Breaking News: Fanatics controversy stirs as Fans and players express displeasure with cheap uniforms
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Since it began producing merchandise for multiple leagues and teams, Fanatics has not made many fans.
Spring training for MLB teams has begun as the 2024 season approaches.
A new campaign has been launched, a new jersey partner has been selected, and Nike has contracted Fanatics to produce its football and baseball jerseys. Needless to say, it's not going well.
As NHL fans, the new controversy surrounding MLB jerseys is "great" news since this is what we can look forward to.
The product is infamous for its lack of quality, and even professional sports stars seem to loathe it.
In addition to manufacturing jerseys for MLB, NFL, and NHL, Fanatics has also expanded into NCAA Football with Nike(in 2024) and the Tokoyo Giants.
So the diversity of garbage products will be increasing everywhere.
Last year vs this year's replica jersey offerings from the fine folks at MLB, Nike & Fanatics. Last year's being on the left and this year's on the right.
I have a lot to say, so bear with me here.
Let's just rip the bandaid off right away with this year's new jersey offerings pic.twitter.com/3IShhlj0nL Bobby Mullins (@TheBobbyMullins) February 11, 2024
This is what the back of the white jerseys look like with the new template. Players are pretty unhappy. Miles Mikolas says they also don't fit right; pants are no longer as customized, and the fabric is a very different consistency.
«They look cheap,» another player said. pic.twitter.com/UoH4vVHTfd Jeff Jones (@jmjones) February 13, 2024
The new look to the workout whites and home #stlcards jerseys. No chain stitching of the name on the jersey tail, either. Color red looks a new shade.
«I don't like them,» says a veteran pitcher.
They're different for sure. pic.twitter.com/VFcEx5kANN Derrick Goold (@dgoold) February 13, 2024
"I don't like them," another Cardinals pitcher said.
Several Angels players also took to bashing the new uniforms, including outfielder Taylor Ward, who told The Athletic the new jersey "looks like a replica."
«It feels kind of like papery. It could be great when you're out there sweating, it may be breathable. But I haven't had that opportunity yet to try that out. But from the looks of it, it doesn't look like a $450 jersey," Ward said. "So far, thumbs down."
Reliever Carlos Estevez even described the pants worn as feeling "like I'm wearing someone else's pants." And several pitchers have since complained about the pants, which The Athletic reported are no longer specifically tailored to pitchers, meaning the distinct tight-pants look of several arms like Robbie Ray and Tommy Kahnle could be going away.
As well as diminishing quality, Nike has eliminated iconic logos and colors from its baseball clothing, starting with the Cubs' iconic blue uniforms, which were changed into a different shade of blue and did away with the Cardinals on a Bat for the St. Louis Cardinals.
It seems that Fanatics instead of producing quality uniforms has decided to euthanize the iconic logo.
Is this the kind of oversight we will be seeing on ice, or lack thereof?
Gary Bettman and the NHL should be ashamed, as this is more or less a new era in cash-grabbing.
Hopefully, SP (which makes the NHL jerseys) in Quebec can stop the race to the bottom in sportswear.
As Seen On: sportingnews.com
| POLL | ||
February 15 | 160 answers Breaking News: Fanatics controversy stirs as Fans and players express displeasure with cheap uniforms Do you think Fanatics should have received the NHL jersey deal? | ||
| Yes | 48 | 30 % |
| No | 112 | 70 % |
| LIST OF POLL | ||
| LEADERS | ||||||||
| GP | G | A | PTS | |||||
| 1- NIKITA KUCHEROV | 81 | 44 | 100 | 144 | ||||
| 2- NATHAN MACKINNON | 82 | 51 | 89 | 140 | ||||
| 3- CONNOR MCDAVID | 76 | 32 | 100 | 132 | ||||
| 4- ARTEMI PANARIN | 82 | 49 | 71 | 120 | ||||
| 5- DAVID PASTRNAK | 82 | 47 | 63 | 110 | ||||
| 6- AUSTON MATTHEWS | 81 | 69 | 38 | 107 | ||||
| 7- LEON DRAISAITL | 81 | 41 | 65 | 106 | ||||
| 8- MIKKO RANTANEN | 80 | 42 | 62 | 104 | ||||
| 9- J.T. MILLER | 81 | 37 | 66 | 103 | ||||
| 10- WILLIAM NYLANDER | 82 | 40 | 58 | 98 | ||||
| 2023-2024 LEADERS | ||||||||
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