Chicago sporting goods stores started stocking Blackhawks gear "right after" the team's Stanley Cup-clinching victory over the Bruins on Monday night, and many stores "reopened later that night so fans could taste victory for themselves," according to Peter Timotijevic of the Illinois DAILY HERALD. Customers were "willing to spend hours standing inside and outside of sporting goods stores waiting for delivery trucks to bring new supplies." Along with jerseys and other championship gear, many fans "wanted to get their hands on the official Stanley Cup hats that players wore" during their celebration. Chicago-area Dick's Sporting Goods Senior Community Marketing Manager Jeremiah Zimmer said, "The lines outside our doors was nothing I've ever seen before." He added that lines of fans "ringed the stores in at least four store locations." Crystal Lake, Ill., Sports Authority Manager Sandy Brown said that the store "stayed open late after the game and then opened" at 6:00am CT yesterday, four hours early. The chain's Lombard location was "waiting for reinforcements" by mid-day (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 6/26). Union Station vendor Jon Chandler said his merchandise stand "got the championship shirts at our stand at 6:45 (a.m.) and by 6:50 (a.m.) were out of all the larges." He added the stand "ran out of the rest" at 7:30am. Chicago-based Clark Street Sports Social Media Dir Sarah Yeazel said that the company "ordered thousands of items -- key chains, T-shirts, tank tops, jerseys, hats -- ahead of time with fingers crossed that they would be able to sell them." She added that she thinks the "merchandise craze will last until Friday, and maybe a little later than that." Yeazel: “The Hawks did well in 2010, but this year was a record-setting season. There’s definitely more of an energy this year" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/26).
