New Jersey Devils fans may not agree on every jersey decision, but the reaction to the Hometown Remix rollout has been pretty clear: the look is fine, the prices are not.
The NHL and Fanatics launched the Hometown Remix collection for all 32 teams, and the Devils’ version leaned into a black design inspired by their recent Stadium Series jersey. That look already proved popular once before, with the Stadium Series sweater selling out in minutes and later fetching premium prices on the secondary market.
This time, though, the sticker shock has been the story. A premium jersey with custom lettering and numbering is priced at $275, while the authentic version - the one players wear on the ice - goes for $500.
That’s for a jersey the Devils will wear in 10 games this season. At least, that’s the plan right now.
The cost climbs even more for families. Youth player jerseys are listed at $169.99, and the plain youth version comes in at $139.99.
If a hoodie sounds like the safer buy, that doesn’t exactly solve the problem either. Kids’ hoodies start at $60, while the adult lace-up hoodie is priced at more than $115.
And even then, some of the most appealing items were gone almost immediately. The Starter Jacket-style zip-up, which drew the most attention, sold out within minutes.
The frustration is easy to understand. The league keeps talking about growing the game and reaching younger fans, but the families showing up to games are the ones doing the arithmetic at the checkout line. Fanatics and the NHL say they’ll evaluate fan response before deciding on future programs, but for now, plenty of Devils fans are left with the same feeling: they like the gear, they just can’t justify the bill.
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