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Reebok, NHL Intend To Sell All
Winter Classic Jerseys This Year |
Reebok Dir of NHL Merchandising Keith Leach said that Winter Classic Penguins and Capitals jerseys are "selling faster than any before," according to Bob Cohn of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Leach said that all of this year's Winter Classic jerseys "will be sold." Leach: “We are not sitting on any excess inventory. We planned a 20 percent increase in the jerseys, and we're seeing that demand being met." Leach said that “more Penguins jerseys than Capitals jerseys are available because the Penguins, as the host team, were afforded 60 percent of the run.” Jersey sales “have steadily climbed since the first Winter Classic in Buffalo between the Penguins and Sabres on Jan. 1, 2008.” The latest figures show a 24% “increase in sales” from last year's Winter Classic. In 2009, the “year after the first Winter Classic, jersey sales doubled.” There was a 15% “increase the following year.” NHL Exec VP/Marketing Brian Jennings said that “because of the annual increase in sales, it is likely that this year's Penguins model will be the top-selling jersey of the eight so far.” Jennings and Leach estimate that jerseys represent 50-55% of all apparel sales (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/26).
BLAST FROM THE PAST: In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi reports Penguins co-Owner and Chair Mario Lemieux and other former Penguins players "will wear the popular baby blue alternate uniforms" in Friday's NHL Winter Classic alumni game at Heinz Field. Lemieux "will wear five jerseys, each with a captain's 'C' on the left shoulder," and the jerseys "will be auctioned at a later date, with proceeds going to his charitable foundation" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/29).
