Interview with Mason Asphar from Westchester SC
Westchester County has a professional team and in it's 2nd season - locals, it's time to take notice. We had the opportunity to discuss their latest kit "The Commuter Kit" and more with their Director of Partnerships & Brand Mason Asphar.
Westchester County has a professional team and in it's 2nd season - locals, it's time to take notice. While being in the New York Sports market, this massively populated county has a team of it's own, and it is proud to represent the 914. We had the opportunity to discuss their latest kit "The Commuter Kit" and more with their Director of Partnerships & Brand Mason Asphar.
Westchester SC - The Commuter Kit with photos taking at various MTA stations across Westchester County
Before diving into the interview specifically, here are some quick notes on the new Commuter Kit:
- Inspired by the three MTA lines that run through Westchester County - the Hudson line (green), the Harlem line (blue), and the New Haven Line (red).
- These three lines connect 48 municipalities with all routes converging in Mount Vernon.
- With a Cream-colored base covered by a repeating white pattern of the three trainlines, this non-White kit allows the trainlines to grab all the attention. Throw in that Blue collar, just sublime.
Mason Asphar is the Director of Branding and Partnerships, who has been at the club for less then a year. With a Communications degree from Cal Poly Tech, Mason is from Fairfield, Connecticut - a county adjacent to Westchester. In a full-circle moment, the local who never had a local team to root for, suddenly is working in the front office on a team working to be that for the next generation.
It was evident early on, that Mason was so passionate about this club. From rocking the new Commuter Kit in our interview, and from how often he said "We want to tell the Story of Westchester". This isn't just another job - this is about giving the county of Westchester their own professional sports team. Not a New York or New Jersey team. A Westchester County team. One that stripes to unify the county.
That is where the Commuter Kit comes in. While trying to make this team a Westchester Team, it is hard to separate the county from the country's largest city - New York City. One of those connections is the MTA's Metro-North lines. Connecting 48 municipalities across Westchester County to the Big Apple via three lines (Hudon, Harlem, and New Haven). So, Mason thought "What better way to unite the county and to tell a story only Westchester can tell then through it's trains?".
The very satisfying way the Harlem Line lines up perfectly in the middle, to the Golden Apple patch on the sleeve, and to the very small details underlaying the design - you can see the overwhelming joy on Mason's face when talking about this kit. The Devil is in the Details, and this kit did not lose track of any of those. Everything fits, has a purpose and told the story of Westchester County Commuters. Mason wanted a kit that was not only a "lifestyle" choice, but one anyone from local fans, people of Westchester or kit nerds (like ourselves) could pick up. The rest they say, is history.
From the commercial success on Wednesday Night as the team defeated local rivals the New York Cosmos 3-0 in Mount Vernon (or as Mason put it, the New Jersey Cosmos), to the interns buying the kit to wear for the match - it was an all-around success. With 2,637 fans in attendance, they not only got to see their team beat the Cosmos but did it while looking good.
Appreciate the opportunity to chat with Mason. Learning more about the club, Westchester County, and their new Commuter Kit was an honor and privilege.
You can check out the full interview here on YouTube or Spotify:
