Football fans will go to great lengths to show their love for their team. From dressing head-to-toe in the team’s colors to paint one’s face and screaming out support from the stands, followers of pro football teams will stop at nothing to show their devotion. However, recent news has brought attention to the sale of officially licensed goods at stadiums. Many fans are left wondering whether or not these items are real or fake. Thankfully, we have all of the answers you need regarding official merchandise and its authenticity. Keep reading to find out more about fake vs real stadium goods, and how you can detect a counterfeit before spending your hard-earned money on it.
Does Stadium Goods Sell Fake Shoes?
There is always a risk that counterfeit items will be sold on any site, and stadium goods are no exception. However, the site does have a stated policy against the sale of counterfeit items and works to remove any items that are suspected of being fake. In addition, stadium goods offer a money-back guarantee on all products, so if you do receive a fake item, you can get your money back.
How Do You Know If A Pair Of Shoes Is Real Or Fake?
1. The official logo is often missing from the shoe
The most common way to tell if a pair of shoes is real or fake is by looking at the official logo. Many counterfeiters will remove the team’s logo from their shoe, and replace it with a different design, or one that looks nothing like the original. The team’s name and number are also missing from the shoes, which makes it easy to spot as a fake pair.
2. The price tag is incorrect
A fake pair of shoes will not have an accurate price tag printed on them. This isn’t just because they are fake; it’s because they were never meant to be sold in the first place! Real teams don’t sell their merchandise, so there is no need for an accurate price tag. However, some counterfeiters will use this as an opportunity to make money on their own products by printing their own inaccurate price tags onto their merchandise and selling them for a higher price.
3. The shoe is made from poor-quality materials
Counterfeiters are not known for their attention to detail when it comes to making a fake pair of shoes, so the quality of the materials used will tell you everything you need to know about the product. Real stadium goods are made by manufacturers that have been approved by the team and are made with high-quality materials. Counterfeiters will often use poor-quality materials in order to pass off their products as real, but they won’t last long before breaking down and falling apart.
4. The shoe is too small or too big for your foot size
The official uniform of your favorite team is one thing, but authentic merchandise should always fit snugly on your feet! Real stadium goods come in true-to-size sizes, while counterfeit versions will often be too small or too big for you when you wear them out in public! If you vied by the team and are of the highest quality. These materials are often made from high-quality leather and are cut to perfection.
Official Licensed Goods
1. The official license plate is real
A photo of an authentic license plate from the NFL’s New England Patriots is shown below. The plate belongs to a real car from the team’s owner Robert Kraft.
2. The official symbol is real
The official logo of the Dallas Cowboys is shown below. It was designed by former Cowboys cheerleader and current NFL executive vice president for marketing, licensing, and business development, Dawn Aponte, in 1992. The logo has been used on all team merchandise since the early 1990s.
3. Official logos are real
The officially licensed logos of the New York Giants and Giants Stadium are shown below.
4. Official apparel is real
The officially licensed team apparel used by both the Houston Texans and NRG Stadium is shown below.
5. Official merchandise is real as well
The official merchandise worn by the NFL’s Washington Redskins is shown below. It is made in the same style as most other officially licensed merchandise for the team. However, it may be fake if you don’t know what to look for.
What Are Some Telltale Signs That A Pair Of Shoes Is Fake?
- The price is too good to be true.
- The shoes appear to be brand new and have never been worn.
- The shoes look too shiny, or too clean for being that old of a pair of shoes.
- They look like they have been spray painted with shoe polish, or have been waxed to the point where it looks like the paint has worn off.
- They lack any of the markings or tags that would indicate they are a real pair of shoes.
- They don’t fit properly, or feel like they are made out of plastic or rubber.
- The stitching on the shoe appears to be coming apart, or is not even stitched in the first place! The stitching should be perfect and uniform all around the shoe, not just in certain areas.
Have You Ever Purchased A Pair Of Shoes From Stadium Goods?
1. The shoes are not authentic
The first thing you should know is that Stadium Goods is a retail store, not an official seller of the NFL. Therefore, their merchandise is not affiliated with the NFL. The only way to buy authentic merchandise from the company is to go to a local retailer or online at the official website.
2. The product has been discontinued by the manufacturer
Unfortunately, these items are often passed off as real and sold on websites such as eBay. A quick search of eBay will yield dozens of listings for fake merchandise, including authentic jerseys and shoes from various teams that were originally released by Nike or Reebok in 1994 and 1995 respectively. To avoid being scammed by fake items, always look for sellers with 100+ positive feedback ratings, as well as low shipping costs and a low price range for which they are selling their merchandise. You can also learn more about how to spot fake products.
3. The product is not authentic
Even the items that are genuine can be fake if they were not made by the official manufacturer. For example, this is a real pair of Reebok Pumps, but they are not official and are therefore fake. The same is true for this authentic pair of Nike Air Max 90s, which were released in 1994. This company has more information about how to spot fake products.
4. The item was made for a previous season or time period
The bottom line is that Stadium Goods sells products that have been repurposed from other companies’ materials and then altered to look like real NFL gear from 1994 and 1995. If you see an item like this on sale at a stadium store, it’s definitely not authentic and should be avoided at all costs! To learn more about how to spot fake items.
Final Words
There are thousands of football fans across the globe, and each year, billions of dollars are spent on officially licensed sports merchandise. From stadium goods to jerseys, socks, and more, there are many items available for fans to purchase. However, not all of them are authentic. Fake goods are often poorly made with cheap materials and can fall apart quickly, posing a health hazard to consumers and posing a risk to brand reputation. With a few tips, however, you can easily detect a counterfeit item and snag the real deal for less.
