The Minnesota Wild has embarked on an exhilarating journey of enhancing the retail experience for its fans by teaming up with the renowned global sports platform, Fanatics. This groundbreaking partnership aims to bring a new level of excitement and convenience to Wild enthusiasts, whether they are attending games at the Xcel Energy Center or browsing online at HockeyLodge.com.
Fanatics, known for its vast array of licensed sports merchandise, has now become the official end-to-end retail partner for the Minnesota Wild. By taking over the operations of all physical retail locations at the Xcel Energy Center and managing the team’s online store, Fanatics is set to provide a seamless omnichannel shopping experience for Wild fans.
Carin Anderson, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Retail Management for the Minnesota Wild, expressed her excitement about the collaboration with Fanatics. She highlighted the enhanced variety and availability of team merchandise both online and at the upgraded Xcel Energy Center store, promising a shopping experience like never before for the fans.
As part of the partnership, Fanatics plans to invest significantly in upgrading the retail spaces at the Xcel Energy Center, including stores, kiosks, and various touchpoints. These enhancements are geared towards optimizing the shopping experience during games and events, ensuring that fans have access to a wide range of high-quality team merchandise.
Fanatics’ extensive partnership with the NHL allows Wild fans to enjoy an expanded range of licensed apparel, including authentic and replica jerseys, fan apparel, and headwear. Notably, starting this season, Fanatics becomes the NHL’s official provider for on-ice uniforms, offering fans the opportunity to purchase the same jerseys worn by the players during games.
In addition to Fanatics-branded products, the retail offerings will feature items from other top brands such as Mitchell & Ness, New Era, WinCraft, as well as local favorites like UNRL, SotaStick, and Levelwear. This diverse range of merchandise aims to cater to the unique preferences of Wild fans, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Ed O’Brien, the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Fanatics, reiterated the company’s commitment to providing an unparalleled retail experience for the fans. With a focus on celebrating the game of hockey and supporting the team wholeheartedly, Fanatics aims to deliver a convenient and consistent shopping environment for Wild fans, both on game days and beyond.
As part of the partnership, Fanatics has been working on upgrading and renovating The Hockey Lodge, the team’s flagship retail location at the Xcel Energy Center. The store is gearing up to host a grand opening event on September 21, coinciding with the launch of the new portfolio of authentic and replica jerseys for fans to enjoy.
With this milestone partnership, the Minnesota Wild joins other prestigious Minnesota-based sports organizations that have partnered with Fanatics, including the Timberwolves, Lynx, Vikings, and the University of Minnesota Athletics. As Fanatics continues to revolutionize the retail experience for sports enthusiasts, Wild fans can look forward to a thrilling shopping journey both in-venue and online.