The brand power of the biggest sports teams will be seen to full effect when Liverpool FC open their latest store in Dublin’s ILAC Centre today.
Liverpool players Stephen Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt brought Mary Street to a virtual standstill when they came to launch a kit at Lifestyle Sports three years ago.
Fans were buoyed by last years strong performance in the Premier League when they sold out the Aviva Stadium in May for a post season game against Shamrock Rovers.
The new store under full Liverpool branding is located at the Central Mall of the ILAC Centre where traffic is reported to have increased considerably in recent months.
Fans will be able to buy replica kits and training gear to clothing, water bottles, pencil cases and everything a fan of any age could dream of.
“LFC is one of the most followed football teams in Ireland, so it’s fantastic that we’ve secured a store in the heart of Dublin city centre,” said Billy Hogan, chief commercial officer at Liverpool.”
Man United fans no longer have access to their store on D’Olier Street which was a victim of high rents in the recession. They will though be able to relive glory days when a trio of former stars Bryan Robson, Dwight Yorke and Peter Schmeichel put on a show at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on November 20th.
The appetite for the Premier League continues unabated though it would be better for Irish soccer if a fraction of those excited by their teams across the water took an interest in the battle at the top of the Airtricity League.
Dundalk and Cork City remain only three points apart and the title destination could be decided in a winner take all meeting of the teams on Friday, October 24th.
