The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team has officially ushered in a new era of style and nostalgia, unveiling their new uniforms for the 2024-25 season. In a move sure to excite fans and traditionalists alike, the team has announced the return of the beloved “circus” font to their jerseys, marking a significant shift in the program’s visual identity. These jerseys are set to be the primary uniforms for both home and away games, signaling a full embrace of a classic design element from the program’s storied past.
Hunter Dickinson models the new Kansas Jayhawks jersey featuring the circus font
For many longtime followers of Kansas basketball, the “circus” font is synonymous with some of the most memorable moments and legendary players in Jayhawks history. Characterized by its distinctive, slightly whimsical lettering, the font was a fixture on KU uniforms for years before being phased out in favor of the more modern Trajan font ahead of the 2007-08 season. While the Trajan font has served as the standard for over a decade, the spirit of the “circus” font has always lingered in the hearts of fans. In recent years, the team has occasionally sported the circus font in throwback or alternate jerseys, such as in games against Yale and BYU last season, hinting at a potential resurgence. Now, that resurgence is complete, with the circus font reclaiming its place as the primary lettering for the Kansas Jayhawks Uniforms.
This change in basketball uniforms mirrors a similar trend with the Kansas football team, which has also incorporated the circus font into some of its new jersey designs introduced over the past two seasons. While the football team’s primary jerseys utilize a more conventional block lettering, the “Blackhawk” alternate jerseys proudly feature the circus font, indicating a broader movement within Kansas Athletics to reconnect with this iconic visual element. Interestingly, the Kansas women’s basketball team is, for now, maintaining the use of the Trajan font, creating a unique distinction between the men’s and women’s programs’ visual branding.
The university’s athletic department provided an in-depth look at the new home white uniforms on social media, highlighting a special detail incorporated into the design. The white shorts feature a subtle blue plaid pattern at the bottom, a thoughtful tribute to James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and the first coach of the Kansas Jayhawks. This plaid detail is designed to “pay homage to James Naismith’s iconic plaid wardrobe,” adding a layer of historical significance and reverence to the new uniforms.
Close-up of the blue plaid pattern detail on the new Kansas Jayhawks home uniform shorts
For fans eager to show their support and sport the same look as their favorite players, both the white home and blue away Kansas Jayhawks uniforms featuring the circus font are available for purchase at the official KU online store, kustore.com. The unveiling of these new uniforms also coincides with the highly anticipated reopening of Allen Fieldhouse, following recent renovations. The newly updated Allen Fieldhouse will officially open its doors for Late Night in the Phog on October 18th, where the Jayhawks are expected to make their first public appearance in these eye-catching new uniforms. The combination of a renovated arena and the return of a classic uniform design promises an exciting season for Kansas Jayhawks basketball.
