Local merchants reap benefits of home teams success

For sports fans in south Louisiana, it is a rare feeling—Christmas time with something to play for. The on-field success of the New Orleans Saints will likely be felt underneath Christmas trees this holiday season, and according to local sports retailers, a wide variety of Saints’ merchandise are the hottest items this Christmas season.

“It’s because they’re doing good, and because of the playoffs,” said Lance Pellegrin, assistant manager at Sports Avenue. “Last year at this time, we weren’t really selling anything with the Saints.”

While the usual suspects have jerseys are hot items—Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush jerseys—it is two surprise performers that are flying off the shelves. “We had (Marques) Colston, and sold out of Colston,” said Pellegrin. “And we had (Scott) Fujita and sold out of him. We can’t keep those in the store.”

Pellegrin said the store hopes to receive more shipments of Colston and Fujita jerseys before Christmas time but expects them to continue to be the hottest items. “There’s such a high demand for them, right now,” he said.

An Academy Sports and Outdoors representative said it is a similar situation at his store. “We’re selling Saints’ stuff,” he said. “A lot of Saints jerseys and the little Saints’ youth helmets—the youth packages. It’s more than in past Christmas seasons, especially with a lot of jersey’s. We sell a lot of Brees, Horn Deuce and of course Bush.”

And sells are expected to increase as the playoffs approach. With the Saints having an opportunity to win their first-ever NFC South Title, and only their third divisional championship ever, the possibility of NFC South Championship merchandise has fans excited.

Both retailers said the championship merchandise will be on shelves immediately after the Saints clinch the title. “We’re going to have it, when they win, right after the game,” said Pellegrin.

“We’ll have it as soon as they win,” said the Academy representative.

Meaning that as of Sunday afternoon, NFC South Championship merchandise could be purchased.

Pellegrin added that other hot items have been hats, license plates and car flags.

And while the Saints’ success has created an easy solution for Christmas gifts, the yearly buzz over LSU bowl merchandise is no different with this year’s Sugar Bowl matchup against Notre Dame. “The Sugar Bowl is big right now,” said Pellegrin.

But he added LSU gifts are big every holiday season. “Every year LSU is usually in a nice bowl game, so that’s pretty much every season.”

Workers at the Houma-based Tiger Tyme gift shop, and LSU specialty store, said this is easily the busiest time of the year for them. They added that Sugar Bowl merchandise is among the highest selling at the store, while T-shirts, hoodies and license plates are also hot items.

For LSU fans, the gifts will come handy on Jan. 3 when they play in the Sugar Bowl.

And for the first time since 2000, Saints fans will not have to wait an entire offseason to put their Christmas gifts to use, thanks to a playoff run by the Black and Gold.

For Saints and LSU fans, it is sure to be a happy holiday season, both under the Christmas tree and on the field.

Photo by Matt LeBlanc • Tri-Parish Times/ Local retailers say New Orleans Saints merchandise are some of the hottest selling items this holiday season, thanks to the team’s first playoff berth since 2000.