Demand For Phillies Merchandise Down From Last Year's Title Run

Sales Of Phillies Merchandise Down Significantly From '08 Postseason

SportsOneSource analyst Matt Powell said that sales of Phillies T-shirts, hats and other merchandise "are 'way off' from last year," but "that's a typical pattern for teams that produce multiple championships," according to Mike Armstrong of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Powell added that while it is "too early for final figures, sales of Phillies merchandise for the last four weeks are down more than two-thirds versus last year," when the team won the World Series (PHILLY.com, 10/23). Licensed team apparel manufacturer AMPRO Sports President Gary Huddell Thursday said the company "printed around 35,000" Phillies NL champion T-shirts, "out of a total 50,000 blank shirts." Huddell said retailers were "willing to commit to open their doors after" the Phillies won the NLCS Wednesday night. In Pennsylvania, John Roman notes AMPRO last year was "ready to start rolling 50,000 to 100,000 Phillies World Series Championship T-shirts the night of Game 5" (DELAWARE COUNTY TIMES, 10/23). In Philadelphia, Matthew Spolar reports a "horde of Phillies fans crowded inside" a Modell's Sporting Goods store in the city last night as Phillies P Cliff Lee unveiled a "new T-shirt that the sports-store chain felt best sums up the Phillies' run to the World Series: 'Unbeleevable!'" The shirt costs $19.99, and for each shirt sold, $1.50 "will go toward research to fight leukemia" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/23).

GET YOUR TICKETS: Philadelphia-based ticket broker Wanamaker Ticket Office VP Jeremi Conaway said that standing-room-only tickets at Citizens Bank Park for the World Series are "going for about $750, and some outfield seats are available for about $1,000." TicketNetwork.com spokesperson Mike Garvie said that the "most actually paid so far for a Series game was $4,700 for each of two seats right behind home plate in Philadelphia -- and each of two seats in a special section at Yankee Stadium." Garvie added that as of Thursday, $830 was the "average sales price for Philadelphia Series tickets," while Yankees sales "were averaging $488." In Philadelphia, Peter Mucha notes StubHub's sales for Citizens Bank Park this postseason "have ranged from $90 standing-room tickets to $3,500 for the Diamond Club," while last year's range was $250 "in the outfield to $5,999 for seats behind the dugout" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/23).