In San Diego, Eric Wolff notes the Chargers' team store “will have a Black Friday sale" with team merchandise 15% off. It is “the second year the team's service provider, Centerplate, put on a Black Friday sale.” However, Centerplate Merchandise Manager Kris Sargeant said that last year's sale “didn't get much of a marketing push.” Sargeant said, “We got with the Chargers, and we're working a little bit closer. They posted it on their (Facebook) page." Wolff notes the post “received 435 comments in two hours.” But fans “used the posting to vent their frustration” with coach Norv Turner, GM A.J. Smith, QB Philip Rivers and “the organization as a whole” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/20).
BROWNS MARKET: In Cleveland, Tom Reed cited a source as saying that the Browns are 20th in NFL merchandise sales and have “remained entrenched in that neighborhood for the past few seasons -- despite their epic futility.” Reed noted that figure “has to be encouraging” to new Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III. Browns CEO Joe Banner “knows there is much work to be done in expanding the Browns brand.” Banner said, “We do have a tremendous following of Browns fans all around the world. But I think we need to get more identified in the Ohio region than we are currently” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/18).
LEAVE THOSE IN THE PAST: The Steelers during Sunday night's game against the Ravens wore throwback uniforms from the '34 season with large yellow and black horizontal stripes. NBC’s Al Michaels said, “What do you figure this is? They’re either bumblebee pajamas or prison garb?” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth replied, “This is such a great rivalry to me and I love seeing the Steelers’ uniforms. I’m okay (because) I know it’s all part of making money and all that, but I’d rather see them look ahead. You want to put new uniforms on them, let’s go futuristic and sell some jerseys. You can’t see the numbers. That’s what I’m really mad at” (“Sunday Night Football,” NBC, 11/18).
DIMINISHED INTEREST: In Charlotte, Tom Sorensen noted there was “less interest” in Sunday’s Buccaneers-Panthers game than in “any home game” this season. Sorensen wrote, “Empty seats were plentiful at Bank of America Stadium Sunday and by overtime you could squeeze the remaining fans into Time Warner Cable Arena. And, no, I’m not criticizing ticket-holders” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/19).
