This might make for an interesting discussion... I want to talk about minor league hockey jersey's and their prices.

[LuckyDuck]

I've shared it here before but my local team is the Hershey Bears for the AHL. They performed spectacularly poorly during playoffs the past season (of course by no small measure because I had finally purchased season tickets for them) as they went after the Caulder Cup for the 3rd time in a row. Spoiler alert- they didn't pull it off and if I'm being honest didn't necessarily even come close to pulling it off either.

That said- when you have a team that had two championships back to back, it likely isn't unreasonable to expect the prices of their memorabilia/apparel to rise equal to the demand. Whelp- as another spoiler alert, the prices never went "down" after they were knocked out of the playoff's either.

So now that we're all caught up I want to talk about the price of Hockey Jersey's & how things compare for your own local AHL team.

As I mentioned, I had season tickets and had alerts set for when "authentic" jerseys would come back in stock (both home & away colors) and they never did, even once, the entire season last year . But... I finally got notification from alerts I set over a year ago that the "authentic's" are back in stock.

Here's the prices I'm looking at: if I want an "authentic" Hershey Bears AHL jersey (regardless of color) it's $325. Period. IF I want to 'personalize' the jersey and add a name &/or number to it- it'd be an additional $70 so essentially $400 bucks. Frankly that seems outrageous to me.

Now I can lower my expectations and purchase a "replica" Bears jersey for "only" $160 but once again the $70 to add a name/number applies and that, while much more reasonable, also sound kinda wild for what's essentially a "big" t-shirt for over $200 there.

So rein me in here-is this just what things cost these days or is Hershey charging a "double/super" premium for their jerseys? Reckon I should add that season ticket holders generally do get 15% off apparel but interestingly enough Jerseys & customization is explicitly excluded.

What say you?

-LD

 

[jrassy]

“ The Rush” is the local hockey team in Rapid City. Not a contender this last season at all. BUT they auctioned off players jerseys a few times over the season and they went for anywhere between 900.00 and 3,000 per jersey. Charity event I know, but one dude was high bidder for 3 of them at one auction.
So you’re getting off cheap relatively speaking.

 

[LuckyDuck]

“ The Rush” is the local hockey team in Rapid City. Not a contender this last season at all. BUT they auctioned off players jerseys a few times over the season and they went for anywhere between 900.00 and 3,000 per jersey. Charity event I know, but one dude was high bidder for 3 of them at one auction.
So you’re getting off cheap relatively speaking.

Appreciate the contribution here- I mean I get it being for charity but... wow. I'm sure you're right but that's just wild to me.

 

[diggler1833]

It was like that for the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL) hockey team. $300 for an "authentic" jersey last year at a game I went to. I didn't even go to the souvenir shop to look at them, I just heard the announcer claiming the "great deal" with the word "only" right before the $300 price tag.

Somebody did an analysis and determined that if jersey sales are only 60% of potential, but at double the price... then they are money ahead.

 

[LuckyDuck]

It was like that for the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL) hockey team. $300 for an "authentic" jersey last year at a game I went to. I didn't even go to the souvenir shop to look at them, I just heard the announcer claiming the "great deal" with the word "only" right before the $300 price tag.

Somebody did an analysis and determined that if jersey sales are only 60% of potential, but at double the price... then they are money ahead.

Sincerely appreciate the contribution.. the more folks share their experience from across the country the more in line the Bears pricing is. Color me surprised but I'm more than ok with being "wrong" at least initially. I asked the question because I wanted solid data and that's exactly what I'm getting and I really appreciate it. The more I know the better I can reassess my perspective after all.

-LD

 

[Gemsbok]

Local NAHL Juniors team gets $250 for "game worn" jerseys, and you can pick the player, until sold out. We know they get it b/c a bunch of the players are sold out. I suppose if they make it to the show, then you can mark up your investment.

Hats are $30

I'm not that much of a fan.

 

[Herb Stoner]

Have a shoestring relative who is in the HOF. When she was 10 or 11, he kicked her one of his jerseys when his team won the Stanley cup - he was team captain and won the Smythe. The whole team had signed it. Our daughter spent time at their home many summers and always wanted to go to games when his teams played in our part of the country.

She loved that thing and insisted on wearing it constantly even though it fit her like a blanket. It did get some questions and confused looks from collectible dorks as it apparently should have been behind glass. The joy she got from wearing it was far more valuable. Must have washed that thing 100 times. The signatures faded a good bit and a few stains didn’t come out - it’s still around somewhere.