American Football Teams Up with Vans for New Sneaker

URBANA, Ill. — The iconic indie band American Football has teamed up with Vans to launch a special sneaker that honors the band’s legacy. Scheduled for release on October 28, the custom Vans Authentic 44 model features artwork from their influential 1999 self-titled debut album, also known as LP1.

American Football, formed in 1997, recently wrapped up a two-year world tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of LP1. The album’s cover, showcasing a white suburban house, has become a significant landmark for fans, often referred to as a ‘place of worship’ on Google Maps. This house in Urbana has gained such cultural importance that fans make pilgrimages to it to recreate the album cover.

To protect this musical landmark, the band and their record label, Polyvinyl, purchased the property at 704 W. High Street in May 2023. In celebration of their partnership with Vans, American Football hosted the ‘House(Warming) Party’ at this iconic location. The event featured a backyard BBQ-style Skate Jam, emphasizing the local DIY skate scene and the band’s suburban roots.

“The house from the cover of LP1 has become a cultural identifier and a blank canvas for fans to express their creativity,” the band expressed in a statement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Vans OTW to beautifully incorporate that image into the iconic design of their sneaker. This is a dream collaboration come true!”

This sneaker release marks a significant moment for American Football, solidifying their cultural impact through a tangible piece of wearable art.