Minnesota Vikings president Mark Wilf figures if you can get a soda out of a vending machine, you might as well be able to get a team T-shirt or a set of trading cards, too. Wilf took that concept to MainGate Inc., his team’s apparel partner. When the Indianapolis-based company agreed that Wilf’s idea had merit, MainGate installed a vending machine with Vikings merchandise at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., with hopes that it would be profitable and the idea would catch on with its six other NFL clients, including the Chiefs. Reebok, the NFL’s official outfitter, is considering putting some of its products in vending machines by the end of the season. Leo Kane, the NFL’s vice president of consumer products, said the league and Reebok have been discussing the possible use of vending machines for more than a year. “It’s innovative, and something different to the consumer,†MainGate CEO Dave Moroknek said. “Consumers have become used to self service. People use the self-service lines at Kroger and Marsh (grocery stores) all the time.†Source: Kansas City.com
