The Merchandise Pavilion Tent At Merion Golf Club
Put the U.S. Open Merion logo on anything that does not move and you could probably sell it at the Merchandise Pavilion at Merion Golf Club. Items ranging from shot glasses to men’s short’s, and anything in between, featuring the iconic red wicker basket and U.S. Open Merion 2013, are available for sale.
I worked the first of my four shifts as one of the 1,100 merchandise volunteers at the “tent” yesterday. The tent is not really a tent, it is more like a portable department store, with 24,000 square feet of floor space, fitting rooms, and a bunch of cash registers. Yesterday was the second day of pre championship sales that run through Sunday, and admittance does not require a ticket during this time period.
During championship week there will be up to 850 of us merchandise volunteers staffing the 4 shifts that commence at 6:45 AM and end at 8:45 PM. Along with the Merchandise Pavilion there will also two smaller satellite tents on the course. These on site locations are the only source for the branded Merion logo merchandise.
I was assigned to the hat section of the tent. I have never seen so many hats in my life, of all possible colors and styles, and all emblazoned with the U.S. Open/Merion logo. Now you would have thought that on a dreadful day, weather wise, coupled with the fact that to shop you have to park at Villanova University, and take a bus to Merion, that the shopping crowd would be rather thin, but it was quite the contrary.
Stuff was flying off the shelves. I helped on guy who was buying 40 hats lay his prospective selection out on the floor and ensure he had the right color and style for each of his intended recipients. The vendor told me earlier in the day somebody topped that sale with a purchase of 80 hats. Most of the baseball style caps run $27.00 – I would suggest you get one that has a Merion logo ball marker included that attaches magnetically to the brim of the cap, it is the same price. People with bags and bags of purchases were commonplace.
Hats, Hats, Hats At The U.S. Open
Merchandise sales are the best since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, according to the hat vendor, who commented that the 2011 Open at Congressional was the worst. He expects to move a tractor trailer full of hats, the merchandise trailers are lined outside the tent, and most likely will be ordering more product to be made on Monday to keep pace. I do not know how many hats can fit in a tractor trailer, but it is certainly quite a few.
As the crowds swell during championship week I am sure the merchandise will increasingly pour from the tent. If you come to Merion I will be glad to help you with your hat selection.
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