PWHL merchandise for inaugural season

[LadyStanley]

Will be interesting to see how things sell

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[jetsmooseice]

Will be interesting to see how things sell

I'm sure this is going to fly off the shelves for $110 a pop

I can appreciate a minimalist approach but the branding of the PWHL sucks. It's fine if that's the aesthetic the league wants to pursue, but it's not going to become a hot seller. Especially compounded by the fact that women's pro hockey leagues seem to last a couple seasons before going under and starting over again.

I'm sure the handful of diehards will snap this stuff up but casual fans/general audiences won't be touching it.

 

[oldunclehue]

I'm sure this is going to fly off the shelves for $110 a pop

I can appreciate a minimalist approach but the branding of the PWHL sucks. It's fine if that's the aesthetic the league wants to pursue, but it's not going to become a hot seller. Especially compounded by the fact that women's pro hockey leagues seem to last a couple seasons before going under and starting over again.

I'm sure the handful of diehards will snap this stuff up but casual fans/general audiences won't be touching it.

I agree, with so many options out there for clothing and hockey related items they need to do something to stand out. They haven't.

Plus very very rare to see regular populace of women wearing team sports apparel. Hockey moms, hockey girls yes....but not often do we see women in normal day to day outfits with their favorite sports team let alone a league that has been so poorly started.

 

[Ernie]

I'm sure this is going to fly off the shelves for $110 a pop

I can appreciate a minimalist approach but the branding of the PWHL sucks. It's fine if that's the aesthetic the league wants to pursue, but it's not going to become a hot seller. Especially compounded by the fact that women's pro hockey leagues seem to last a couple seasons before going under and starting over again.

I'm sure the handful of diehards will snap this stuff up but casual fans/general audiences won't be touching it.

I agree the branding sucks.

The rest? There has never been a women's pro hockey league with this kind of financial backing before. Tickets are selling well. The sponsorship money is there. Not smart to bet against this league.

 

[CANADIENSFAN90]

Not having jerseys or branding before the season is embarrassing

 

[JMCx4]

Not having jerseys or branding before the season is embarrassing

And yet, they don't seem embarrassed one bit.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not having jerseys or branding before the season is embarrassing

Season hasn't started yet, but the jerseys and branding are available right now. So what are you talking about?

I like the overall look - but hate that every team seems to have the exact same jersey design - city name in a slant across the front, That being said if I were a big jersey guy I would totally pick up one of these (that being said - I'm not a big jersey guy).

 

[JMCx4]

Season hasn't started yet, but the jerseys and branding are available right now. So what are you talking about?

I like the overall look - but hate that every team seems to have the exact same jersey design - city name in a slant across the front, That being said if I were a big jersey guy I would totally pick up one of these (that being said - I'm not a big jersey guy).

I'm a "big jersey guy" and a fan of women's hockey. But among widely popular/recognized North American ice hockey teams, only the NY Rangers have stuck with diagonal brand marks over the modern era. "Throwback" branding is NOT a good look for a league trying to make a name for itself (ironically).

 

[Bixby Snyder]

I agree the branding sucks.

The rest? There has never been a women's pro hockey league with this kind of financial backing before. Tickets are selling well. The sponsorship money is there. Not smart to bet against this league.

If this league survives more than 5 years I will eat a bag of pucks.

 

[Roadrage]

If that is the design they are going with in their inaugural season, looks to be a big fail. Every team has the same slanted city name. Reminds me of the hockey jersey designs from those knock off 8 bit video games when they didn't have the license rights to use actual logos.

 

[JMCx4]

If this league survives more than 5 years I will eat a bag of pucks.

You didn't by chance make that same promise re. the World Hockey Association, did you?

 

[Bixby Snyder]

You didn't by chance make that same promise re. the World Hockey Association, did you?

What's your point, I was barley a toddler by the time of the WHA/NHL merger?

 

[tarheelhockey]

I guess I’ll be the outlier here. I really like their visual identity. The league logo looks great and their merch generally looks street worthy.

The jerseys are plain, yes… but is that really a bad thing? Hear me out. There are less than a handful of minor league teams in all of sports that really have serious logo recognition. Wearing a minor league logo around town is not appealing to most people and does next to nothing for the team. But a jersey with the city name, that’s something people might notice and say “hey, what team is that?”. It puts the emphasis on the city, not the franchise, and that’s at least got a chance in hell of looking good outside of the rink. Meaning people might actually want to wear them instead of leaving them in their closet, which in turn means they might actually consider buying them even as a casual fan.

I agree that it’s all overpriced, but that’s the industry now.

 

[The Marquis]

I guess I’ll be the outlier here. I really like their visual identity. The league logo looks great and their merch generally looks street worthy.

The jerseys are plain, yes… but is that really a bad thing? Hear me out. There are less than a handful of minor league teams in all of sports that really have serious logo recognition. Wearing a minor league logo around town is not appealing to most people and does next to nothing for the team. But a jersey with the city name, that’s something people might notice and say “hey, what team is that?”. It puts the emphasis on the city, not the franchise, and that’s at least got a chance in hell of looking good outside of the rink. Meaning people might actually want to wear them instead of leaving them in their closet, which in turn means they might actually consider buying them even as a casual fan.

I agree that it’s all overpriced, but that’s the industry now.

They are going to think it’s a generic city shirt, not a team. These types of items exist in damn near every cruise port city. Sports jersey with city name on it. Soccer jersey with city name on it, etc etc.

 

[tarheelhockey]

They are going to think it’s a generic city shirt, not a team. These types of items exist in damn near every cruise port city. Sports jersey with city name on it. Soccer jersey with city name on it, etc etc.

Sure, but those generic items sell A LOT better than minor league merch with only a very few exceptions. For a women’s minor league hockey org, if they have any retail appeal at all, that’s a W. These might actually get carried in stores which is a lot more than you’d expect from e.g. a typical ECHL team.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I guess I’ll be the outlier here. I really like their visual identity. The league logo looks great and their merch generally looks street worthy.

The jerseys are plain, yes… but is that really a bad thing? Hear me out. There are less than a handful of minor league teams in all of sports that really have serious logo recognition. Wearing a minor league logo around town is not appealing to most people and does next to nothing for the team. But a jersey with the city name, that’s something people might notice and say “hey, what team is that?”. It puts the emphasis on the city, not the franchise, and that’s at least got a chance in hell of looking good outside of the rink. Meaning people might actually want to wear them instead of leaving them in their closet, which in turn means they might actually consider buying them even as a casual fan.

I agree that it’s all overpriced, but that’s the industry now.

This is a reasonable mindset, albeit one I don't agree with.

I'm the opposite. No one is going to see a Toronto jersey and say, "Hey, what team is that?" Could be anything from a women's professional team to a local beer league team.

What makes jerseys unique is the logo and colour scheme. The PWHL has done pretty decently with the colours. But splashing each city's name diagonally across the front is sheer laziness and uninspiring. I say it as someone who always comments the same when a NHL does it. It's lame.

I do agree with though that the league logo is really solid -- simplistic, yet sleek.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I'm sure this is going to fly off the shelves for $110 a pop

I can appreciate a minimalist approach but the branding of the PWHL sucks. It's fine if that's the aesthetic the league wants to pursue, but it's not going to become a hot seller. Especially compounded by the fact that women's pro hockey leagues seem to last a couple seasons before going under and starting over again.

I'm sure the handful of diehards will snap this stuff up but casual fans/general audiences won't be touching it.

Looks like they lowered the price to "just" $90 but man, that is still absolute insanity for what looks like a basic gildan sweater that costs closer to $5 in reality.

best of luck to these women and the league though....

 

[KevFu]

This is why I think the European Club model should be embraced for women's sports.

Not necessarily like full blown "Toronto Maple Leafs Women," but how the WNBA started made sense: The WNBA teams had names/colors/branding that was "in the family" of their NBA counterparts, just like lots of teams do with the minor league teams.

What would be sacrilege for an NHL team to do with a jersey or merchandise... you could totally do with a WNHL franchise in the same city that shared colors and theme.

For example, Islanders fans hated the Fishsticks jersey because it was an affront to our history when at that point, our history was all we had left; but the LIGHTHOUSE LOGO they had on the shoulders of that jersey was the best part and remains beloved.

The Islanders could never wear a jersey with the Lighthouse logo as the primary crest -- even though you can find like 3000 concepts for it online. But the WNHL Long Island team totally could! And you'd see that gear turn up at Islanders games in the crowd in a heartbeat.

 

[jetsmooseice]

Looks like they lowered the price to "just" $90 but man, that is still absolute insanity for what looks like a basic gildan sweater that costs closer to $5 in reality.

best of luck to these women and the league though....

It's $110 (Canadian) for me. Are you getting a USD price?

 

[Filthy Dangles]

It's $110 (Canadian) for me. Are you getting a USD price?

Must be, I’m in Murica and shows $90

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Jerseys blow. Plus the Canadian Teams jerseys have a brutal Canadian Tire patch on them. Hard pass. So uninspired.

 

[LadyStanley]

Went to look at jerseys. No customization available (yet). (I'd get the captain or goalie)

 

[End on a Hinote]

Admittedly I'm not that into women's sports (yet) but I really hope this league takes off. Aside from heavy marketing and financial backing from the league, is there anything else that makes this league different from the previous ones that have failed?

Although I'm not a fan of how they came into the inaugural season without any team nicknames, logos and with similar jerseys (although I really do like the jerseys styles, especially NY's). Does anyone know the reason for that? Just taking baby steps?

 

[lakeshirts37]

I agree, with so many options out there for clothing and hockey related items they need to do something to stand out. They haven't.

Plus very very rare to see regular populace of women wearing team sports apparel. Hockey moms, hockey girls yes....but not often do we see women in normal day to day outfits with their favorite sports team let alone a league that has been so poorly started.

well maybe designs like this are more appealing to that demographic?

 

[Yukon Joe]

Admittedly I'm not that into women's sports (yet) but I really hope this league takes off. Aside from heavy marketing and financial backing from the league, is there anything else that makes this league different from the previous ones that have failed?

Although I'm not a fan of how they came into the inaugural season without any team nicknames, logos and with similar jerseys (although I really do like the jerseys styles, especially NY's). Does anyone know the reason for that? Just taking baby steps?

What makes this different is that this is now a unified women's league - there aren't two competing leagues.

No idea about the jerseys / lack of nicknames. While I like the look, I like the look for a single team - not every team in the league.