Major League Soccer's pricing structure for player namesets has drawn criticism for what many fans consider an unjustifiably expensive markup.
MLS Names & Number Cost 35 USD Extra
Both the MLS official store and Adidas charge between $30-35 extra to add a player's name and number to jerseys. On the MLS website, replica jerseys jump from $99.99 to $129.99 with a nameset, while authentic versions increase from $159.99 to $194.99, representing a $35 premium for customization. Adidas' own website offers slightly better value on authentic jerseys at $150 blank and $180 customized (with no patches at all, and only a handful of customizations of the best players available), while having the same $30 upcharge on replica shirts.
The $30+ markup across both retailers significantly exceeds the actual production cost of heat-pressed or stitched vinyl nameset application, leading supporters to question whether MLS and Adidas are using customization as a revenue maximization strategy rather than offering fans reasonable access to personalized jerseys.
Liverpool fans purchasing through Adidas UK pay £18 ($24) extra for name and number customization, which is still expensive but is around 30% cheaper than MLS customization.