The Perfect Gifts at Sports Fan and Minor League Stores

By Sara Karnish

Apparel is not the only way sports fans show their team loyalty. Fan store retailers interviewed for this article said gifts of all kinds are popular for both the fan or the fan in someone’s life.

Headwear and drinkware top the list of popular gifts.

“Adjustable hats and novelty items, like trading cards and logoed baseballs, are our top-selling gifts,” said Emma Reese , merchandise manager for the minor league baseball team Fort Wayne TinCaps’ Orchard Store in Fort Wayne, Ind. “They do well because they’re good gifts for anybody. People tend to come in and ask what other people are buying, and they’ll go off of that. I get people in here who wouldn’t necessarily come to a game, but they’re buying gifts for people who would come to a game. The adjustable hats are good because anybody can wear them. Kids can grow into an adult-sized hat. We have kids’ hats but they don’t sell as well. I think it’s the versatility of the items—that’s why they tend to be popular.”

Jennifer Crum , merchandise manager for the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team in Chattanooga, Tenn., said, “We have three differ- ent on-field hats which are very popular. Fans of all ages, and collectors, love minor league hats and always jump on the opportunity to buy one.”

Ted Tornow , general manager of the Clinton LumberKings minor league baseball team in Clinton, Iowa, said hats comprise about two-thirds of their sales. “Hats are versatile. They protect your head, show your allegiance to a team, or it may have

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