I just sent the below email to T-Stan’s special assistant. Let’s hope I get a reply. I’m going to keep pushing...
Hi Jack -
I am an Alumni (class of 2011), and have been a football season ticket holder since graduation. I am a rabid and passionate fan of our Yellow Jackets and do everything I can to support them socially, financially, professionally, and even physically with apparel.
Upon the exit of Russell, myself and others were ecstatic about gaining Adidas. Initially (and still), the apparel was great, gold color scheme was on point, and everyone was happy we had finally moved on to a relevant brand to promote Georgia Tech that would help establish us once again as a relevant program and help with recruiting.
However - over the last year, myself and several fans have been extremely disappointed with Adidas and the lack of communication from anyone at the Athletic Department.
Since Fall 2018, there has barely been any new apparel that was released in the Spring, articles were never replenished after being out of stock, most baseball gear just launched AFTER baseball season, and the amount of apparel that is not showing up is very disappointing.
We were hoping for the Spring game, there would be an introduction of SOME new apparel, but there wasn't. Then come Fall practice, there was barely anything other than a hat and a few t-shirts that nobody really is lining up to buy (myself and other Alumni almost joke about how much potential revenue is lost from the lack of apparel sales over the last 9 months due to not being in stock)
Barnes & Noble posted new apparel on their website nearly a month ago, and it has been crickets since. Nobody at the store knows when most of the stuff is coming in, it's not on Fanatics (or it's on there and they run out quick), and most of the articles people want are never available.
I will say - I and other fellow alumni were ecstatic about the "T" hat getting released and as you can see, it's nearly sold out other than the 2XL size, but even the bookstore doesn't know when it will be back in stock (if it ever will), and I have a ton of friends who still want one and may never even have the chance to buy it.
Fans are growing beyond frustrated at the lack of apparel options and lack of communication from anyone as to what's going on. Nobody is disappointed in the actual apparel or the quality. It's just that there is none, and if there ever is, the popular stuff runs out immediately and it's never restocked. I know that this is a complicated issue between Adidas, the school, and Barnes & Noble since they are independent, etc. And we know you guys want it just as much, if not more than us. However - nobody from the Athletic Department is even addressing this MAJOR concern and we are less than 3 weeks away from the start of the season. Fans are beyond disappointed that we have very little apparel, and little new apparel coming out before football season that most of us want. I would love to have even half of what CGC and the players wear (and everyone knows the teams get special gear, but all of it is what everyone wants, so even half would be incredible).
I am reaching out only to mostly ask for someone in the Athletic Department to simply communicate regularly about apparel and what's going on (despite you guys not being able to fully control the supply chain and retail distribution). Most of us feel that there needs to be someone designated to managing the relationship between the Retailers, Adidas, and the school, and providing updates so that all parties speak one cohesive message when asked. Alumni and fans are to the point of becoming so annoyed that they are becoming upset with the school, which is disheartening.
I would be happy to talk more about this over the phone if desired or provide more examples, but I feel I speak for a large majority of the Alumni and fans.
