The Minnesota Wild have embarked on an exciting new journey, teaming up with Fanatics, a prominent digital sports platform and provider of licensed sports merchandise, to revolutionize the retail experience for their fans. This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at enhancing the way Wild supporters shop for their favorite team gear, both at the Xcel Energy Center and online at HockeyLodge.com.
Fanatics, known for its league-wide partnership with the NHL, now steps in as the official end-to-end retail partner for the Wild, taking over the management of all physical retail locations within the Xcel Energy Center and overseeing the operations of the team’s online store. This move is set to create a seamless omnichannel shopping experience, offering fans a consistent and convenient way to browse and purchase merchandise whether they’re at the arena or online.
Carin Anderson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Retail Management for the Wild, expressed her excitement about this new partnership, highlighting the various enhancements fans can expect. From a wider selection of merchandise to an upgraded shopping experience at the Xcel Energy Center store, Wild enthusiasts are in for a treat as they gear up to support their team in style.
Fanatics doesn’t plan to stop there – significant investments are in the pipeline to revamp the retail spaces within the Xcel Energy Center, ensuring that fans have access to top-notch shopping amenities during games and events. By integrating e-commerce and in-venue retail operations, Fanatics aims to offer fans a unified shopping environment that caters to their every need.
With an extensive licensed apparel partnership with the NHL, Fanatics is set to provide Wild fans with an expanded range of high-quality team merchandise, including authentic and replica jerseys. In a groundbreaking move, Fanatics will now be the official provider for on-ice uniforms, giving fans the rare opportunity to purchase the same jerseys worn by their favorite players during games, all proudly Made-in-Canada and bearing the Fanatics brand.
Beyond the Fanatics-branded offerings, fans can also look forward to a diverse selection of products from renowned brands like Mitchell & Ness and New Era, as well as items from local favorites such as WinCraft, UNRL, SotaStick, and Levelwear. This partnership promises to offer fans a one-stop shop for all their Minnesota Wild gear needs.
Ed O’Brien, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Fanatics, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, underlining the significance of hockey in Minnesota’s culture and Fanatics’ dedication to providing an unparalleled retail experience. The goal is to create a space where fans can not only celebrate the game but also showcase their support for the team in style, on game days and beyond.
As Fanatics continues to implement upgrades and renovations at The Hockey Lodge, the Wild’s flagship retail location, fans can anticipate a grand opening event on September 21, coinciding with the launch of the new authentic and replica jerseys. This event marks an exciting milestone for both Fanatics and the Minnesota Wild as they usher in a new era of fan engagement and retail experience.
Joining the ranks of other Minnesota-based sports organizations partnered with Fanatics, the Minnesota Wild now stand as the third NHL team to have both in-venue and e-commerce retail operations managed by the renowned sports platform. This collaboration solidifies the Wild’s commitment to providing their fans with a top-tier shopping experience, ensuring they can gear up and show their support for the team in style.
