This summer, the Knicks certainly made a splash at the World Cup.
At Dick’s Sporting Goods, the only store of its kind in the city, the frenzy for the New York team has completely eclipsed the excitement for FIFA. Much of the soccer gear is still sitting on the shelves, while baseball fans are expressing their frustration over sold-out team merchandise.
“[Monday] was absolutely wild here,” said Yesenia Peña, a representative for Dick’s located in Glendale, Queens.
“We received 300 locker room hats, similar to what the players wore when they clinched their spot, and they were all gone in just about an hour. I mean, some of the guys were really emotional, even crying,” she noted.
Ron Rubino, a dedicated Knicks fan, proudly bought an NBA Finals T-shirt on Wednesday. He wore a 1999 shirt—the last time the Knicks made it to the Finals—featuring the words, “I still believe!”
“It’s taken me 27 years to find a new one,” commented the 62-year-old.
Even in one of the most culturally rich areas globally, the store’s expansive World Cup merchandise section, filled with Adidas jerseys and FIFA-branded items for the upcoming tournament, seems to be largely overlooked.
“Well, the Knicks stuff just flies off the shelves,” the clerk remarked.
The store in Queens was one of around 20 in the tri-state area to open to the public at 10 p.m., where crowds lined up for a shot at grabbing orange and blue memorabilia following Monday’s impressive 130-93 victory over the Cavaliers.
Peña, a devoted Knicks supporter, mentioned that even with three deliveries from FedEx each day, products are still hard to come by, and excitement is at an all-time high.
“There were about 20 people waiting there. [Monday night], I was keen on buying this shirt. It’s what the players wore,” she shared.
This historic postseason push is set to challenge the online marketplace’s capacity to compete with local retailers for Knicks gear.
Notably, stores like Modell’s Sporting Goods, City Sports, and Sports Authority have closed their doors since the Knicks last played in the NBA Finals two decades ago.
Online retailers like Fanatics, the NBA’s designated e-commerce partner, might not be able to deliver to New York until June.
“We’re promoting this merchandise because…well, it’s what people desire right now, right?” Peña emphasized. “This is where we are at this moment.”
Almost all men’s Knicks gear has been completely sold out, and there are very few items left for women and children.
“The fans are really passionate,” she remarked. “They come in happy and start chatting with strangers since everyone shares a common interest.”
