That’s not how marketing and sales works. There is a reason jerseys were sold in the number of the most popular player before the NIL lawsuit and why NFL teams don’t sell generic #1 jerseys since “people will buy them anyways”. People buy things that have meaning to them. I for one bought a Calvin jersey and the only jersey I’ve bought since the change is a #8 Thomas replica. I love wearing jerseys to games. I’ve got six Falcons jerseys and I’ve got two hawks jerseys. All are specifically of players that enjoyed watching. I don’t just buy them and I sure as hell wouldn’t buy six Falcons jerseys that were all generic #1.
Thinking that Calvin didn’t put butts in the seats is incredibly foolish as well. No one is saying he was the sole reason for every single season ticket that was sold, but to believe that were weren’t people that decided to buy season tickets because of him is ridiculous. I guarantee he caused sidewalk fans to buy tickets as well. Watching Calvin in person was a marvel and people bought tickets to see him play.
Generalizations generally don't work
At best we might say "That's not how
all marketing and sales work."
I, for one, wanted a Braves jersey a couple of years ago. I didn't want a specific player jersey because I KNEW they'd likely be gone in three years or so. I looked through the jersey's and picked the one I thought had the best chance of not being irrelevant in two years. I have no desire to see my $75 be relinquished to the basement closet when the player sells out to the Mets.
With transfers in college now I think at least
some people will still root for the team, and not get caught up in our society's current cult-of-personality/star-worship syndrome. I root for teams, not players...who I think are all pretty much mercenaries now.