Massachusetts: Got Sole “The Greatest Sneaker Event” Is Coming
“The Greatest Sneaker Event In The World” is officially coming to Massachusetts on Saturday, September 23. Got Sole will be taking over the DCU Center in Worcester. From 12-6 p.m. sneakerheads and enthusiasts alike can buy, sell or trade at this massive convention. Furthermore, it is Got Sole’s 10-year anniversary, so special events are also scheduled. These include contests, giveaways, and performances.
Typically, a standard Got Sole event can see up to 5,000 attendees. Past celebrity guest appearances have included NBA legend, Dennis Rodman, rappers Meek Mill and Fivio Foreign, and Bronny James (son of LeBron James, USC Basketball player, and top recruit).
Massachusetts Got Sole Details
What can guests expect this year for Got Sole’s 10-year sneaker event in Massachusetts in a few weeks? Over 400 vendors will be onsite inside the DCU Center. With a General Admission ticket, you can bring up to three pairs of sneakers to sell or trade. With a VIP ticket, you can bring five. The most popular sneakers at Got Sole are typically the Jordan brand (including AJ 1’s and 3’s) and Nike “Dunks.” Most additions of Jordan’s have been at previous events, including special and limited edition models that are hard to find. In New York, Got Sole had a $5 event raffle where you could win Travis Scott Jordan 1’s.
Ticket options are as follows:
VIP Admission
Early admission starts at 11 AM. Allows entry with up to 5 pairs of sneakers. Unlimited Re-Entry. This cost is $35 plus tax.
General Admission
Admission starts at 12 PM. Allows entry with up to 3 pairs of sneakers. Unlimited Re-Entry. This cost is $25 plus tax.
Lastly, tickets for Got Sole’s Massachusetts sneaker event can be purchased at the door for $35.
Got Sole has an extensive photo and video archive on their website to get a further look at all the colorful and unique sneakers on display and for sale at past events. You can check them out at GotSole.com.
New Balance's Artist Roster Includes Jack Harlow
It used to be that when you heard of an artist “signed” to a brand name that was typically a record label. Today, it’s not uncommon for such acts to be part of a major non-music brand. In fact, over the past few years, artists have been signed to New Balance and will often rock their footwear on stage.
The footwear company has put a lot of effort — and money — into changing their image. In 2011’s Crazy, Stupid, Love Ryan Gosling’s Jacob Palmer famously dunked on Steve Carell’s Cal Weaver for wearing New Balances. “In that case, you got no right to wear New Balance sneakers, ever,” Jacob tells Cal, who was praising his 407’s while Jacob was trying to give him a lesson on style, and what not to wear.
New Balance has made a massive comeback, however. Much of this has to do with their retro and vintage approach. Sneaker lines like their 574 model have been the poster shoe for those who are completely embracing this vintage styling. You may even see striped tube socks in tandem with the 574’s.
Collabs
Complex Magazine detailed how New Balance was moving past their “dad” brand image. In their story, they highlight the company’s approach to being open to collaborations and allowing them to be innovative paths into new demographics. “Media impressions for its collabs increased around 200 percent from early 2021 to early 2022,” Complex explained.
In a recent feature by AOIbot that details the favorite sneaker of every state in the country, New Balance was all over the map. In fact, the NB 550 was Massachusetts’ favorite shoe.
Boston + Sports
With New Balance’s headquarters located in the Boston area, the brand has made a strong effort to have a visible local presence. Former Red Sox players like Dustin Pedrioa (who was a fan favorite) started wearing New Balance cleats. Now, they have partnered with the most popular player in the game in Shohei Ohtani. They announced the long-term deal back in January. Ohtani is not only one of the most popular players in MLB, but in the entire sport, globally.
New Balance has also had a firm grip on Lacrosse. They’ve designed and delivered on the most common brand of Lax cleats. Premier Lacrosse League All-Stars like Trevor Baptiste often collaborate with New Balance as well.
Narrowing in on the entertainment world though, you will find a number of artists sporting New Balance lines on stage. With touring being the primary avenue for artists to maximize their income, many are finding creative ways to to enhance their personal brands by using their platform to showcase others they have teamed with. In addition, comfort and support are important to artists who need to take the stage every night.
Here, we will take a further look at present-day artists who are signed to New Balance.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
