Tebow Mania Finds NYC Sports Stores Unprepared
New York City stores are finding themselves in a snag as changes within the NFL are making it difficult to keep Jets merchandise, especially jerseys with Tim Tebow's number 15, in supply amid fans hungry for Jets paraphernalia.
Due to a swap of apparel suppliers for the league, Tebow's fans might have to wait another month for an official jersey with the player's name and number.
Nike Inc. recently replaced Adidas AG's Reebok as the NFL's official apparel outfitter, a transition that has left many retailers without enough supply to match the sudden demand for Tebow-Jets gear. New York City's Modell's stores sold 1,000 units of the official Nike jerseys the first hour they were open on March 23, and now they have run out, reported Bloomberg Business News.
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The Jets' online shop is offering Reebok jerseys with Tebow's name and number, only because some of their green jerseys were left blank and could be printed. Fans will have to wait for the 2012 Nike jerseys to go on pre-sale April 15, 2012 and begin shipping April 26, according to the store's website.
The New Jersey Jets brought on the 24-year-old former Denver Broncos quarterback on March 21, and Tebow was officially introduced Monday during a press conference in New Jersey, as second to the Jets' other quarterback, Mark Sanchez.
Many have questioned the Jets' move to acquire Tebow, known for his public displays of Christian faith and humility, after signing a five-year contract with Sanchez only two weeks before acquiring the quaterback. Some observers have claimed that the Jets are hoping Tebow's popularity will work to the team's advantage.
Tebow himself expressed nothing but positive emotions about joining the Jets. "I'm looking forward to my future as a Jet and I'm very, very excited about it," he said during the Monday press conference. He repeated several times he wants to "Just be a good teammate."
