Fanatics under fire again for poor jersey quality exposed by Seattle Kraken player

The news that Fanatics will replace Adidas as the manufacturer of NHL jerseys, effective from the 2024-2025 season, has deeply disturbed a number of hockey fans. Fanatics, the behemoth in the world of sports merchandising, replaces Adidas, which has made official NHL jerseys since 2017. But clearly, not everybody was ready to take the leap of faith.

Much of the concern comes from fans who have experienced quality issues with Fanatics' products in the past. Complaints of weak stitching, poor overall durability, and flimsy construction are common, raising fears the new NHL jerseys won't measure up to the quality Adidas delivered. Given that jerseys often cost upwards of $200, fans are afraid they'll be paying a premium price for a subpar product.

But Seattle Kraken star Matty Beniers has done nothing but make matters worse for NHL fans. A recent photo of his completely torn Fanatics practice jersey, which had a full tear along the side, has just added to the flames. The fans, already on edge, now see this as an ominous insight of what's to come.

With hockey fans clinging dearly to the game's traditions, any decline in jersey quality tends to feel like an assault on the legacy of the sport. While Fanatics has reassured the public that they will indeed be continuing the high standards in place with the NHL, many people raise an eyebrow. While new jerseys are expected to appear in shelves all over North America in the coming weeks, Matty Beniers' torn jersey was a grim sneak peek at what may well prove to be a frustrating season ahead for those fans interested in purchasing a jersey.

Source:
NathanGraviteh on X