If you missed out on the CityStore’s limited edition sale of 1,500 New York-themed soccer jerseys last week, there’s always eBay. But come prepared to dish out 20 times their original retail value.
That level of hype, it may go without saying, is unusual for the official merchandise sold by the city.
The line outside 1 Centre St. stretched for several blocks last Friday, when the Mamdani administration sold this small collection of jerseys, which were available in three separate colorways, to commemorate the New York City-New Jersey area's role in hosting the World Cup.
The simple jerseys are unbranded, with just the words “New York City” emblazoned across the chest across bold vertical stripes. They originally retailed for $50 and were created by hand by the Brooklyn-based Mazzi Sports and designed by Arsh Raziuddin. By contrast, the official FIFA World Cup jerseys retail for $375.
The first person in line for the jerseys camped out starting at 1 a.m. They sold out quickly. And though the administration has promised further runs, the resale market for the jerseys is booming.
Since their initial sale, over 20 have been sold on eBay, with several going for as much as $1,000. Prices do appear to be holding steady, with no jerseys currently available for resale at less than $500.
The red, orange and blue colorway appears to be the most coveted, perhaps due to its tip of the hat to the NBA champions, the Knicks. One eBay seller had a plea to potential buyers in their listing.
“Stood in line over 6 hours to get it early Friday morning June 12th in the heat,” the seller wrote. “So please take this into consideration when sending your offers.”
The jersey sold for $995.
