Residents rush Loveland stores to pick up Nuggets championship gear

Mar 29, 2024

Denver Nuggets fans from across the Loveland area rushed local sports stores Tuesday morning to grab a part of Colorado sports history with Nuggets championship gear.

Residents flooded into Scheels in Johnstown and Dick’s Sporting Goods in Loveland Tuesday morning, some even showing up before the stores opened to make sure they picked up something they wanted.

The Nuggets made franchise history Monday night, beating the Miami Heat 94-89 to win the NBA Finals in Game 5; this is the first time in the team’s 47-year NBA history the Nuggets have been named champions.

Ed Humston, assistant store leader at Scheels, said that while fans were lined up at the store when it opened Tuesday morning, he was working even ahead of them as he headed down to Denver Tuesday morning to pick up championship gear to be sold in store.

He said that as fans perused the selection of shirts, hats and more, everyone was in a great mood.

“They were all talking about the game while they were in line,” he said. “Everyone here was really excited.”

Jaqueline Encarnacion, price and signage lead at Dick’s Sporting Goods, said they, too, had a group of excited fans waiting outside to get in Tuesday morning. She added that while the customers have been happy to come in and shop, the employees have been just as happy about the historic win.

“We have all been very excited and making sure everybody has been getting what they need,” she said.

Fans picking up their Nuggets merchandise at Scheels Tuesday said they were happy to be out shopping for championship gear for their team.

Matt Mosebar, a Windsor resident, said he had moved to Colorado five years ago and, while initially a Los Angeles Lakers fan, was made a Nuggets fan by “that team play over the playoffs.”

Ashley James and Drew Popke shopped through the Nuggets selection already sporting championship shirts, having visited Dick’s earlier that morning and looking for even more stuff to add to their championship collection.

James said she was born and raised in Colorado and has been a Nuggets fan her whole life. Popke, originally from Wisconsin, said James made him a Nuggets fan over the last several years.

“She turned me into a super fan,” he said.

The couple said they were watching the game Monday night and were both incredibly happy to see their team win it all.

“It’s a huge deal … to have a championship,” James said, later adding “we couldn’t believe it.”

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