South Bend Cubs Ranked Among Top 25 in Minor League Baseball Merchandise Sales

SOUTH BEND, IN - Minor League Baseball (MiLB) announced today that the South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League are one of the 25 top teams in merchandise sales among all 160 professional minor league teams in the nation. This is the second year in a row for the South Bend franchise to be in the top 25.

"The Chicago Cubs and South Bend Cubs are some of the most recognized and valued brands in the world. Add a World Series Championship to the mix and you have a recipe for success," said South Bend Cubs Owner Andrew T. Berlin. "Our fans extend beyond the boundaries of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Fans across North America have embraced the South Bend Cubs determined and athletic bear who is hungry for another championship. The red and blue of Cubbie-Mania is sweeping the globe." 
A new Minor League Baseball record was set in 2016 with $68.3 million in retail sales. That amounts to a 5.06 percent increase over 2015's total of $65.1 million, which had been the highest total recorded since Minor League Baseball's licensing program began in 1992. The numbers are based on total licensed merchandise sales from January 1 - December 31, 2016, and include the 160 teams in the domestic-based leagues that charge admission to their games.
"It seems every time I visit Wrigley Field or turn on a Chicago Cubs game, I'll see fans wearing a South Bend Cubs hat or t-shirt," said Team President Joe Hart. "Sales have continued to rise and the demand for merchandise has been so great, we've had to hire additional staff just to accommodate the large number of orders coming in via SouthBendCubs.com or the Cubs Den Team Store."
In addition to all fifty states, South Bend Cubs merchandise has been shipped to China, France & Australia.
The Cubs Den Team Store, located near the corner of Western Avenue and Williams Street at Four Winds field, is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on non-game days. The Cubs Den is also open during all South Bend Cubs home games and select special events. Fans can also find the latest apparel and novelties online at SouthBendCubs.com.
About the South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 29 seasons, the team has won five Midwest League titles, most recently in 2005, and has captured 12 division titles. In 2015, the team was named Ballpark Digest's Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President's Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose sole shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.