watch just the evolution of Nashville into a sports city, right” Bacigalupo said. “I think soccer has really taken off, and I love how it unites so many people across our state.”

That sentiment is shared by Martha Silva at nearby Conexión Américas. She is the co-executive director at the Nashville-based nonprofit organization, which aims to build a welcoming community and create opportunities where Latino families can belong, contribute and succeed.

“Soccer does that naturally,” Silva said of the local pride and unity Nashville SC is helping to foster.

“It’s organic, right? We all come together, we all celebrate, we all have the same goal, the same mission of winning to celebrate,” she said. “And I believe that that’s one of the tools we need to utilize to continue this collective effort that is not an easy goal, but absolutely every step moves us closer to hopefully continue having a more welcoming, more inclusive, more diverse city for everybody.”

To learn more about the 615 kit and available jersey patches, click here.

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