For Sale Jets Tee shirts @ Sunlife Stadium.

[Brian Fein]

Phish - not sure when the last time you went to a game, but last season I saw Patriots' gear in the little merch trailer ("kiosk") inside the stadium.

It ticks me off, because I hate getting berated in my own stadium by fans of the visiting team, and this makes them feel more welcome and at home.  It gives fans the feeling of "its OK to like other teams that aren't the home team."  And with the lack of support teams get, particularly in baseball and hockey, it irks me extra because the fan base is mostly fans of other teams.  They should not feel welcome to wear their gear in our stadium, let alone to BUY it there!

[Brian Fein]

Dave, the post on Facebook is a direct response to this story.  They ARE selling it, HAVE BEEN selling it, but today there was a story on PFT about it, and people all around the league are laughing at the Dolphins again.  The Facebook post (and matching tweets) were to address the outrage launched by PFT's story.

[Phishfan]

Phish - not sure when the last time you went to a game, but last season I saw Patriots' gear in the little merch trailer ("kiosk") inside the stadium.

I didn't go to any games last season and it has been longer than that since I went up to a merch booth at a game.

[Dave Gray]

To me, this is all distraction.  It's like politics.  I say again -- who gives a shit?  "Other teams are laughing at us?"  What does that even mean?  Who cares?  Win games and you can sell whatever you want.  That's all that matters.

What we're selling in the stadium is meaningless.

Put a good product on the field.  Nothing else matters.  Not orange carpets or celebrity owners or merchandise in the store.  Nothing.  Fans are outraged over issues that don't amount to a hill of beans.

[Spider-Dan]

I think this story blew up because one of the many other items of merchandise for sale (from other NFL teams) said "New York - Home of the Jets".   Someone took a picture of it, then captioned it "Sun Life Stadium is 'Home of the Jets'?"

Cue outrage.

[Thundergod]

I agree with Brian.

[Landshark]

Well, once a research writer, always a research writer...

When I saw this thread and read the PFT piece, I did a little digging and made a few calls to see if this sort of "selling the enemy's colors" situation was normal.

The answer seems to be "no." Now, granted, I only called three organizations, but I got the same answer, in no uncertain terms for all three.

First call:  The Boston Red Sox team shop on Yawkey Way (manages all inside-Fenway gift stores)
The manager of the Yawkey Way store let me know that they do not carry any of the New York Yankees shirts/jerseys in their gift shops.

Second call: New York Yankees gift shop at the Great Hall near Gate 6. The employee there (Lisa), informed me that the Yankees gift shops inside the stadium do not carry any Boston Red Sox gear, even when the Red Sox are in town for a series.

Third call...the "reciprocation test": The New York Jets Official Team Store.  I wasn't able to actually call the gift shop directly, but I found out who is in charge of running the retail merchandising for the Jets (The Delaware North Companies), and after a couple of calls, I finally spoke to Bill, who runs all retail operations related to the Jets Team Store inside the Meadowlands. He explained to me that they don't sell any Dolphins team shirts or jerseys, though he explained that the reason for this wasn't the divisional rivalry, but the limited space available, as those shops have to carry both Jets and Giants gear at all times.


So, Miami selling Jets gear inside our stadium appears to be a traveshamockery of the first order. Obviously this is a very small sample size, but it does seem to point at Miami's situation being "outside the norm."

When I saw your post, I did a little digging myself.  I'm good friends with Guy Moore, the owner of Garnet and Gold, who is in charge of all local retail operations for FSU memorabillia.  He's got a main store in Governors Square Mall in Tally, plus a smaller one two blocks from the Doak, not to mention two little shops inside the Doak. 

I gave my buddy a call to see if he sells memorabillia for the other team, specifically Gators and Hurricanes attire, and he gave me a big HELL NO.  While he does understand that he could make more money doing that, he feels that being loyal to FSU trumps making extra profits.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think this story blew up because one of the many other items of merchandise for sale (from other NFL teams) said "New York - Home of the Jets".   Someone took a picture of it, then captioned it "Sun Life Stadium is 'Home of the Jets'?"

Cue outrage.

Well of course they are going to highlight the Jets as opposed to say a Bucs tee shirt.  But still neither belongs in the teams pro shop. 

[Dave Gray]

They sold Gators stuff on campus at the FSU bookstore, when I went there to drop off my niece for her first semester.  Most of it featured both teams or "A House Divided" type stuff, where it said Gator Mom/FSU Dad or something like that.

[Brian Fein]

Dave. the outrage isn't because of the sale of stuff in the store, its more the general mentality that it represents - we welcome fans of other teams.  There's no fear associated with our team cause (a) we suck and (b) people can just walk into our home stadium and abuse us.  Its about the mentality.

You wear a Yankees hat to Fenway, let me know what happens.

Wear a Giants jersey at Dodgers Stadium.  Same thing.  A guy DIED earlier this year for this.

Visiting fans are not supposed to be welcomed, they are supposed to be humble.

I'm really just sick of the Florida sports fan-base, in general.  There's nothing worse than going to a Dolphins game and being outnumbered 12 to 1 by Steelers' fans.  I would like this to stop.

[Phishfan]

I admit, I don't see as many games as you guys, but 12-1 is such an obvious overreach that it makes it difficult to take your post seriously. The worst numbers I ever saw was a Tampa game I attended and Miami fans still weren't outnumbered.

That said, we need to find a happy medium. I know many of you guys are not college football fans, but do some searches and see what people say about visiting WVU. It is both a proud spot to be as well as an embarrassing one. Personally using the Dodgers example of team spirit is a poor one Brian. We are going to watch a game, not there to incite riots. Personally I think it would be worse to be associated with an atmosphere like they have at Dodger games (at least the picture they paint of it).

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Dave. the outrage isn't because of the sale of stuff in the store, its more the general mentality that it represents - we welcome fans of other teams.  There's no fear associated with our team cause (a) we suck and (b) people can just walk into our home stadium and abuse us.  Its about the mentality.

You wear a Yankees hat to Fenway, let me know what happens.

Wear a Giants jersey at Dodgers Stadium.  Same thing.  A guy DIED earlier this year for this.

Visiting fans are not supposed to be welcomed, they are supposed to be humble.

I'm really just sick of the Florida sports fan-base, in general.  There's nothing worse than going to a Dolphins game and being outnumbered 12 to 1 by Steelers' fans.  I would like this to stop.

I won't go as far as you.  I think the hostile nature of many stadiums is a shameful problem not something to aspire to. 

I firmly a believe that a Dolphins fan should be able to bring his 9 year old daughter to Giants stadium for a Jets game without fear she will be exposed a negative experience.  The fact that he can't is sad commentary on the Jets fans.  And most stadiums are like this.

I really think we should have stadiums where opposing fans can cheer their team without any fear of violence.  And stadiums where children can enjoy the game.   

But I don't think a team should be selling tee shirts of opposing team, for those opposing fans who might have forgot to buy one in advance. 

[Sunstroke]

I really think we should have stadiums where opposing fans can cheer their team without any fear of violence.  And stadiums where children can enjoy the game.

I think that any time you have something that humans get emotionally invested in, whether it is religion, politics, sports, et al, you will always have a fringe group that slides far-right to extreme zealotry (and accompanying poor impulse control). It's sad that it affects something like sports...but not surprising.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think that any time you have something that humans get emotionally invested in, whether it is religion, politics, sports, et al, you will always have a fringe group that slides far-right to extreme zealotry (and accompanying poor impulse control). It's sad that it affects something like sports...but not surprising.

If it was just the fringe it would not be a problem. 

E.g. if when one drunk fan started shouting obscenities at a 9 year old girl wearing the opposing team jersey the 99 fans around him told him to shut the fuck up.  Or if when an opposing fan was attacked others came to his aid.  But alas it not fringe behavior in many stadiums but the norm of accepted and expected behavior. 

[Sunstroke]

If it was just the fringe it would not be a problem. 

E.g. if when one drunk fan started shouting obscenities at a 9 year old girl wearing the opposing team jersey the 99 fans around him told him to shut the fuck up.  Or if when an opposing fan was attacked others came to his aid.  But alas it not fringe behavior in many stadiums but the norm of accepted and expected behavior. 

When viewed with a realistic eye, rather than cynical, it really is just "the fringe."

The behavior you describe in both of those reasonable hypothetical situations doesn't point to the group of overzealous fans being any larger than "fringe," as much as it points to the fact that a large number of the normal fans don't have the nerve to stand up to the small group of overzealous fans.