Fans are gearing up
Nothing like the words “Conference Champions” and the Super Bowl logo ironed onto T-shirts to help heat up sales.
Salespersons working the Seattle Seahawks merchandise tent at the training camp facility at Eastern Washington University have seen sales increase, thanks to the team’s growing popularity and 2006 Super Bowl appearance.
“We’re definitely doing record numbers this year,” said Lindsay McKay, who has worked the merchandise tent for the past five summers.
The hot-ticket items have been the Super Bowl XL NFC champions T-shirts, left over from the game between the current world champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seahawks. Selections were limited, but at a markdown of $9.99 a shirt, fans weren’t picky.
“People were buying shirts that weren’t even their size,” said McKay, while ringing up non-stop sales earlier this week. “They just want them to say ‘Super Bowl’ or ‘championships.’ “
The merchandise was trucked to Cheney by the Seattle Seahawks merchandise department. Although additional gear will continue to be shipped here throughout the 3 ½-week camp, Super Bowl XL items were a one-time deal.
The next most popular shirts are anything that says “training camp” and “Cheney, Washington.” The “Winning starts here” shirts already are in limited sizes. In May, the Seahawks announced 2007 will be the last year training camp will be in Cheney before the team moves into its new state-of-the-art training facility in Renton. Ground-breaking is scheduled for October 2006.
“People from all over come and visit and they want the shirt they buy to say ‘training camp,’ ” said Dave McKay, EWU employee who oversees merchandise sales.
McKay, the university’s director of food services and father of Lindsay, said sales have increased by 30 to 35 percent. He said he was told by promotion departments that the number is typical after a team plays in the Super Bowl. McKay said camp attendance also is up by about 30 percent.
The largest crowd is expected to be Saturday at the annual Seattle Seahawks Extravaganza. Kirsten Bettcher, EWU event coordinator, anticipates the crowd to be more than 8,000. Last year’s event drew 4,000 on what turned out to be an uncomfortably hot day.
Activities are scheduled from 9 a.m. until the team scrimmage at 2 p.m. at Woodward Field. Head Coach Mike Holmgren will be on the campus mall stage at 12:35 p.m.
Aside from the tailgate barbecue ($5.50/adults, $3.50/children), the event is free. That is, of course, free to anyone who is not tempted to spruce up their football wardrobe with Seahawks gear.
McKay said a merchandise tent and a concession stand will be set up behind the end zones. A trailer will be set up for cap sales. McKay said he’s expecting more merchandise to be shipped before the Extravaganza, such as autographed footballs.
“It’s been a real good season so far,” McKay said. “The weather has been great and everybody is having fun.”