Is the NHL biting the hand that feeds them? Fans seem to think so. As with all modern sports, the NHL included, fans generate a big chunk of revenue. Be it shirt sales, merchandise sales, or game tickets, modern sports are upheld in part by fans’ monetary contributions. Especially before big tournaments, supporters will want to buy tournament-specific gear. However, fans of USA Hockey are not happy with the cost of the jerseys that NHL outfitter Fanatics unveiled ahead of the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
The jerseys have been retailing for admittedly steep prices. For Team USA fans who simply want a plain jersey, they will have to shell out $434.99 for the Authentic Pro Jersey. While this jersey is exactly the same as what Team USA will wear on the ice, not every fan who is looking to purchase a plain jersey will want the most expensive option.
Furthermore, the cheapest jersey options retail for $239.99, but these come printed with the names of just four players: Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, or Adam Fox. Fans of any other Team USA player who would like their favorite’s name on their jerseys are out of luck, as the custom-printed version costs $499.99, more than double the already printed versions.
In comparison, a regular hockey jersey of any NHL team costs significantly less. For example, a plain Boston Bruins jersey retails for $134.99, and a custom jersey retails for $204.99. While Fanatics does offer the option to buy an Authentic Pro Jersey, fans looking to buy a regular plain jersey are not forced to, unlike with the 4 Nations Face-Off jerseys.
For NHL fans, the pricing stings, because they’ve been unable to watch their favorite players compete internationally for a long time. The NHL barred their players from participating in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. They last competed internationally in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which has not been held since.
Hockey fans take to Reddit to voice their frustrations at USA Hockey
Ultimately, the main audience for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be NHL fans. And needless to say, they are not happy with the prices. As of this article, the Reddit thread about the Team USA jerseys has garnered 246 comments and 330 upvotes. In the words of one Redditor, “46% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Don’t have enough in savings to cover a $400 emergency. And this is who you think your customer is? Are they only marketing to oligarchs?”
Another commenter criticized commissioner Gary Bettman for thinking of only profits and ignoring the wider fan experience. “Salary cap is going way up, ticket prices to follow. Jerseys are too expensive. Can’t watch games legally. Fans are no longer able to be fans. Thanks Gary.”
Other fans echoed these sentiments in different but similar ways. One comment read, “Making only 4 names available, then charging 500 for a custom is criminal.” While another fan questioned the need to even purchase such an expensive jersey before the tournament. “For those prices, we’ll just see what’s left over after 4NFO is done. F*ck that.”
To put things into perspective, one of the top comments with 70 upvotes read, “You could buy a PlayStation 5 for these prices. I f*cking hate how jerseys in every sport have become so expensive.” Indeed, it is true that one could buy a PlayStation 5 in the United States for the price of a custom jersey. However, despite the complaints online, a market for these jerseys does exist, as the plain USA Hockey Authentic Pro Jerseys are almost sold out on the Fanatics website.
The post Calls Mount Against USA Hockey as Fans Left Shocked by Latest Jersey Prices: “Could Buy a PlayStation 5” appeared first on EssentiallySports.
