Nike may be the only shoe company in the world that can “boast” that its newest sneaker is so hot it can actually cause riots.
No, I’m not kidding. On Friday, police in Orlando, Florida had to be called in to quell a riot that broke out at a Florida shopping mall where Nike’s Foamposite One Galaxy sneaker had just gone on sale. The shoe, which is being released in conjunction with the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, retails for $220 a pair, though brand new pairs are already being sold at online retailer eBay for significantly more. Ironically, Nike didn’t make the shoe available for sale online.
Though no one was hurt, Orlando police reported making a pair of arrests. In response, Foot Locker has announced that it is cancelling the release of the shoe at five separate Florida malls out of concern for the safety of customers. “Our priority is the safety of the community,” the shoe retailer said in a statement.
Eric McErlain blogs at Off Wing Opinion, a Forbes “Best of the Web” winner. In 2006 he wrote a “bloggers bill of rights” to help integrate bloggers into the Washington Capitals’ press box. Eric has also written for Deadspin, NBC Sports and the Sporting News, and covers sports television for The TV News. Follow Eric on Twitter.