MLBPA Set To Open Store For Player-Only Merchandise At Citi Field

Store Will Be Operated By Aramark And Called The Players Clubhouse: A Players Choice Store

The MLBPA tomorrow will "open its first retail outlet devoted to selling player-only merchandise ... in an attempt to boost licensing revenue for the union and to promote star players, much as the NBA and other leagues have done," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. The store will be called The Players Clubhouse: A Players Choice Store, and will be located inside Citi Field and operated by Aramark. The store is being "billed by the union as a prototype for future retail stores." The MLBPA "has not said where its next stores may be, but one of its goals is to put outlets in other stadiums." The Players Clubhouse at Citi Field, which will be "set up like a locker room and have 470 square feet," will carry "goods made by VF/Majestic, Nike, Twins, Topps, Upper Deck, WinCraft, Forever Collectibles, PhotoFile and Rawlings." Everything in the store "will have a player's name or likeness on it, thereby producing licensing revenue for the union," and the union "will test new products in the store, including the possibility of products designed by Mets players." Belson notes goods with team names or logos but "no player names or likenesses produce licensing revenue for only Major League Baseball, which is why items with players' names are also more expensive than similar products without them" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).