The release of the new Air Jordan shoe is a reason to get in the Christmas spirit. Nike and Michael Jordan continue to put out the most anticipated sneaker on an annual basis, which is remarkable when you consider how fickle the market is and that Jordan has been retired since 2003.
Fans salivate at the prospect of getting the new shoe, the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue, to the point where the lines outside of some stores is reminiscent of what you see when the new Call of Duty or Madden video game comes out.
Buzz is building for the release of the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue shoes, which will release on Saturday in time for the upcoming holiday. Of course, you don't have time to wait if you're planning to get them for yourself or someone else.
Here's all the latest information on the release of Nike's Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue shoes, including photos and early analysis from around the Internet.
What: Air Jordan 11 Legend Shoe
Release Date: Saturday, December 20
Retail Price: Adult sizes $200, Children and youth vary from $50-150 depending on size
Price via Nike.com
A Closer Look At The Shoes
If there is anyone on the fence about buying the new Jordan shoes—if you're reading this, you probably don't fall into that category—one question to ask yourself is what separates this iteration from the previous ones that have come out.
While there are certainly a lot of reasons to be excited, Nike.com has offered a brief, specific analysis of this design from the shoe originally released back in 1996:
The classic has become a legend. Released back in 1996, the Air Jordan XI is regarded as one of the best Air Jordans ever. This original colorway is a mix of patent leather and smooth leather in all white, with a tongue tag, Jumpman logo and translucent outsole tinted in Legend Blue. Tinker made it shine. Mike made it fly. You made it iconic.
The analysis is certainly helpful to paint a picture, but now let's show you exactly what your hard-earned money will get you.
Foot Locker offered this standard photo, which provides an oblique-angle look at what the retro Jordans will look like:
What makes this retro shoe feel so unique, especially in today's era of flash, is how simplistic the design looks. They aren't trying to grab your attention; rather it's a simple white shoe with white laces and the North Carolina blue that pops because of how unassuming it is on the sneaker.
A better illustration of this comes from this double-photo from Nike.com's Twitter feed, which offers a side angle and overhead shot:
Even though the photo is taken from a distance that doesn't make it show, you can clearly see the pop of the Air Jordan logo in that baby blue on the all-white background.
The overhead look also gives a glimpse of the blue on the tongue, which is nicely illuminated through the white of the laces. It also provides a small look inside the shoe, which is a standard black.
Finally, via KixAndTheCity.com on Twitter, there is a look at what the back of the Air Jordan 11 Legend:
This photo helps to provide an interesting spin on the inside. Instead of going white all the way around the shoe, there is a hint of black on the back with Jordan's No. 23 layered in white and that helps feed into the inside of the shoe.
In this age of turning back the clock, Nike appears to have done a terrific job in this reissue of Jordan's shoe from 1996. It's got just enough of an update to feel like it belongs in 2014, while still maintaining the air of originality that made it such a staple of the Jordan collection.
As far as being able to purchase the shoes on the 20th, you are probably already out of luck. According to the release schedule on FootLocker.com, there is a very specific procedure that will be followed due to limited quantities being made available:
...Foot Locker and House of Hoops by Foot Locker stores will implement a ticket procedure* in order to purchase the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Legend Blue” (on-sale 12/20 for $200) First come first serve ticket procedure stores will begin handing out tickets at 9:00 a.m. local time (or otherwise noted) on Sunday, December 14th. Sweepstakes stores will hand out tickets on Monday, December 15th and Tuesday, December 16th.
According to Alexis Stevens of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, there is already an insane rush in that part of the country to get these shoes:
At the Finish Line store at Cumberland Mall, 600 lottery tickets have already been given out, a sales associate said Monday. There are still lottery tickets at the store, if you hurry. How many pairs the store will get is top secret.
...
If you don’t have a lottery ticket, your chances of buying the shoes in a store are slim. But some will be available on Nike.com beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. After that, check eBay, but expect to pay a pretty penny.
Unless you are one of the lucky few to get a sweepstakes ticket, buyers will have to fight the horror of Internet crowds on the Nike website that isn't likely to end well.
Even if you have to wait longer than expected to get the shoes, all indications are they will be well worth it. In a market with so many options to choose from, Jordan is still the gold standard for basketball shoes and Nike has gone over the top with this version of his 1996 classic.