Marketing and business, while I would in no way consider myself an expert (just like 99% of people here), are within my comprehension.
Yes, Fanatics sucks, I don't think otherwise.
But this remains an overreaction by many. It's not like they're going to spew out jerseys that tear apart from a simple touch to the players. It won't affect what really drives their business (broadcast deals) negatively. And while jersey sales might go down (and I say might, because Fanatics might be more willing to expand the customer base), it will most likely be made up by whatever that deal with Fanatics offers, monetarily, that other brands didn't.
(Also, internet is accessible to like 60-70% of the world population today from a quick search, it's not exactly a 1st world privilege anymore)
I love how you’re randomly commenting on “jersey sales” like that’s a pressing interest with posters here.
Are a lot of people here working for the NHL? Or just NHL fans who are potential jersey customers?
People are familiar with how terrible a company it is. You know Fanatics will design the jerseys too, right?
It can affect people’s fandom. If they stop buying merchandise they will have less attachment to the team. If they buy shitty merchandise they will have negative feelings towards the team.
That’s how customers work.
Sadly, this terrible marriage was the only workable solution with Fanatics already making the replicas.
Starting in 2017, the NHL was offering two versions of team jerseys: Authentic Adidas jerseys and cheaper Fanatics Breakaway replicas.
It seemed to sort of make sense. They started out with the Fanatics at $120 and the Adidas blank at $180 and customized at $250.
But if you go to NHL.com now they have
Women’s blank Fanatics
Women’s branded Fanatics (branded = pre-made with a name & number)
Men’s blank Fanatics
Men’s branded Fanatics
Men’s customized Fanatics
And then Adidas (blank, branded & customized)
The prices are all over the place as a customized main Fanatics are now available for $205 while customizable speciality Adidas “practice jerseys” (St Patty’s, Cancer, etc) are cheaper than that.
The branded Fanatics are $175 and they have them available with ~30 different players.
Only a couple of players are available in branded Adidas for every team. The pricing on Adidas Primegreen Authentic jerseys was $180 blank, $225 branded and $250 customized.
That’s a mess. And NHL.com doesn’t even make it clear exactly what the differences in quality between the jerseys are.
They just have these more expensive Adidas jerseys randomly mixed in with a sea of cheaper Fanatics variations.
It’s not surprising at all that Adidas didn’t find making NHL jerseys all that profitable considering how Fanatics drinks their milkshake all day long on NHL.com.
Why would a company want to design and exclusively make the expensive, well-made version of the NHL jerseys and then watch a different company sell the shit out of crappy bootleg versions on NHL.com?
