Concepts x New Balance 997S Fusion ‘ESRUC’ Release Date

Concepts has officially revealed its latest collaboration, a New Balance 997S Fusion that takes some unconventional inspiration from Boston’s rich sports history. 

Dubbed the “ESRUC” colorway, the pair is inspired by the infamous Curse of the Bambino, a major aspect of the legendary Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry. For the unfamiliar, the curse refers to the Red Sox selling their superstar, Babe Ruth, to the rival Yankees back in 1920. The sale is said to have sparked the Bean Town baseball club’s 86-year championship drought. 

Rather than dress the collab in Red Sox or Yankees colors, Concepts dug deeper into the curse’s lore, and chose the color palette of posters for the Broadway musical No, No, Nanette. The Ruth sale is believed to have taken place so that Red Sox owner Harry Frazee could fund the production.

The pair is dressed in a magenta pig skin suede with orange detailing used on the “N” logos, heel branding, and midsole. Reflective hits can also be seen on the toe, side panel, and heel. The traditional upper of the 997 sits atop a modernized Encap Reveal midsole. Special insoles, packaging, and extra lace options complete the collab.

Look for the “ESRUC” Concepts x New Balance 997S Fusion to arrive exclusively at Patta London on Friday, June 28 for $200. The release will coincide with the Red Sox-Yankees matchups taking place at London Stadium on June 29 and June 30, the first MLB games to take place in Europe.