Are MLB's New Fanatics Jerseys a Window Into the NHL's Future?

The new baseball jerseys have not been received well at all. The NHL will be selling Fanatics jerseys as authentics starting next year.
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[@tehbeernerd]

The answer is a very emphatic, very loud “yes.” Anyone who thought Fanatics would suddenly flip a switch and start making quality merchandise once they got a big-boy deal was naive. Making cheap crap that falls apart from a slight breeze is part of their business model.

[@AmokCanuck]

And the saddest thing is the business model works. They're making money hand over fist swindling consumers and producing landfill food.

[@shawklan27]

This

[@choppergunner8650]

For real. Screw Fanatics and their scummy practices.

[@mat5473]

Yeah there is no chance they improve the product. The on-ice version they may be forced to improve by the player's union but that product will never be sold to consumers.

[@TheHeston83]

MLB players are speaking out show they may go for on field quality there a chance

[@chrisbelos2834]

i have CCM jerseys that are still in greater shape than anything i got from fanatics. thoses CCM jerseys were demos from 1992 btw.

[@seanpoulton2446]

I got a custom Giguere jersey recently that’s a CCM. Still better than anything Fanatics.

[@onikwa]

The CCM replicas from 2000-2005 are honestly better quality than anything today, the material is thicker and more substantial than the nearly $300 made in Indonesia adidas. Yeah they're replicas so not exactly period correct, and often they had glued on logos, but the glue somehow kept all my logos attached throughout the last two decades, and you can get it stitched anyway. And importantly back then they cost a fraction of what even a fanatics knockoff does today. Now there's nowhere to avoid buying pure shite unless you shell out hundreds to get an actual stitched adidas, gamble if you can even get a limited run of that jersey you want, or buy game issued or vintage. Dark days have already come for hockey fans I think it's just getting worse.

[@awildermode]

$50-60 for a T-shirt? You used to be able to buy a good CCM replica jersey for $60.

[@tripsaplenty1227]

Back in my day a dime bag cost a dime

[@karimkassam6874]

"Yo, that's 50 dollars for a t-shirt"

[@5purplecups]

@@tripsaplenty1227back in 95 it was 95 cents- Gucci

[@BvG_Venom]

In the future will it be easy to spot knockoffs because the quality is too good?

[@cubanodsgn]

Lol..."look at that guy's knock off with all his embroidered patches and stitched nameplates and numbers, nothing like my authentic heat pressed logo"

[@igolffff]

Devils Stadium jerseys are $500 USD. We're all doomed.

[@choppergunner8650]

Bro wtf 💀

[@shawklan27]

​ @choppergunner8650 fucking flippers bought out all of the most popular sizes and sell them for double the price. Same despicable shit is happening with the rangers stadium series, it's obsurdoooo

[@choppergunner8650]

@@shawklan27 man, fuck fanatics

[@HarrisonHollers]

That’s the only option? Isn’t this the last year of Adidas?

[@jeffa.7618]

I was lucky enough to snag a blank and a Hischier Adidas SS during their brief windows of availability. Those resellers make me sick. Adidas dropped the ball, and they're taking full advantage.

[@tomservo9254]

Wish it was more like soccer where teams can pick their own uniform suppliers. Being allowed to have an alternate uniform that didn't have to be white would be pretty great too.

[@LSA30]

1) In the 90's teams had multiple options for their jersey manufacturer. CCM, Pro Player, Starter and Nike (I may be forgetting someone). The on-ice quality was said to be somewhat uneven between these brands, which is why CCM was chosen to make all uniforms during the late 90's/eary 00's. 2) Between 1970 and 2003 NHL teams wore light at home, and some teams chose to wear other than white. Notably the Canucks and Golden Seals wore gold for a few years.

[@TheSportsBoffin]

Got some bad news for you buddy Fanatics has agreements in place over here in Europe to manafactuer jerseys under licence just like the MLB and has done since around 2017....Aston Villa and Newcastle Utd have had issues with their On-Field product....Castore design them Fanatics make them...Same issues for Sydney Roosters in NRL/NRLW down in Australia.

[@tomservo9254]

@@LSA30 I know they flipped the home/away whites, I mean having it so that a team like the Canucks have a blue home and maybe a green alternate that they wear if the away team's primary colour is also blue.

[@TheHeston83]

I like unifromity within the sport

[@williamford9564]

Eventually that will change. MLS will sell out to get the rights fees from Fanatics.

[@bradgavel9991]

Fanatics has basically ruined the jersey industry, they've begun their destruction of the sportscard industry...everything they get involved in has turned to crap...why should we expect anything different from them?! Maybe if they didn't hike the prices of every single thing they get into, people maybhave a different opinion of them, but the proof is in the pricing.

[@goalski134]

this, this and this. across the board, they are the worst thing to happen to sports merchandise.

[@natemiller6802]

I miss when Majestic was making MLB jerseys, they had quality authentic jerseys and locally made in the Lehigh Valley

[@scotthouston6621]

The Nike Authentics are still made at the same plant in PA. It's just owned by Fanatics.

[@Hakuna65Matata]

@@scotthouston6621 correct. All players jerseys are still being made by the Easton plant. The Replicas that come in are imported now. They only will heat press the name and number on the Replicas. The Authentics are still stitched. Its the only unionized building of Fanatics thanks to the MLBPA.

[@jaerockchalk3216]

yeah Majestic ones are amazing , i have a Rickey Henderson 93 World Series Cooperstown edition Blue Jays Uni from 1993 its still immaculate condition

[@JonathanNation]

I am planning on getting every jersey I want this year before Fanatics comes out.

[@homer1268]

same

[@AmokCanuck]

And not even just new ones, surely this will drive up the market of old jerseys.

[@shawklan27]

I'm saving for the end of the season where the sale blowout is bound to happen

[@heathclark318]

Its what I have been doing since the deal was announced. Fanatics is utter garbage

[@TheHeston83]

yep already bought a colorado avalanche third jersey there recent one

[@FutureZek]

Fanatics is infamous in NC for printing the Canes logo upside down.

[@klompsauce]

Which jersey? Didn’t they have a jersey with a tropical storm flag instead of a hurricane flag? I want to get my hands on one of those.

[@FutureZek]

@@klompsauce The "OG" logo. The stylized hurricane in red, black and white.

[@DJVexillum]

Is that why they hardly wear it on the ice anymore? Joking, joking...

[@anthonydurante1149]

​@@klompsauceyes. The one-flag logo symbolizes a gale storm. The stacked two-flag logo symbolizes a hurricane.

[@ZZSmithReal]

Imagine being a major league baseball player making $35 million a year and not be able to get your pants customized. LOL

[@Blingdung]

Each team will just hire a tailor sounds like. Definitely bullshit that the league just let fanatics and shitty quality jerseys take over. Only good thing is that 30 or so tailors will get to work for their teams which I guess is nice

[@derekparsey1168]

Just make the jerseys digital like the ads lmao

[@jeffe2267]

Green jerseys for everyone!

[@TheHeston83]

introducing Chroma Key Jerseys in Blue and Green

[@originalrkmorton]

All execs agree, subscription model merch is the future

[@J_Aaron_L]

This feels familiar to me. It's almost as if many companies are blatantly degrading the products and properties they own.

[@dAiMYoBeAr]

The quicker the product breaks, the sooner you have to repay them money

[@poppinmycollar]

That's late stage capitalism for ya

[@veeli1106]

@@poppinmycollar…when Western governments have been racking up fiscal deficit-spending since the 1960s and central banks have been on expansionary monetary policies since 1982 and you call this situation “late-stage capitalism” *facepalm*

[@afterfractures5884]

@@veeli1106 I don't think Fanatics are cheaping out on the production costs because of the fiscal deficit spending. LOL.

[@veeli1106]

@@afterfractures5884 Deficit-spending leads to currency debasement, and one way the loss of purchasing power can be felt is via lower quality standards of materials and workmanship in manufactured goods, if any manufacturing hasn’t already been offshore-ed out to a jurisdiction with lower labour costs.

[@mmonkeyman1403]

Just got a brand new red wings Koho jersey off eBay. It’s great quality, also convenient since Detroit’s uniform hasn’t changed since then.

[@klompsauce]

Few weeks back I got my kid a Koho Shanahan jersey off eBay

[@whheaties2360]

Adidas is going to get a payday in these last few months from customers wanting to stock up on Adidas before they’re gone, I feel.

[@ConnorAshFreeman]

thank you for talking about this Shannon, nothing good happens when an industry monopolizes!

[@AdamLaMore]

On the topic of chain-stitching, the Cardinals logo is chain-stitched. One of the changes that Fanatics did was to chain-stitch onto a patch (technically two, one for each side) and then just sew the patch on the jersey, where previous manufacturers would stitch directly onto the jersey. Definitely has a different effect. One of the other big changes in MLB was to shrink the player names, which obviously the players don't like and is one of the big things making them feel like replicas or knockoffs.

[@scotthouston6621]

There shouldn't be player names on jerseys. You should know the player by their number.

[@bobbya2008]

@@scotthouston6621lol wut

[@saturnotaku]

My dad won an authentic Chicago Blackhawks Reebok jersey off a scratch-and-win lottery ticket back in the day, and it is absolutely gorgeous. The only Fanatics jersey I had was of the Golden Knights from their inaugural year. I rarely wore it until recently when I changed it out for an Adidas one.

[@kleddit6400]

“Fanatics Sports betting while you’re wearing your Fanatics jersey”💀😂

[@JonathanGaeta]

We’re not far from Fanatics getting into sports betting

[@roguewavecreative]

To me this is on the league owners. It’s all about money. The jerseys I have ordered on Alibaba that are knock offs are better. Still stitched. That is so weird to me but I am guessing the leagues end up with more money. To me it’s the same argument that most people detest Bettman. He is an extension of the ownes. Do you think there will ever be a league commissioner for the fans?

[@atpyro7920]

considering the commish is picked by the owners, no

[@TheHeston83]

@@atpyro7920 Bettman answers the owners

[@TheHeston83]

Bettman answers to owners

[@Helvigster]

only way there will ever be a commissioner for the fans is if the NHL adopts the MLS structure where the league owns the teams and not vice versa since that'll never happen, no. we're all screwed.

[@bagofholding]

What are they supposed to do when no other company even offered to do it?

[@heyhosayso]

As a European mostly watching sport there I think the problem is that there is only one supplier per league. In Europe each team makes an agreement with an manufacturer. So there is real competition. We get annual new creative jerseys here. And it not like 250US because thats nuts. But ik it's a completely different market over there. So I wish you guys the best.

[@mundanemorselsmundanemorse7028]

Yeah sadly that’s our business model for so many things these days. Even sports games have become 1 developer per sport. No more competition for any sport.

[@goalski134]

the jerseys in US sports have to be worn for multiple seasons, whereas in football they have three jerseys every single season. cheaper jerseys but still gross exploitation. also, fanatics are coming for football too. man united site is “powered by fanatics,” and i’m sure it’s not the only one.

[@thewayfarer1990]

In all honesty, what the NHL needs to do is bring the manufacture of the jersey in house, integrate it and streamline it within the league. Go get/lease a couple of factories in Canada and/or Mexico, control production and sell them to get 100% of the profits from jersey sales without the limitations of the third party supplier. Have adidas or Nike design them if they’d like or better yet the teams themselves and problem solved. I have an early Adidas Lightning sweater and a newer Adidas and the older one feels of better quality than the newer one albeit both are great quality. Fanatics is going to teach a lesson to leagues that, as we say in Spanish translated, “what is cheap in costs now, will be more expensive than you ever bargained for later.”

[@bertoneill2488]

I am gonna miss the New Era Hats.

[@standardv]

Wait what? I have not heard that New Era will stop producing hats for MLB teams. That cannot be true.

[@bertoneill2488]

I mean this is a Hockey Channel. I was talking about the New Era NHL hats. Unless the Sabres are the only ones who get them cause New Era is a Buffalo company.@@standardv

[@ianhall6614]

Cue the Ralph Wiggum “I’m in danger”

[@James_Ford4815]

im at spring training now and have seen mlb jerseys up close ... they look like a mixture between a tshirt and a real mlb jersey , they're just very thin looking , how they sit on the body and flow reminds me a little of those cuban or hawaiian shirts ... so yes i would say they look more on the cheap knock off side vs what i saw from last years spring training

[@nickh3698]

So basically a shirsey

[@brettrossi034]

All of my New Jersey Devils jerseys i own are CCM and i own 2 Reebok jerseys. I love the quality of the jerseys from CCM plus the stitching and comfort ot them. Those are all still in quality shape after all these years.

[@jeffa.7618]

Some ppl will point out the air knit material snags easily. But I generally agree with you. I baby mine and they're in great shape lol. I do have the adidas climalite and prime green indos too, but I love my MiC CCMs more

[@gvalo]

I can tell you as a Blackhawks fan, if the chain stitching goes away, it's a guarantee that I'll never buy a jersey until the end of the fanatics contract. For Christmas this year, I bought a fanatics away jersey from the Blackhawks Store to have customized as Griswold jersey. I wore it out ONCE and the shoulder patches peeled off. Luckily the store offered to pay for me to ship it back to them, then they took it to the official on-ice lettering company for the hawks and they stitched everything down. Edit to add: Jaime Faulkner, the President of Business Ops for the hawks, was on a few podcasts last summer/during the start of the season talking about seeing the Fanatics jerseys and their equipment staff putting the samples through their tests. She seemed like they were happy with them but she's also trying to get fans to still buy the jersey (Hence the return of the 90s black thirds)

[@JoeMagician]

CCM jerseys are by far the best, I had old CCM jerseys I bought second hand from the 80's and 90's and they're in better shape and more comfortable than a modern Fanatics jersey. Even gotten them customized they hold up really well. I suspect that Fanatics had embraced the idea of forced obsolescence in their products. It's not a problem for them that their products fall apart after a few years, it means you have to buy a new one. And if you're unhappy, well where else are you gonna go? I'm a big fan of collecting hockey jerseys, and fanatics picking up the contract probably means the end of me buying new ones. Unless they keep the on ice products in the same factories, but even those have shot through the roof. Just a couple years ago you could get a blank pro version of a jersey for $200-$300. Now they're not only not available, but even team issued unused jerseys have gone through the roof from the teams and resellers. It's a hobby that will die very quickly.

[@eyekantspele]

Hey Shannon, would love to see a room tour video!

[@DDVargas1983]

I bought a Knock-off Kershaw jersey about six years ago and it's outlasted every Fanatics jersey since. Best 40 bucks I've spent. I'm holding on to my Adidas Ducks jersey like gold.

[@jeffreytoman8351]

Shannon, thank you. I’ve been shouting your original fanatics video to a bunch of my friends and left it in a few you tube comments.

[@HarrisonHollers]

Michael Rubin, what did you do?!

[@ediaz951]

Was waiting to hear you discuss this :o

[@strungoutkid]

Fanatics to me, is like the time I bought a "Blinks182" shirt outside a venue once.

[@LSA30]

Like buying a Sorny TV😂

[@choppergunner8650]

​@@LSA30 or those fake Adidas hoodies with 4 stripes

[@strungoutkid]

@@LSA30 classic Simpsons episode!

[@xPandaZ4]

Ive ordered a few jerseys off of DHgate. The quality is streets ahead of anything ive ever seen fanatics produce, and its a 1/4 of the price.

[@tbell61]

Shannon, thanks for doing this video. I was interested in your take on this subject, and you did not disappoint.

[@ears9115]

I have one Detroit Tigers fanatics shirt and haven’t bought anything from them since. All my Red Wings stuff is from 47 or American Needle. I have an old CCM jersey, 1997 Sergei Fedorov and a Nike Fedorov, two relatives had the same idea! I’ve never washed em and only worn to games couple cause worries about messing em up. Got as a kid, was giant then so still fit!

[@InchonDM]

For those who don't follow baseball regularly, we've had more updates as spring training starts to approach. We've now seen the uniform pants as well, and it's ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE. The pants are _translucent!_ They're so thin you can see through them, and furthermore, they're almost universally too tight! It looks like the players are wearing uniform-colored _pantyhose_ out onto the field, and there's already a bunch of shots of players with, uh, _unfortunate elements_ on display underneath. It's completely insane.

[@drengillespie]

It brought back memories of the white scrub pants from school.

[@2nddimension334]

Excellent choice of jersey for an important video!

[@woodsie22]

Oh, I got a preview of how low quality they can go. Last night, I went to the Blues game, and they had a new product - a Mitchell & Ness (but really Fanatics) “vintage” clown Brett Hull clown jersey, selling for $200. I wouldn’t wear the thing if it was free. The blue was closer to the unfortunate choice in the 90s than the new adidas ones, but the shoulder AND the main logo both were the cheap screen printed iron on looking ones. The stripes were also wrong, and had someone been walking around wearing that jersey, I would have assumed it was a knockoff or a particularly poorly made giveaway.

[@jaredmorrison9511]

I quite like that Jets jersey from a looks standpoint at least.

[@ShadowWalker-ng1it]

Had a habs caps for a summer washed it maybe twice and yet even after only that I had the metal wiring sticking into my head when I was wearing it.

[@FutureZek]

Nice Jason Mendoza reference!

[@eli2568]

Had no idea no one else made a bid. That's crazy. Yes affirmed concern about fanatics. Have no plans to get at this point. I was bummed Adidas didn't want to again

[@fuuzzzy]

That’s why I’m getting the jerseys I want now

[@TheHeston83]

same

[@shrimpanzee8510]

Needed to stay with Reebok, man even the Reebok edge hockey socks were good

[@Lukewipf442]

Nice to see you in a jets jersey! Although I'm worried about tomorrow's game vs the Canucks

[@Jimmy-Mc]

At least my Adidas and CCM jerseys will go up in value.

[@TheConspiratorist]

I'm getting all the Adidas jerseys I can before Fanatics takes over. I've got no faith in Fanatics quality.

[@TheHeston83]

same I as well

[@girthbrookes1673]

I bought one bills jersey from them never ever again. Same price or even more than what i paid for authentic good jerseys and its crap. Nothing is stitched, everything was heated or glued. Terrible product terrible company

[@austinsannoyinggames7017]

Just finished the good place this morning, great show, great ending.

[@bdonaghu]

I'm just glad I already have enough Sabres jerseys to satisfy my wants. I have a Buffaslug (Reebok), Goathead (CCM), Winter Classic (Fanatics), and the 50th anniversary, Navy Blue home, and Royal Blue home all from Adidas.

[@DJVexillum]

Yep, I made sure this season to pick up a Home, Goathead, and Heritage Classic from last year while they're still Adidas available.

[@TheHeston83]

ordered the Avalanche adidas Blue 3rd yep thats gonna be last one for a while

[@MarcB.8052]

I want a ovechkin and mcdavid adidas before they go out of business:/

[@TheSportsBoffin]

I look on the NHL website over here in the UK and it is very noticeable that there is very limited Adidas stock left. As a result an Adidas Kochina is £250/300 for example. But even though they are pretty expensive you know they are a Quality product. Even the unpoplular Grey Jets Reverse Retro is around £200. Then you have the Fanatics jerseys.......£150 for something that will fall apart in a few weeks which is already very hard to replace just is not worth it. This is why I am glad i have my Reebok Jets Authentic and my Jagr CCM Capitals Authentic. For those saying that they wish the NHL was like European Football/Soccer where the teams have agreements with different manafacturers sadly Fanatics has also got agreements to make merchandise under licence just like MLB.

[@dvizual]

I have a KOHO and a bunch of CMM jerseys, they’re just incredible, they hold up so well. Even the Reeboks

[@rickyma3189]

I'm not a Jets fan, but that indigenous jersey is nice!

[@nathanbrisebois8756]

I love that jets jersey, love the Metis inspiration

[@JustinWillhoit]

Also I'll say that I generally like Fanatics quality when it comes to hoodies or shirts (a little less so). I have the Stanley Cup Final jersey of Dallas with the nice chrome patch and I actually really like it

[@ScottStahler-eu1tg]

I bought Hockey Jerseys from Fanatics, but My Adidas Jerseys are way Better. Now they are Authentic, but The Price $$$$ is only like a $60.00 difference!!!! I'm very Worried about the Quality for The Fans & Especially for The Players On The Ice!!!!!?????

[@brianwalsh4077]

Sadly I think we're going to "accept it" since it will be the only ones available to us, apart from knock-off sites.. Unless MLB/NHL/ steps up to Fanatics to demand better quality but since they were the only bidders for NHL there's not much to do here....

[@TheHeston83]

there has to be a loophole to drop out of the contract curious why CCM didnt bid

[@mattcampbell8939]

something has been bugging me. I cant remember the name of the channel of the older guy who kinda copies the THG setup. Does anybody know who I'm talking about?

[@invertedxxxi]

I just went to see my local ECHL team last Saturday, “Indy Fuel” and I picked up a jersey. They might be the minors, but even they have better quality jerseys than the NHL is going to have in the fall. How could Gary Bettman let this happen? A 10 year contract? Seriously? Looks like I’m going to be getting my jerseys off of eBay, or only buy jerseys from the AHL/ECHL

[@richardferguson6893]

One word: MONEY.

[@georgenoriegajr]

(1) The Nike Vapor Elite i.e. the "on-field authentics" do still have tackle twill wordmarks, names and numbers that are stitched onto the jersey. The only change for this year is that patches that were once embroidered (like the Mets skyline sleeve patch and the Dodgers "LA" sleeve patch) are now printed instead of embroidered, although the outer layer is still stitched onto the jersey. (2) It's 50/50 as to whether the Blackhawks' logo will be chain-stitched; the St. Louis Cardinals' front wordmark is still chain-stitched, although unlike pre-2024 when it was directly chain-stitched onto the JERSEY, it is now chain-stitched onto a separate PATCH which is then stitched onto the jersey. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies, who pre-2024 also had a chain-stitched wordmark on their jerseys, now have a plain tackle twill logo stitched on the front. So if the Blackhawks DO continue with chain-stitched logos, it will most likely be on a separate patch and sewn onto the jersey, which obviously is not as nice as stitching it directly onto the jersey.

[@nicholasmarshall8430]

I was stocking up on adidas last year, i might have to get back to it this year.

[@mattlovespeebee]

One that you didn’t mention was that Fanatics is the supplier for all WWE merchandise too.

[@cams1552]

He was only referring to sports

[@avery.a5948]

Referring to sports not drama

[@lookinforworkandstuff]

Hopefully they make the ads on the jerseys look nice, especially since there will likely be more added in the future.

[@johntowers]

Buying my next Jersey on DH for sure

[@bgrace94]

Fanatics will be the official betting sportsbook for my canes. *sigh*

[@audiothesoviet]

I got a Red Wings Larkin jersey a few years ago using some gifts cards I had, and I almost never wear it. I just don't like the way the jersey feels, it feels a little too snug, and the fabric doesn't feel as good to me as the Reeboks did. I also *hate* the logo, which ain't even stitched on and my NHL logo at the neck is peeling off too

[@bobtiki9767]

The chain hand stitching is the only reason i purchased an authentic sweater a a Hawk fan

[@randy8081]

How do I get a crease out of my addidas jersey?

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Go look up Jersey Jaguar. He tells you how on his channel.

[@timandrew8567]

I have a Team Italy hockey jersey from the Turin olympics in '06 and it was made by Nike

[@otakumusprime7745]

I wonder about pricing/sales going forward. It never seems like Fanatics jerseys go below the sales they already set (a player jersey below $130 for example or a retired style blank jersey for under $100), but Adidas jerseys you can find for all kinds of prices, often cheaper than Fanatics.

[@lavk2777]

Fanatics makes all my college merch too… absolutely wild

[@eml5086]

I know neighbors who go to Pittsburgh Penguin games, who (for 2 people) spend $500 for game tickets, pay $50-60 to park their car for 3 hours, wear team jerseys that cost $250 per, spend $50-100 for "snacks and beer" at the game... then tell me the economy sucks and they're living paycheck-to-paycheck. Such is our world. I watch the game on TV. BUT... I can see the day coming when we'll be in a pay-per-view situation for ALL sports, ALL games, not just the big games. (Peacock + and the NFL / Steelers this season)

[@chrisbelos2834]

there's no such things like free NHL games on TV anymore since the early 2010s. it's all cable TV. and for the habs games in Montreal, you have to pay 3 different channels to get all the games otherwise you will miss some of them

[@eml5086]

I guess I'm fortunate in that regard. I subscribe to DirectTV Stream and watch the Pens on SportsNet Pittsburgh - it's one of the stations in the package I get. Yes, I'm still paying to watch the games, but at least I don't need to pay for multiple channels. I think there are over 150 channels to watch on the DirecTV package. I watch 3 or 4 at the most. The rest is... well... unwatchable. Go Pens. Go Habs. God bless Canada. @@chrisbelos2834

[@W31rdG]

I haven't bought a hat I liked ever since Old Time Hockey was bought out. They made the best flexfit hats around and now most companies only release hats with straps. I'm still rocking a mid-2000s Oilers hat and a 2011 Bruins hat made by OTH.

[@Kinvarus1]

They also have a deal with WWE. I have a Ducks jersey that's the old CCM, A few Rangers Rebooks and a few Fanatics. Most of them have been fine, but my Coyotes jersey they got the wrong color and letting on the back nameplate and number, despite the fact they got it right on the sleeves and as a UK fan, jerseys are ridiculously expensive as it is. For me part of the interesting this is there was Adidas which was the offical on ice product and Fanatics were the cheaper replica option, with Fanatics taking over as the on ice manufacturer as well, will they just stop doing the cheaper version entirely? Cos No way I'm playing 500+ for a jersey, I'll just stick to getting older jersey's. Especially none named ones, the Rangers haven't really changed their home and away design in forever nor have the Bruins, at least not over the last few years. Of course if other people have the same idea then you can bet the price of those to also start going up as well.

[@joeleonard5783]

You pretty much nailed every point on the head. I have never liked the garbage products they make. Cheap, I'll fitting knock grade garbage. You are absolutely right about not caring about buying from Chinese knock off sites. It's also an issue where they can't deliver for special events like the Super Bowl or the Stadium Series. Don't even get me started on the design of the Isles SS jersey. I'm not sure who is exactly involved, but I will spare you my expletive laden opinion on laziness and the ridiculous "plimsole" explanation. They worked harder on contriving an excuse than on design. All in all, I'm done with fan swag as long as Fanatics is involved. My only Fanatics hat is ill fitting and cheap as you describe. Won't waste another dime on it. Vintage swag is really the only way to go anymore. And as an Isles fan, there has not been a decent third jersey since the SS14. The MLB jerseys look awful but I'll never buy one anyway. I'm sure they will make their money hand over fist from all the lemmings who have no concept of value or money.

[@edtierney6076]

Time to get my adidas jersey list together when those go on discount like when Reebok went out

[@CrescentCitySweaters]

Even some of the team stores themselves are Fanatics experiences. I know the store at Audi Field in Washington DC is, for example

[@2muchcream782]

I'm a store manager at Lids. Fanatics is the worst quality product I have ever seen being sold on a retail level. We have product that has only spent time on shelves look like they've been worn for years. The new NHL Blue Line jerseys from Mitchel and Ness feel cheap and will rip like paper. A few weeks ago we recieved the new MLB jerseys and they looked and felt like a fanatics jersey. the quality is worse than the ones from previous seasons and are $50 more expensive. We are selling blank MLB jerseys for the same price as a blank Adidas NHL jerseys. Fanatics is the worst thing to happen to sports merchandise and I'm not exaggerating. I feel guilty selling Fanatics products to customers but I have to because it's my job.

[@rickmoranis5242]

Read somewhere that they will be using the same factory adidas used to make the jerseys

[@calgore21]

The quality of my knock-off Colorado "Nordiques" Reverse Retro I got shipped from China is miles ahead of my Fanatics Sabres jersey. The Sabres jersey I wore maybe twice and is already a bubbly mess.

[@ralliartstyle]

I have a malkin jersey that I had to return TWICE! Cause the name bar peeled off.

[@NHLCrazy2007]

No doubt I'm deeply worried, Shannon.

[@TheHeston83]

I feel the same and the Fact Fanatics doesnt respond to being called out not changing makes me angry

[@TimfromMKE]

They're even doing rock band t-shirts now

[@therush420]

Wish teams had individual deals with manufacturers, like when Detroit had Nike in the 90’s.

[@patrickgoulet8170]

Do you have any regret buying the fanatics wasac jersey or would you buy it again?

[@ryohayden69]

I agree

[@superadam2112]

I’ve seen a couple Fanatics x Adidas in Calgary & Edmonton. They seem decent. Getting rid of the chain stitching on the Chicago ones are absolutely sacrilegious. The MLB Fanatics jerseys look like the ones that Great Britain got in the World Baseball Classic

[@nomad2753]

I have one Fanatics jersey, purchased only because it was impossible to find a genuine in my size. The quality of the material and logos are definitely subpar and the colors are a bit off. I did send it elsewhere for proper customization which does help the overall look. If this is what we're going be seeing from Fanatics going forward I'll be looking for alternative sources.

[@DerrickDX]

I actually got ahold of the new MLB stuff and it's pretty much the exact materials of a NBA Authentic jersey cut into a MLB jersey. It's fine to wear casually but a premium product? Idk😂 it's your preference.

[@ryanguzek361]

10 years is just such a long time

[@t_babe]

Has anybody heard if they’re gonna make any more 2024 winter classic jerseys? I didn’t have enough money saved when they first came out and really want one

[@shellisherwood]

I just ordered a Neighbours adidas jersey and really had to hunt through the web to find adidas, even the St Louis store didnt have one available in my size, so finding adidas is already becoming an issue in my size, thanks coolhockey Canada for having what I wanted

[@DoubleP29]

I've received two fanatics jerseys from a mystery prize... first one was Arizona Coyotes (2019 era) where the logo was what we expected from fanatics (lower quality and all) but the numbers (was signed Antti Raanta) where double twill stitched so was very happy with the overall but I did receive a Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane #88 fanatics and it was exactly as Shannon's fears were suggested on the beauty of a handstitched logo from other jerseys in the past from Reebok and others to this... this is not good at all and I am very fearful of what is to come. Suffice to say as fans, we'll be checking around places like ebay/FB MB etc for the diamonds in the rough for THAT jersey or... saving a LOT more $$ into our personal wallets because overall... it won't be good for the jersey fans for sure!

[@jamthefed]

IIRC did the NHL say that the game worn jerseys would still be manufactured at the current factory in Quebec. Of course Fanatics can still just get the factory to make it with substandard material and methods.

[@aprev039]

The Fanatics partnership is the perfect summary of our current market trend: all products are expensive to buy and are cheaply made. We used to have tiered products where depending on your budget you could go for better quality for a higher price and vice versa. That doesn’t exist anymore.

[@classic.cameras]

Remember CCM/KOHO Semi Pro jerseys? For us old enough who collected PRO Made in Canada jerseys we used to think they were crap. NO? I look at some of my "semi-Pro" jerseys and besides the logo ironed on, they feel like Pro jerseys in comparative to Adidas and Fanatics jersey.

[@afterfractures5884]

This is the inevitable result of the original fanatics contract. There was never going to be any other outcome with Fanatics owning the rights to the more profitable replica jerseys. That's why Adidas released "pro" replicas instead of the on-ice jerseys. They were trying to compete in the replica market, and it only worked because Fanatics' jerseys are terrible quality. People were happy to pay more to avoid fanatics. Needless to say, Fanatics weren't too happy with that. They had to unify the replicas and on-ice jerseys under one brand... it's just upsetting that Fanatics ended up being that brand. It is a bush-league company, and I will never support them. I will be picking up an Adidas Stutzle away jersey. I bought a used CCM Alfredsson jersey and managed to find a new pro Reebok Karlsson jersey for like 40$.

[@Brobro449]

Guess I should be getting a flames jersey 😂. Now do I go the classic red or the blasty 🤔