Month: September 2020

To celebrate the launch of our first ever home kit, we talked to Lansing Common VP and kit designer Geoff Sykes to discuss his work in the business of design and to get some insights into his thought process for the kit.

• 

For those who don’t know, you do design work for Moneyball Sportswear here in Lansing. Can you tell us how long you have been interested in kit design, and how long you have been doing it professionally?

Geoff: My love for designing sports uniforms goes all the way back to when I was in kindergarten. My mom was a teacher at the time, so on game days I would draw pictures for the athletes in her classes. Not long after I got bored of drawing the same uniforms, so I would get creative with the uniforms they wore. An obsession was born.

Naturally, my specific love of soccer kit design came about around the same time that I really fell in love with the sport itself. Seeing kits with stripes like AC Milan, or Hoops like Celtic, really opened new possibilities for me in terms of how interesting sports uniforms could be. I still believe soccer kits are the best “canvas” in sports uniform design.

Generally speaking, what goes into your kit design process?

Geoff: Typically, my design process begins with an examination of existing brand elements. I’ll make sure I have the right colors and logos on hand. I will take a look at what the team has worn in the past to look for elements that remain consistent over time.

My next step is to do what research I can on the greater community around the organization. I really like and appreciate when I can learn something about a new place simply by looking at kits. So I will identify regional landmarks, important historical events, etc. and place them on my vision board. After that, it is simply a case of trial and error with different concepts until I come up with some ideas to present to the client.

Designing for Common was tricky because I was creating the brand marks at the same time as the kit concepts. This means there were a lot of ideas left on the cutting room floor. As the club grows, the culture around the club will grow with it, and hopefully, inspire even better kits down the road.

All of the design choices members voted on had red as the primary color, and a sash of some sort. Any particular design reason why you wanted a sash on our first home kit, or is there no deeper reasoning there outside of liking the look of it?

Geoff: First and foremost I wanted to start with a traditional element. I believe a home kit, while changing every year, should maintain an iconic element in each edition. With the bird standing on a sash in our crest, I felt that was the most consistent element we could use out of the gate. So that’s the element I felt strongest about using year one. That can certainly change as time goes on.

I did decide on the red-orange home this year. I feel that it is a little more energetic and exciting to look at. Energy and excitement is what we are all feeling right now, and that is what we hope our team on the field becomes as well, so it is fitting. I really do love the brown, and hope to do much more with it down the road.

You said previously that no other American soccer team has our color scheme. Does that make these kits even a little more fun than usual to design? People seemed to love the hint of turquoise on the sash and collar in the winning kit for example.

Geoff: Yes. I’ve really loved working with our colors. Knowing that we already have unique colors takes away the pressure of trying to stand out. We will stand out just by being ourselves so there is no need to overthink it. I just get to relax and play around with ideas. There are also some cool things coming down the road that I can’t wait for people to see.

You may not want to answer this, but out of curiosity, did you have a favorite among the three kits proposed?

Geoff: I was happy with all three that were chosen to be the kits voted on. I originally had around 12 different designs and had to whittle down the list. Of the three up for nomination, the winner was my favorite. It just has a classic feel that starts us off on the right foot. 

What happens to the ideas that weren’t chosen?

Geoff: They go back into the design vault. I literally never delete anything that I have worked on, so there is a chance that they may come back in some way, shape, or form. 

Will they come back next year? Probably not. Design trends will change between now and season number two. Additionally, we will have a better grasp of what the club’s culture and fanbase looks like and will be able to better incorporate those elements in future designs. But like I said, there is always a chance down the road, some elements might see the light of day again.

Any hints you want to drop about future kits to come?

Geoff:

Bold. 

Loud.

Robins.

I think people will really like what they see.

If you like what you see from the 2021 Lansing Common home jersey, they are available for pre-order right now at https://lansingcommonfc.com/shop/.

If you want to have a voice in choosing the next home kit design, become a member today so that you can have a vote.

Welcome to “We are Common”, our series where we showcase members of the Lansing Common community. In this feature, we introduce you to Jeff Backoski. 

How long have you lived in the Lansing area, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I moved to Lansing in 2003 from Grand Rapids. What I enjoy most about Lansing is all the different things that you can do in the area without traveling too far. Obviously sports, farmers markets, unique events like the annual “be a tourist in your own town,” and the many breweries to try.

What was the moment or team that got you invested in Lansing soccer?

The first Lansing United match, that was actually the first time I watched soccer. It was $5 and right down the road. The action was great and The Ransom brought the atmosphere. I didn’t miss a home match that season. I always tell everyone I sat the furthest away from the supporters the first match and by the end of the season, I was standing with them.

What made you want to become a member of Lansing Common FC and what do you view as your role with the club as a member?

Lansing deserves a men’s soccer club. After Lansing United men’s went away I would often talk with friends about how we could make our own team, this started as early as Ignite was announced. That feeling intensified after Ignite folded. As soon as I was aware Lansing Common was a thing, I knew I was going to buy whatever founding membership that was offered. My role with the club is to try to bring the noise on matchday, I can’t sing, can’t carry a tune, but I’m loud. 1 out of 3 is pretty good, haha.

What is something important that the team needs to do, to be as successful as we want it to be?

To be successful the team needs to reach the people like I was originally, they have to get those that don’t have a history with the sport, get them in the door and let the show keep them coming back. Make game-day an event, something that makes it a can’t miss thing on a person’s busy schedule.

Where do you see Lansing Common FC in 5 years?

Still competing. Being a place that my son and I can kick around a soccer ball in the parking lot before the match and yell for 90+ minutes during the match.

If you would like to be featured on a future “We are Common”, please head here to submit your answers to these questions and upload a picture. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the many who are “common”. 

Welcome to “We are Common”, our series where we showcase members of the Lansing Common community. In this feature, we introduce you to Matt Schartow.

How long have you lived in the Lansing area, and what do you enjoy most about it?

Almost my whole life, outside of a few college years and out-of-state Summer jobs. I love how Lansing unites over MSU sports as if they were a pro team. A Lansing specific team could allow the community to unite in a similar fashion but include those who are not a fan of Michigan State.

What was the moment or team that got you invested in Lansing soccer?

The moment I got the message to vote for the name of the new Lansing soccer team in 2014. Full disclosure: I voted for Mid-Michigan United, but Lansing United won. I played all my younger years and a couple of years in college but never got to experience the supporter culture. I never had a local team to root for and was determined to support a local team so that younger generations had a local team to cheer for.

What made you want to become a member of Lansing Common FC and what do you view as your role with the club as a member?

I want soccer to succeed in Lansing, which is why I’ve purchased season tickets since day 1 of Lansing United, even years I knew my job travel schedule only allowed me to attend half the games. So of course I was on board with a community-owned team.

I think roles are defined by where your strengths lie. I recall asking a friend who played with me on our college team (who was the president of a supporters group of an MLS team) why his season tickets weren’t in the supporter section and he wasn’t over there screaming and yelling. His response, “Gotta know your roll, I know mine.” There are a lot of roles in an endeavor like this and I would encourage anyone who has taken the time to read this far to take one that suits them, and it doesn’t have to involve yelling a lot.

What is something important that the team needs to do to be as successful as we want it to be?

Supporters. A team run by its fans needs fans…but if we’re a community club, we need supporters who represent the community. That means we need to recruit a much more diverse group of supporters than showed up for Lan U or Ignite games. Only 55% of Lansing is the demographic that normally showed up for those games, which means almost half of the area was not represented. Given Lansing is a fairly diverse area, I believe we need supporters of all races and cultures represented in this area to be sustainable. 

Where do hope you see Lansing Common FC in 5 years?

Realistically – Self-sustaining and not worried about if there will be a “next season.”

In my dreams – In a league that at the very least guarantees us a spot in the US Open Cup. While winning a league and Milk Cup, and games like Rafa’s shirt and Rafa’s shirt 2: Electric Boogaloo were awesome, winning a game in the Open Cup as an underdog is priceless. Those that were there know.

If you would like to be featured on a future “We are Common”, please head here to submit your answers to these questions and upload a picture. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the many who are “common”. 

Josh Oakley has been named Head Coach of Lansing Common FC, which begins play in 2021. Oakley, who is also the Head Coach at Spring Arbor University, brings 23 years of coaching experience to Lansing Common. 

“Josh is the perfect coach for what we’re building with Lansing Common,” said club President Eric Walcott. “He has got the experience to help us establish the type of club culture we’re looking for so we can hit the ground running when we kick-off next spring. Josh has connections to soccer in the Greater Lansing area and is a highly regarded coach in Michigan college soccer who will be able to attract talented players to the club.” 

“I’m excited to be here in Lansing. I’m excited to re-start [men’s] soccer in this great city,” said Okaley. “We want to put a football club out on the field that will work hard for supporters, and be uncommon in the things we do every day.”

After working as the top assistant coach at Eastern Illinois University from 2000-2002, Oakley became the head coach at Asbury University in Kentucky and served in that role from 2002-2010. Following his time at Asbury, Oakley was hired by Alma College, where he coached from 2010-2018, before being named the men’s coach at Spring Arbor University. Over the course of 18 seasons, Oakley’s college teams have progressed to a total of 9 region and conference finals, winning 5 championships. 

Oakley arrives with a connection to Lansing, having lived and coached in the area for more than a decade. For three years, Oakley served as a staff coach for Lansing’s TNT soccer club. His 2005 U18 TNT team played in the Michigan State Cup Final.

Oakley has coached All-American soccer players at every institution he has served. Over a half-dozen of his college and club players have been drafted or signed to play at the next level. They include local standout DeJuan Jones (TNT), who currently plays for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer, and most recently, Jake Crull (SAU) who plays for Union Omaha in USL League One. 

“Josh’s excitement about what we’re building and his passion for soccer in the Lansing area were evident from our first conversation,” said Walcott. “He’s proven his ability to build quality soccer programs and we’re confident he will help us do the same with Lansing Common.” 

“In terms of engaging the community, obviously through the game that’s number one, but also there’s other ways,” said Oakley. “We can hopefully pull in local people to work on our staff that have been here their whole lives, and that they want to see soccer, but they want to see soccer as a tool to bring community together.”

Lansing Common FC is a member of the Midwest Premier League and is scheduled to begin play in May of 2021.

Welcome to “We are Common.” Every week, we will be introducing you to the people that make up Lansing Common FC. Since this is a community-owned team, this is your chance to learn about all of those who literally make Lansing Common FC what it is. We will start by introducing you to our board members, who were elected in January. Since then, they have been hard at work, getting this team ready to play soccer in 2021. 

Today we are featuring Member-At-Large Scott Oberlander.

How long have you lived in the Lansing area, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I moved to the Lansing area when I started college at Michigan State in 2008. But didn’t fall in love with the city until 2014 when I moved back to Lansing for a job. That’s when I started exploring and experiencing everything the city has to offer. I love how diverse our city is and all of the cool people I have been able to meet. I also love all the unique local restaurants, breweries, and shops we have. It has everything you need while still feeling like a small town.

What was the moment or team that got you invested in Lansing soccer?

I followed Lansing United from afar but never got involved with them, which was one of my biggest regrets. So when Ignite was announced, I knew I wanted to get involved early. I joined the Assembly Line and became a season ticket holder. I also helped produce a weekly podcast called Capital Combustion that covered the team. Then over the course of the season, I fell in love with the soccer community here in Lansing. From chanting for 90+mins together at matches to the watch parties at Ozone’s for road games. I was hooked, and it also helped that coach Nate Miller put together a great group of guys that you couldn’t help but be proud of, win or lose. They represented our city proudly, and I remember telling some people before the playoff game that I never felt more connected to a team than I did this one. After we lost that playoff game, I’ll be honest, I got a little teary-eyed because it marked the end of one of the most fun summers I ever had. I hugged and thanked some of the players after the game for their amazing season. I also told them I looked forward to seeing them back next season. Little did I know that was the last game Ignite would play.

What professional or personal experiences have you brought to the board that have helped you contribute?

I work for a video production company called Render Studios, which is based in Old Town. So I have brought those creative skills to the table. I also love problem-solving and learning new things, which I had to do when building our website and online store, neither of those I had ever done before.

What is something important that the team needs to do to be as successful as we want it to be?

From the start, I have always said for this club to be successful we need to focus community first and soccer second. So if we can bring people together and can contribute to making our community a better place for everyone, we will be a success. If we can put a winning team on the field too, even better.

Where do you see Lansing Common FC in 5 years?

I see Lansing Common FC become a significant part of the community. Not only has a matchday attraction but in building a better community as well. Whether that’s supporting racial & social justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, or sponsoring kids so they can play youth soccer. The list is endless on what we can achieve when we put the community first. I also hope in five years, I can look up and see a sold-out crowd that truly represents the great city I call home.

Starting next week, we will begin to highlight non-board members for this series. If you want to volunteer to be featured, please contact us at info@lansingcommonfc.com.