NHL Lockout, Day 83: Merchandise Retailers Continue To See Declining Sales

The NHL lockout is having an “impact on NHL merchandise retailers, a group who are feeling the impact no matter how close they are to actual arenas,” according to Blake Murphy of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. Jersey City store manager Mark Breckenridge said sales for NHL products are “way down” at the retail chain’s West Edmonton Mall location. Breckenridge: “We usually see a spike for home games, especially for Original Six and other popular teams like the Penguins.” An Edmonton-based A Game On Sports assistant manager said, “It’s like it’s out of sight, out of mind. It’s been a budgetary nightmare.” Another retailer, United Cycle, has “witnessed a shift in the hockey memorabilia market entirely.” United Cycle Sales Campaigns & Coordinator Kelly Hodgson said, “Memorabilia has been way down. Not only is there not much available, since the players aren’t around to sign, but there isn’t as much demand. The value also seems to have gone down” (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 12/7).