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GREEN BAY – The wind whipped through the parking lots long before kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sunday, and the air felt every bit of the 29 degrees on the mid-afternoon thermostat. So while fans were indeed layered up, the last piece of clothing pulled over the head was invariably a white or a green Green Bay Packers jersey.
Even if the blaze orange, camouflage or green and gold candy-striped overalls were pulled up with suspenders, the numbers 12, 87 and 52 could be easily seen.
For many fans who frequent games, fill bars, or just enjoy within the comforts of home, the jersey is a must have piece of team apparel.
"It’s the closest piece of clothing, paraphernalia – the closest connection to the players," said Gabrielle Dow, the Packers vice president of marketing and fan engagement. "They’re in it all day game day. It’s what they’re always wearing. It’s their office gear. They don’t wear a suit and tie. They wear a jersey, so it’s kind of neat for fans to replicate that. You want to share your experience, so what you can do is wear their jersey."
The Packers have five jerseys for fans to choose from, beginning with the traditional home and away green and white. Then, there is the Acme Packers alternative (pictured above) along with the Salute to Service camouflage (which sold out of the stadium when it was introduced against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9) and the new Platinum Collection (white with silver writing).
While the team would not release specific figures – or even the specific order of most popular jerseys – here are the top five most popular jerseys fans are buying:
The quickest risers in 2014? Rookie safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and free agent linebacker Julius Peppers.
The custom jersey has become a popular option for Packers fans because it allows them to either re-create a jersey from years gone by (there are plenty of Bart Starr No. 15’s and Reggie White No. 92’s in the stands week-to-week) or putting their own last name above an iconic number like Don Hutson’s 14 or Paul Hornung’s No. 5.
To show how popular NFL jerseys are, retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods allows you to track their most popular jersey sales in real time with a "Jersey Report."
Heading into Sunday – no Green Bay Packers player was in its top 10.
Rodgers wasn’t even in the top 10 of offensive player jerseys purchased through the retailer while Matthews checked in at No. 8 among defensive players.
What is interesting though, is that Rodgers is very popular among women in Minnesota:
The Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball also have a plethora of options for the jersey nut, offering everything from home and away batting practice, "throw back" and special alternatives like the Cerveceros Day jerseys.
According to Jill Aronoff, the Brewers’ senior director of merchandise branding, the home white jersey remains the most popular one for Brewers fans – thought the 1980s era look does account for a "high percentage" of jersey sales.
What many fans might find surprising though, is that all-star catcher Jonathan Lucroy emerged as the most popular player jersey in 2014, and was the top seller among men.
Photo: David Bernacchi
That said, 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun remains a strong buy and set a team retail record for most jerseys sold over a five-year period.
Braun’s No. 8 also remains the most popular for female purchasers.
As for big risers in the jersey game, Carlos Gomez’s No. 27 has seen a spike in sales and actually leads among children.
The Brewers have long benefited from having its Team Store open year-round at Miller Park – a market the Packers will be able to tap into now that its Pro Shop is completed – and that store is the No. 1 jersey selling retail outlet for the Brewers.
Aronoff said that the custom jersey is also a popular option among Brewers fans, especially those with the fan’s name and a favorite number.
"The number represents the player, they’re honoring that, but they do love the customization of having their name on it," Dow said of the overall appeal of custom jerseys to fans. "There’s a connection there. You’re celebrating the number and the retired player, but also you’re putting your last name on there because you’re proud of your own heritage. I think the customized jerseys are a just great connection."
Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.
A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.
To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.
Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.
In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.
Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.
