Syracuse University and surrounding businesses are reaping the benefits of the Orange’s unexpected run to the Final Four.

With the men’s basketball team reaching its first Final Four in 10 years, fan excitement has skyrocketed, causing a spike in sales of T-shirts and other Final Four merchandise.

“It’s been phenomenal. The fans have been great, and the students are phenomenal,” said Dave Jacobs, manager of Shirt World on Marshall Street. “The whole atmosphere in the community has been huge.”

Business has been steady at Shirt World, Jacobs said, with some people buying one or two things, and others buying up to 10 items for friends and family.

While stores on Marshall Street have been busy since the Orange reached the Final Four, sales have been up at the SU bookstore as well.

“We are very pleased with the response to our Final Four merchandise and sales have been terrific,” said Kelly Rodoski, communications manager for SU News Services. “Traffic on our website spiked immediately after the win against Marquette and continues to be strong.”

Fans from every state, as well as Puerto Rico, have ordered merchandise online, Rodoski said. She added that many people are buying more than one item, including the official NCAA Final Four program, because it makes a good keepsake.

She also said the enthusiasm in the community is at an all time high.

“Everyone is so excited about this,” Rodoski said. “The SU fan base is even more enthusiastic than fans were 10 years ago.”

Final Four merchandise sales have far exceeded bookstore sales of shirts commemorating the final meeting between Syracuse and Georgetown this past February, Rodoski said.

The difference in sales between the Final Four and other events is partly related to the length of time these events last, as well as the prestige of the Final Four, said Michael Veley, director of the department of sport management at SU.

Veley compared the Orange making the Final Four with its No. 1 ranking last year or the six overtime game against Connecticut, and said there is a difference between the two types of events.

“Those are singular events and generally have a time-sensitive shelf-life,” Veley said. “However, when a team reaches a Final Four, or wins a national championship, it’s a significant milestone that doesn’t happen very often for the vast majority of institutions. SU fans, from students to alumni to season ticket holders, have immense pride in the team’s success and purchase products as personal keepsakes.”

The fact that the NCAA Tournament and the Final Four put Syracuse on a national stage increases the pride many fans have in the team, which adds to the desire to buy something to commemorate the accomplishment, Veley said.

Published on April 5, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27