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Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inauthentic Threads: Could that Edmonton Oilers jersey be counterfeit?
Chances are it takes up a cherished spot in your closet. Or better yet, hangs on the wall, proudly displayed for all to see until it's time to be taken down and donned for game day. That's right: Your Edmonton Oilers jersey. Or sweater, for the purists in our midst. Whether it's your own name or your favourite player's on the back, it marks you as part of the tribe, and flies your orange-and-blue flag vibrantly with every swing of the arm. In the crowd, you're part of the sea of orange. Or blue, depending on what generation of Cup-chasing crew led by a generational talent you began backing. No one will ever question your devotion to the team while wearing it. After all, they cost a small fortune to have the authentic gear worn by the real-life heroes out on the ice. At least, the one you bought cost a small fortune. So, it's got to be the real deal. Right? It turns out that isn't always the case. Especially if it was one of those too-good-to-be-true deals online. Data collected over the past year by analyzed more than 45,000 online conversations involving counterfeit NHL merchandise and knock-off products. And some markets are hit harder than others. It turns out the two teams currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final are driving the discussion. The Florida Panthers top the charts with 3,419 online conversations about fake merchandise, with 11 per cent expressing frustration or disappointment. The Oilers, meanwhile, follow up in the second spot with 2,529 conversations, 12 per cent of which are negative. Staying in Alberta, the Calgary Flames rank fourth on the list with 2,156 conversations, 25 per cent of which are negative. 1. Florida Panthers (3,419/11) 2. (2,529/12) 3. New York Rangers (2,196/15) 4. Calgary Flames (2,156/25) 5. Boston Bruins (2,154/13) 6. Toronto Maple Leafs (1,956/13) 7. Montreal Canadiens (1,753/10) 8. Chicago Blackhawks (1,622/10) 9. Washington Capitals (1,531/15) 10. Detroit Red Wings (1,505/10) 11. Pittsburgh Penguins (1,464/15) 12. Dallas Stars (1,360/15) 13. New York Islanders (1,343/16) 14. Vegas Golden Knights (1,266/12) 15. Ottawa Senators (1,247/10) 16. Carolina Hurricanes (1,240/11) 17. New Jersey Devils (1,235/14) 18. Philadelphia Flyers (1,232/16) 19. Vancouver Canucks (1,229/14) 20. Colorado Avalanche (1,225/12) 21. Los Angeles Kings (1,205/9) 22. St. Louis Blues (1,177/14) 23. Buffalo Sabres (1,163/10) 24. Tampa Bay Lightning (1,118/10) 25. Columbus Blue Jackets (1,096/13) 26. Nashville Predators (1,086/11) 27. Minnesota Wild (1,068/13) 28. San Jose Sharks (1,026/15) 29. Winnipeg Jets (8,48/11) 30. Seattle Kraken (756/11) 31. Anaheim Ducks (719/20) 32. Arizona Coyotes (323/16) 'Fans of these teams are actively discussing the growing problem of fake NHL merch online, from jerseys and hats to collectibles,' the study concludes. 'And many express concerns over quality, authenticity and price gouging.' Here are some take-aways from Saturday's 5-2 win by the Panthers in Game 5 at Rogers Place: • The Oilers weren't flat, they blew a tire. Or four. The home team couldn't match the energy in the building from a fan base that came in almost tasting their first Stanley Cup in 35 years. There is a generation of fans raising the next generation of fans that haven't known anything but the Cup drought. Beyond the opening three minutes, the Oilers looked like they almost expected to simply ride the coattails of Thursday's comeback victory in Florida. • Aside from that 5-4 overtime win by the Oilers in Game 4, the team that scored first has won every game of the series. Sure, Edmonton made that miraculous comeback, but after Saturday, the question is: How much did it take out of them? • It took 15:44 for the first penalty to be called, one of just two first-period infractions after averaging 8.75 penalties in the opening 20 minutes of the previous four games of the series. So much for the officials setting the tone early. • Florida might have Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, but Edmonton has homegrown international soccer sensation Alphonso Davies. The German Bundesligar was in the stands for Saturday's game. • Brad Marchand opened the scoring with his series-leading fifth goal. And not for the first time in his career either. The other time he scored at least five times in the championship series was in 2011, with five goals and seven points in seven games. Mario Lemieux is the only other player in the NHL's expansion era to score five goals in multiple Stanley Cup Finals (five goals in both 1991 and '92). • The fact Marchand followed up with his sixth goal of the series (and 10th of these playoffs) is the reason no Oilers player has an excuse for Saturday's shoddy performance. If a 37-year-old guy still has enough left in the tank for a sprint to the finish, they should, too. • The home team has only won twice in five games so far this series, with Game 6 set for Tuesday (6 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) in Sunrise, Fla., and Game 7, if necessary, back at Rogers Place on Friday (6 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet). E-mail: On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
National Post
15-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Inauthentic Threads: Could that Edmonton Oilers jersey be counterfeit?
Chances are it takes up a cherished spot in your closet. Or better yet, hangs on the wall, proudly displayed for all to see until it's time to be taken down and donned for game day. Article content That's right: Your Edmonton Oilers jersey. Article content Or sweater, for the purists in our midst. Article content Whether it's your own name or your favourite player's on the back, it marks you as part of the tribe, and flies your orange-and-blue flag vibrantly with every swing of the arm. Article content Article content In the crowd, you're part of the sea of orange. Or blue, depending on what generation of Cup-chasing crew led by a generational talent you began backing. Article content No one will ever question your devotion to the team while wearing it. After all, they cost a small fortune to have the authentic gear worn by the real-life heroes out on the ice. Article content At least, the one you bought cost a small fortune. So, it's got to be the real deal. Article content Right? Article content It turns out that isn't always the case. Especially if it was one of those too-good-to-be-true deals online. Article content Data collected over the past year by analyzed more than 45,000 online conversations involving counterfeit NHL merchandise and knock-off products. And some markets are hit harder than others. Article content It turns out the two teams currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final are driving the discussion. Article content The Florida Panthers top the charts with 3,419 online conversations about fake merchandise, with 11 per cent expressing frustration or disappointment. Article content Article content The Oilers, meanwhile, follow up in the second spot with 2,529 conversations, 12 per cent of which are negative. Article content Staying in Alberta, the Calgary Flames rank fourth on the list with 2,156 conversations, 25 per cent of which are negative. Article content 1. Florida Panthers (3,419/11) 2. Edmonton Oilers (2,529/12) 3. New York Rangers (2,196/15) 4. Calgary Flames (2,156/25) 5. Boston Bruins (2,154/13) 6. Toronto Maple Leafs (1,956/13) 7. Montreal Canadiens (1,753/10) 8. Chicago Blackhawks (1,622/10) 9. Washington Capitals (1,531/15) 10. Detroit Red Wings (1,505/10) 11. Pittsburgh Penguins (1,464/15) 12. Dallas Stars (1,360/15) 13. New York Islanders (1,343/16) 14. Vegas Golden Knights (1,266/12) 15. Ottawa Senators (1,247/10) 16. Carolina Hurricanes (1,240/11) 17. New Jersey Devils (1,235/14) 18. Philadelphia Flyers (1,232/16) 19. Vancouver Canucks (1,229/14) 20. Colorado Avalanche (1,225/12) 21. Los Angeles Kings (1,205/9) 22. St. Louis Blues (1,177/14) 23. Buffalo Sabres (1,163/10) 24. Tampa Bay Lightning (1,118/10) 25. Columbus Blue Jackets (1,096/13) 26. Nashville Predators (1,086/11) 27. Minnesota Wild (1,068/13) 28. San Jose Sharks (1,026/15) 29. Winnipeg Jets (8,48/11) 30. Seattle Kraken (756/11) 31. Anaheim Ducks (719/20) 32. Arizona Coyotes (323/16)
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
FanDuel appears ready to sacrifice bettors on the altar of lower taxes
FanDuel appears ready to sacrifice bettors on the altar of lower taxes Last week, we talked about the new online sports betting tax in Illinois that would hit operators with a 25 cent fee for each of the first 20 million bets they take and a 50 cent fee for every bet after that -- and how those operators appeared ready to pass those fees on to customers. On Tuesday, FanDuel became the first operator to do just that. In response to the new Illinois tax (which followed a separate increase in 2024), FanDuel announced the addition of a 50-cent transaction fee for every bet by Illinois customers beginning Sept. 1, which is two months after the tax goes into effect on July 1 and, according to InGame, the month when the operator is likely to hit the 20-million bet threshold that triggers the 50-cent tax. FanDuel would effectively eat the first two months of the tax at 25 cents. "Should the state reverse its decision at any point in the future, FanDuel will immediately remove the $0.50 transaction fee," the statement said. If that doesn't make obvious what FanDuel is attempting to do -- use bettors to pressure lawmakers into retracting the new tax -- Flutter CEO Peter Jackson's words should: "We are disappointed that the Illinois Transaction Fee will disproportionately impact lower wagering recreational customers while also punishing those operators who have invested the most to grow the online regulated market in the state. We also believe the introduction of the Illinois Transaction Fee will likely motivate some Illinois-based customers to bet with unregulated operators." It's all right there. FanDuel isn't wrong that this transaction fee has the potential to push some customers to unregulated operators -- particularly if other regulated operators follow suit with their own fees -- but that can only happen if said operators are passing the fee to customers in the first place. Remember, this is originally a tax on the operator. Then again, that seems to be the point. Bettors are set to get the raw end of this deal, and FanDuel is doing its part to make sure lawmakers get the blame. Whether that's fair is a question for someone smarter than myself. I have no clue whether the new taxes actually are too exorbitant to expect operators to continue eating the costs. But that's obviously what they want us to believe, and they appear willing to sacrifice customers to prove as much -- because not everyone is going to care the reasons behind why a $1 bet is costing them $1.50. They'll just take their business elsewhere. After last year's Illinois tax increase, DraftKings announced its own plans for a surcharge that never actually saw the light of day after other operators didn't follow suit. This time, it's FanDuel putting its brand loyalty to the test in what feels like an attempt to make lawmakers to reverse course. But with three months before these transaction fees are set to hit customers, that pressure will eventually shift to FanDuel to follow through. The unfortunate part about this game of chicken between operator and government is that bettors are the ones caught between the headlights.
