NHL signs 16 year deal with Fanatics for replica jerseys, apparel

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

The Fanatics-made jersey will never look like the Adidas game jerseys. The replicas will probably like the MLB replicas with heat-on logos and names.

If there are the 3 stripes on the Adidas jerseys, there is no way that the replica will have them. You may get no stripes or the knockoff 2-stripes effort but it will just look stupid and cheap.

Yah, we should totally jump to the conclusion that the replicas will now be of reduced quality before ever seeing one because you know, we just should.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Yah, we should totally jump to the conclusion that the replicas will now be of reduced quality before ever seeing one because you know, we just should.

I would heartily encourage them to produce quality garments. The mark-up is excessive in my opinion.

[Erick Estrada]

I think a 16 year deal is silly but it's possible the NHL is getting a bigger margins than they would get from Adidas or Reebok, etc. They made out like bandits in the Rogers 12 year deal so maybe they know a good deal when they see it.

As for the Fanatics jerseys I will reserve judgement until I see the product. I have purchased many hockey and football jerseys from Nike, Adidas, Reebok, etc and have always felt like I have been ripped off as I find fit and finish is pretty substandard at times considering the premium paid. Maybe Fanatics can do as good or even better in some cases?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think a 16 year deal is silly but it's possible the NHL is getting a bigger margins than they would get from Adidas or Reebok, etc. They made out like bandits in the Rogers 12 year deal so maybe they know a good deal when they see it.

As for the Fanatics jerseys I will reserve judgement until I see the product. I have purchased many hockey and football jerseys from Nike, Adidas, Reebok, etc and have always felt like I have been ripped off as I find fit and finish is pretty substandard at times considering the premium paid. Maybe Fanatics can do as good or even better in some cases?

I think they need to dial back consumer prices. Partly to thwart knock-offs, which actually works its way down the line from jerseys to other apparel and merchandise.

[heep223]

Considering how my replicas have both broken down, I'm going authentic next time. Expecting it will last forever and be worth the money.

[browna]

Authentics are certainly worth the extra $ if you're wearing it regularly. I've got a replica from 2002 that I wear and play shinny in for the past decade, and held up with regular weekly wear all summers and washing etc. Looks as good as it did then. Other authentics I have (2004-era and I've got a current version white replica) hold up too, no fraying of the logo seams etc...quality workmanship.

The old replicas weren't bad (90's, early 2000's), due to less fraying and mainly thicker material, but the licensing was all over the place and thus the design looked wonky sometimes like current knockoffs...ProPlayer, Starter etc.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Yah, we should totally jump to the conclusion that the replicas will now be of reduced quality before ever seeing one because you know, we just should.

History informs us that this is likely to be the case.

Reebok dramatically lowered the bar on quality for replica jerseys while also raising the price over 25%, and we still bought them up in droves. There is no way Fanatics doesn't realize this.

I have Kohos and CCMs from 2002-2005 that look better today than Reeboks purchased 12 months ago.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

History informs us that this is likely to be the case.

Reebok dramatically lowered the bar on quality for replica jerseys while also raising the price over 25%, and we still bought them up in droves. There is no way Fanatics doesn't realize this.

I have Kohos and CCMs from 2002-2005 that look better today than Reeboks purchased 12 months ago.

as someone in the embroidery/jersey industry, i can tell you the adidas jerseys i've seen go thru my shop are nothing to write home about (unless you like writing negative letters). i have been very less than impressed with the quality - and the orders we've done have been for some pretty big western canadian universities.

i'm sure the pro/on-ice nhl versions will be better than what i've seen (at least i hope they are!!) but i don't hold out a lot of hope for the replicas coming out for next season if fanatics quality is anything like adidas.

and to those not happy that adidas will not be producing the replicas - that's probably not a bad thing. the adidas orders we've had have all shipped from adidas suuuuper late (we receive the product 6-8 weeks AFTER the customer's deadlines - not much we can do about it!).

this was an email i was 'cc-ed' on from my customer to a couple of the adidas sales reps in late september...

rep1/rep2, I’ll let the two of you decide who should contact *the university* to let them know there is a good chance that they won’t have their complete set of uniforms for the home opener on Oct. 2nd when they ordered these back in May.

i can only imagine the lack of replica jersey availability if adidas did the production

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

as someone in the embroidery/jersey industry, i can tell you the adidas jerseys i've seen go thru my shop are nothing to write home about (unless you like writing negative letters). i have been very less than impressed with the quality - and the orders we've done have been for some pretty big western canadian universities.

i'm sure the pro/on-ice nhl versions will be better than what i've seen (at least i hope they are!!) but i don't hold out a lot of hope for the replicas coming out for next season if fanatics quality is anything like adidas.

and to those not happy that adidas will not be producing the replicas - that's probably not a bad thing. the adidas orders we've had have all shipped from adidas suuuuper late (we receive the product 6-8 weeks AFTER the customer's deadlines - not much we can do about it!).

this was an email i was 'cc-ed' on from my customer to a couple of the adidas sales reps in late september...


i can only imagine the lack of replica jersey availability if adidas did the production

Wouldn't Adidas just use the Reebok facilities though? Seems bizarre.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Wouldn't Adidas just use the Reebok facilities though? Seems bizarre.

Especially considering they have already produced replica World Cup jerseys with the Adidas branding.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Wouldn't Adidas just use the Reebok facilities though? Seems bizarre.

there are also huge issues getting stock from reebok - go figure

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

History informs us that this is likely to be the case.

Reebok dramatically lowered the bar on quality for replica jerseys while also raising the price over 25%, and we still bought them up in droves. There is no way Fanatics doesn't realize this.

I have Kohos and CCMs from 2002-2005 that look better today than Reeboks purchased 12 months ago.

Truth. My 04’ run jersey still looks mint despite probably close to 100 wears.

My retro, third and home jerseys all purchased in the last 2-3 years have fraying/peeling crest logos and random jersey frays in a combined 40-50 wears. The new ones also fray if you let velcro (from a winter jacket) touch them.

[morgin]

No one signs a 16 year licensing agreement without various off ramps. I'd imagine they probably have option periods that open up under certain circumstances for either party to terminate.

Also, as an aside, what is the deal with Canadian Tire/Walmart jerseys? Are they officially licensed or does the NHL just turn a blind eye?

[Resolute 14]

They will be licensed. There's no chance in hell the NHL turns a blind eye to companies the size of Walmart and Canadian Tire.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

They will be licensed. There's no chance in hell the NHL turns a blind eye to companies the size of Walmart and Canadian Tire.

you don't even have to be "that big" of a company... i've been contacted in the past about some of my handy work. i told the guy that the stuff i had done was a gift and no profit was gained off the use of the logos - it seemed things were fine.

i know the dude was not impressed that my stuff looked a lot nicer than anything else out there!! ha! ha! so i guess that was something good that came out of the situation

one of my buddies is friends with regehr and i sent him a hoodie to pass along. rege loved it but ended up only being able to wear it around his house becuz he was taking too much heat about where he got such a good looking hoodie! i love it!!

[Young_Guns]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

History informs us that this is likely to be the case.

Reebok dramatically lowered the bar on quality for replica jerseys while also raising the price over 25%, and we still bought them up in droves. There is no way Fanatics doesn't realize this.

I have Kohos and CCMs from 2002-2005 that look better today than Reeboks purchased 12 months ago.

CCM/Koho and even some Starter or Pro Player jerseys were all far superior in quality/design when compared to Reebok in both Authentics and Replicas. I haven't bought a jersey since Reebok took over...actually i bought one and it was the first year the Flames started wearing the retro. Reebok put out Authentics in the old CCM 6100 cut so I gave in and purchased the retro, even though the neckline looked horrible with the NHL shield on the front collar but that retro was still made of the heavyweight air-knit material CCM was known for.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

you don't even have to be "that big" of a company... i've been contacted in the past about some of my handy work. i told the guy that the stuff i had done was a gift and no profit was gained off the use of the logos - it seemed things were fine.

i know the dude was not impressed that my stuff looked a lot nicer than anything else out there!! ha! ha! so i guess that was something good that came out of the situation

one of my buddies is friends with regehr and i sent him a hoodie to pass along. rege loved it but ended up only being able to wear it around his house becuz he was taking too much heat about where he got such a good looking hoodie! i love it!!

I know a guy that published a small town newspaper a number of years ago. He ran a story about the local fundraising effort to purchase a new Zamboni. He received a stern letter from Zamboni because the "ice resurfacing machine" the town purchased was not a Zamboni.