Following the official termination of their relationship with Adidas, the NHL chose to work with Fanatics, a large clothing company that has come under fire for effectively controlling the market for sports fan gear in North America.
As the price points for jerseys in the upcoming 2024-25 season are revealed, the already severe criticism that fans have directed their way has gotten even worse.
According to a post on X by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, some fans will not be able to purchase a jersey to support their teams because of Fanatics. The brand made the decision to provide a wide range of designs at correspondingly huge price points.
Though the prices appear to be comparable to those offered by Adidas in their previous collaboration, Fans have been vocal about the lack of quality, so it's safe to assume that they weren't too pleased with the circumstances.
How could consumers be willing to spend so much on a company known for making mistakes? Over the years, Fanatics' reputation has suffered greatly, and many disgruntled customers have expressed their disappointment on X.
Below are a handful of them:
With their enhanced relationship with the NHL, there's hope that Fanatics will improve their product quality. However, considering the often subpar feel of their merchandise, expectations remain low.
Reviews of these products will soon start to emerge, but as it stands, the NHL's decisions have already disillusioned many fans. Now, it remains to be seen whether Fanatics will revitalize their image or further damage the league's reputation.
POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 21 | 99 ANSWERS Fans are in an uproar over the shocking prices of new NHL Fanatics jerseys Will you be buying a Fanatics NHL jersey? | ||
Yes | 9 | 9.1 % |
No | 90 | 90.9 % |
List of polls |