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.

 

[LeftyJason]

Are they the real sewn jerseys? I think that is the going price for those. Utah Hockey Club (now Utah Mammoth) NHL jerseys were running this last year.

"The prices range from $200 for a blank jersey, $250 for a player jersey and $275 for a personalized jersey. Fans can customize the uniforms with any player on the roster or their own name."

These prices are for the sewn adult size jerseys that were sold in the Delta Center.

 

[flogxal]

Hey Duck, if that is Hershey PA you have the twofer there. Hershey PA also is known for what? And for how long?

I grew up in DC suburbs, Maryland. Down there Hershey was a common reference and the town was "on the map" because of their chocolates and not for the things locals would say Hershey is known for locally.

They also used to have affiliated with the chocolate company, a "HersheyPark" with rides etc. Is that still there?

These things would cause the twofer, IMO.

 

[ironpony52]

IMO 3-400 for a real jersey is reasonable. I have paid a hundred to a couple hundred for real team shirts, auto racing.

 

[LuckyDuck]

Are they the real sewn jerseys? I think that is the going price for those. Utah Hockey Club (now Utah Mammoth) NHL jerseys were running this last year.

"The prices range from $200 for a blank jersey, $250 for a player jersey and $275 for a personalized jersey. Fans can customize the uniforms with any player on the roster or their own name."

These prices are for the sewn adult size jerseys that were sold in the Delta Center.

Yes they are (real sewn jerseys) & manufactured by CCM. The "replica" jerseys (don't you just love the marketing terminology used) are... "screen print" or "heat pressed". It's one of those terms but admittedly I'm not an expert in the textile industry (and I think they're also manufactured by CCM- the replica versions that is). If you go on AHLstore.com they offer "premier" jerseys (also by CCM). So hopefully it's not a LD problem that this is all confusing.

Trying to be concise (since that's a criticism I often get when I try to be detailed) the "replica" jerseys from the team store & the "premier" jersey from the AHL store are all similarly priced. It's the "authentic" from the team store that's all but triple the price (but sewn in). And that's not to be confused with the other "authentic" category of jersey the team store sells which is (as best I can determine) literally the shirts off the player's backs but for an extra $150 or so.

Whew- hope that answered your question and with that said- I sincerely appreciate you sharing the prices from your neck. of the woods too.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Hey Duck, if that is Hershey PA you have the twofer there. Hershey PA also is known for what? And for how long?

I grew up in DC suburbs, Maryland. Down there Hershey was a common reference and the town was "on the map" because of their chocolates and not for the things locals would say Hershey is known for locally.

They also used to have affiliated with the chocolate company, a "HersheyPark" with rides etc. Is that still there?

These things would cause the twofer, IMO.

You nailed it there (yep on it being Hershey, PA). And that's kind of why I was suspicious of the pricing as compared to comparable AHL teams. The Hershey Bears have a very popular (let's be real winning) franchise and have done since the AHL's inception. So I reckon that's part of it because they won two Calder cups in a row) up until the last season. So popular/winning teams usually commands a premium and then to add Hershey on top of it seems to be an extra "tax".

I'm not arguing that Hershey is any more "fancy" or "cultured" than anywhere else in the US but I am saying that they believe that they are and charge a premium for the privilege of purchasing whatever in Hershey. Kinda like they intend to charge Philly prices between there & Pittsburgh is all.

But (again) you're 100% correct- it's self-proclaimed as "Chocolate Town, USA" here because of the Hershey Company. It's the more affluent area in my AO with things being priced at a premium due to its proximity to Hershey. As you mentioned they have Hershey Park (been a season ticket holder there the past few years but the weather hasn't 'been cooperating the last two so might drop it next year). It's a pretty big affair (not sure when your last experience there was) but they keep growing it and I'd say it's comparable in size to the various 6 Flags I've been to. And they keep adding/expanding the park. They recently redid the "wildcat" ride and it's fantastic. They've got some "twizzler" ride that's new this year which I haven't done but it seems like the old pirate ship type of ride on steroids. Hopefully I'll get a chance to use my season pass and try it out for myself.

There's a lot of other nice things outside of the Park in Hershey. If anyone is planning a trip to the area I'd be happy to cut through the touristy crap and point them out towards the actual hot spots.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

IMO 3-400 for a real jersey is reasonable. I have paid a hundred to a couple hundred for real team shirts, auto racing.

Appreciate the contribution-

Full disclaimer- I did end up buying it (because they got me by the balls apparently) and they are nice although I'm still not sure if the value is there & I did NOT pay the extra $70 or whatever for the personalization which my original plan was to use my birth year & last name for.

Eh- I reckon it'll "age" better this way regardless. If there's any interest, I can take some crappy cell phone pictures of the stitching or whatever may be of interest to folks. I got the size 56 (that's the other thing, all the other options followed the S/M/L/XL etc model) but these went off of numbers for the chest measurement) and I probably could have gotten away with a 54 (maybe even a 52) but I erred on the side of caution because I wanted to be able to wear it over a hoodie if need be.

Anywho- let me know if anyone has an interest in that.

-LD

 

[flogxal]

When my brother and I were little, late 60s or early 70s, our Grandmother drove us up to Hershey and we toured the chocolate factory and rode a few of the Hershey Park rides. I have not been near Hershey PA proper since then, but driven past its exit a few times, not looking for the Park's silhouette etc.

 

[LuckyDuck]

When my brother and I were little, late 60s or early 70s, our Grandmother drove us up to Hershey and we toured the chocolate factory and rode a few of the Hershey Park rides. I have not been near Hershey PA proper since then, but driven past its exit a few times, not looking for the Park's silhouette etc.

Hah well one of the coasters, the Comet, was there way back then and still is there. If you ever go by, let me know and I'll point you towards all the right places.

-LD

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

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

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]

 

[Defiantly_Not_Bender]