FOXBORO, Mass. The Patriots had scheduled the Aaron Hernandez jersey buyback to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning at Gillette Stadium, but so many fans showed up that the team opened the doors for business 30 minutes early.
The first fan arrived at about 7:30 a.m. and by 11 a.m. more than 500 jerseys had been exchanged – including more than 100 youth jerseys – according to the team’s PR representative. The most popular replacement jerseys were Vince Wilfork and, of course, quarterback Tom Brady.
A tent had been set up adjacent to the ProShop and at 12:30 p.m. – three hours after the process began – there was still a slow but steady stream of fans entering to receive a voucher to be taken into the shop, where new jerseys were claimed.
Signs were placed by the team explaining the process. The Patriots did not mince words in encouraging the exchange. One sign read: “Parents are encouraged to exchange #81 Hernandez jerseys purchased from the Patriots ProShop.”
Fans had storng reasons for making the exchange.
“I think it is the right thing to do,” said Randy Medeiros of New Bedford. “You don’t want to be associated anymore with a player of Hernandez’s stature. It’s the right thing to do — exchange the jersey for a player you can actually admire on and off the field. Fans have a pretty personal attachment to these players.”
Medeiros exchanged his girlfriend’s Hernandez jersey for a Danny Amendola jersey.
Another fan, Mike McAtamney of Lowell, was out of luck. His Hernandez jersey was not purchased at the ProShop, so it could not be exchanged.
What now?
“I don’t know, maybe cut some patches out of it,” he said. “Or, I heard they’re selling on ebay.”
Hernandez, a native of Bristol, Conn., and the former New England tight end has been arrested and charged with – among other things – first-degree murder in the death of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.
The jersey exchange will take place until 7 p.m. tonight and then from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. The exchange is for in-stock jerseys of comparable value.
As far as opening early, teams spokesman Stacey James said it was the right thing to do given the size of the crowd on another hot day.
“We anticipated an early opening,” he said. “We only would of opened at 10 had it been an underwhelming turnout. We anticipated a line and didn’t want people to have wait an extra 30 minutes if it wasn’t necessary. ”
The Patriots, who cut Hernandez shortly after his arrest on murder and gun charges, announced the exchange last week.
“We know that children love wearing their Patriots jerseys, but may not understand why parents don’t want them wearing their Hernandez jerseys anymore,” team spokesperson Stacey James said in a statement. “We hope this opportunity to exchange those jerseys at the Patriots ProShop for another player’s jersey will be well received by parents.”
Story by Mike Anthony, Hartford Courant