NFL Merchandise Sales...

[Angry Pope]

Our rankings......

Steelers tops in NFL merchandise


By Joe Bendel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, June 7, 2006


If it seems like Steelers paraphernalia is everywhere you look -- even outside of western Pennsylvania -- that's because it is.

For the first time since 1980, NFL-licensed Steelers merchandise is the top seller among the 32 NFL teams. Second on the list is the Philadelphia Eagles, marking just the third time that teams from the same state ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in sales.

In 1990 and 1991, the Los Angeles Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers were first and second, respectively. The league began tracking merchandise sales in 1979.

The popularity of Steelers players such as retired tailback Jerome Bettis, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward and Pro Bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu enhanced the team's image in Pittsburgh and beyond during their Super Bowl title run.


Last year, the Eagles held the top spot, but the Steelers were able to knock their in-state foes off their perch. It is just the second time the Steelers ranked No. 1.

In 1980, the franchise was coming off its fourth Super Bowl in six years.

After the Steelers and Eagles, the Oakland Raiders ranked third on this year's list, followed by the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers, the Indianapolis Colts, the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos.

Sales were tracked from April 1, 2005 until March 31, 2006.

Popular viewing

Last season, 13 NFL games had as many or more viewers than prime-time's five most-watched May season finales, up from 11 such NFL games in 2004). The Steelers participated in five of those games.

Game Date Average Viewers

Super Bowl XL (Seattle vs. Pittsburgh), ABC Feb. 5, 2006 90.7 million viewers

AFC Championship Game (Pittsburgh vs. Denver), CBS Jan. 22, 2006 39.0 million viewers

American Idol (season finale), FOX May 24, 2006 36.4 million viewers

NFC Championship Game (Carolina vs. Seattle), FOX Jan. 22, 2006 35.2 million viewers

AFC Divisional (Pittsburgh vs. Indianapolis), CBS Jan. 15, 2006 33.9 million viewers

NFC Divisional (Carolina vs. Chicago), FOX Jan. 15, 2006 32.7 million viewers

AFC Wild Card (Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati), CBS Jan. 8, 2006 30.4 million viewers

NFL Thanksgiving Game (Denver vs. Dallas), CBS Nov. 24, 2005 26.4 million viewers

AFC Divisional (New England vs. Denver), CBS Jan. 14, 2006 26.3 million viewers

House (season finale), FOX May 23, 2006 25.5 million viewers

CSI (season finale), CBS May 18, 2006 25.4 million viewers

NFC Divisional (Washington vs. Seattle), FOX Jan. 14, 2006 24.3 million viewers

NFL National Game (mostly NY Giants vs. Seattle), FOX Nov. 27, 2005 24.246 million viewers

Desperate Housewives (season finale), ABC May 21, 2006 24.233 million viewers

NFL National Game (mostly Wash. vs. Philadelphia), FOX Jan. 1, 2006 23.1 million viewers

NFC Wild Card (Carolina vs. NY Giants), FOX Jan. 8, 2006 22.8 million viewers

Monday Night Football (Pittsburgh vs. Indianapolis), ABC Nov. 28, 2005 22.636 million viewers

Grey's Anatomy (season finale-part 1), ABC May 14, 2006 22.599 million viewers

 

[Crossbones]

WTF? The Raiders are usually right there with the (Global) Raider Nation buying #18 jerseys at an alarming rate.

I guess sooner or later 4-12, 5-11 and 4-12 catches up even with the best of fans.

 

[Angel]

Dang it AP!! You beat me to all the good articles

 

[Angry Pope]

When I start collecting jerseys, I am going to start with the old timers. I would love to have a collection of some of the personalities from the past.

The first one on the list might be Art Shell. This man has devoted most of his life to our Raiders. Along the same mind frame would be Willie Brown and Fred Biletnikoff. Those are to start.

An Al Davis jersey with the number one on it might be interesting to.

There are a number of guys on the team though, that might be with us for a very long time based on their talent and work ethic.

 

[Crossbones]

I have a Biletnikoff autographed jersey framed hanging on the wall of my "Raider Office"...

Here is a story about that jesey... I was in California and was visiting John Vella's Locker Room (The Raider Locker Room at the time -- before the Raiders made him take the logo and name off his signs) and saw this great Biletnikoff jersey. It was autographed and he also wrote on it "Super Bowl XI MVP" and HOF '88. So I mentioned to my wife I wanted it bad and for Christmas she ordered it up from Vella. Problem is he sent another one that was just autographaed without the other stuff on it ...while I was a little disappointed I really couldn't say anything. So I framed it and there you have it! It's still a great piece of memorabilia and I'm very happy to have it. She later got me an autographed Black Jerry Rice too...wouldn't have been my first choice but then I'm not complaining. They look great side-by-side.

 

[Angry Pope]

That is awesome. Your home must look really nice with those and the Fathead you have.

 

[Crossbones]

That is awesome. Your home must look really nice with those and the Fathead you have.

Well I have been lucky to acquire some great Raiders stuff over the years.

In fact my wife gave me another Christmas present....she hired an mural painter to actually paint a Silver & Black strip around the top of the room and in three places he hand painted the Raiders shield and then painted Raiders in various spots around the border. It's absolutely AWESOME. I'd try and take some pictures but indoor photography is very difficult and I have failed at it miserably. Rupert has seen the room but I am not sure the border was painted when he was here.

 

[Angry Pope]

Wow, I would love to see that if you get the pictures the work. That is like a dream room.... I kind of get excited just picturing it.

 

[Crossbones]

Wow, I would love to see that if you get the pictures the work. That is like a dream room.... I kind of get excited just picturing it.

I'll try again soon to take some pictures.