Jaguars fans pounce on team's new gear at local stores

New jersey rollout delayed Friday morning by delivery woes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars fans eager to buy the team's new redesigned gear were forced to wait a little longer to get their hands on the new jerseys because of a delivery delay Friday.

The new team jerseys, which were unveiled last week during the State of the Franchise presentation, started being sold Thursday during the NFL Draft party at the Jaguars Team Shop, Jaguars Official Online Store, NFLShop.com and Nike retail stores. 

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All other retailers were allowed to start selling them Friday, but some who overnighted their deliveries of the new gear were left disappointed when the jerseys didn't arrive on time.

RELATED: Jaguars unveil new clean, classic look for uniforms

Hopeful fans came in Friday morning to Sports Mania in Jacksonville Beach, most of them looking for the new Jalen Ramsey jersey, but all they had in stock were youth sizes until their shipment of adult jerseys arrived later in the day.

"I came in fired up and ready to see the new jerseys and they're not here yet, so that's kind of a bummer,” said Jay Jay Cruz, who came by the store around noon Friday.

By 1 p.m. the store started taking names to reserve jerseys for customers once they were delivered, which they were by about 3 p.m.

The new jerseys are also available online and at a few other sports retailers.

Keeping it classic

Earlier in the week, Jaguars fans still riding high from the excitement of the team's run to the AFC title game last season were scooping up what will now be collector's items.

Sports Mania even ordered more Paul Posluszny jerseys after his recent retirement, because manufacturers won't be making them anymore and a lot of fans want a piece of history.

Popular items included Leonard Fournette jerseys and the popular "Bortles Beanie" worn by quarterback Blake Bortles during cold-weather games. Those are completely sold out.

Last year, Jags merchandise had record sales.  NFL merchandise reported a 165 percent increase from the 2016-2017 season -- the largest annual increase for any NFL franchise.

"A lot of people love the new jersey. It's got a simplistic look to it. There's a lot of people who think it's too simple, and so they don't want the new jersey, they want the jersey from the playoff season,” Sports Mania manager Mathew Smith said. "The Jags took home a division championship. People want collector's items saying that and the date on them."

Smith, who manages the Jacksonville Beach store, said his location is stocked up with just about every Jaguars item you can think of -- even golf and baseball-inspired merchandise.