{"id":277465,"date":"2026-04-20T21:48:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/277465\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:48:19","slug":"the-oakland-blazers-started-as-an-april-fools-joke-now-the-merch-is-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/277465\/","title":{"rendered":"The Oakland Blazers Started As An April Fools\u2019 Joke. Now The Merch Is Real"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article originally appeared on the High Adam<\/a> newsletter. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Ballers mark the \u201chigh holiday\u201d by taking pre-orders for cannabis-themed alt-identity merch \u2014 and announcing a charitable partnership with Oaksterdam University.<\/p>\n

Call it a tale of two holidays: The Oakland Blazers<\/a>, a cannabis-themed alt-identity of the Pioneer League champion Oakland Ballers that was announced 19 days ago as an April Fools\u2019 Day joke<\/a> has rounded the bases into full-blown reality on 4\/20, with the team\u2019s announcement via Instagram<\/a> that it is now taking pre-orders<\/a> for fan merchandise that includes two styles of ball cap, a trucker hat and a jersey with \u201cOakland Blazers\u201d across the front, a pot leaf on the left shoulder and the number 510 (a nod to the East Bay area code that includes Oakland) on the back.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the only update from Raimondi Park, either. According to the Oakland Ballers VP of Communications & Fan Entertainment Casey Pratt, the team has partnered with Oakland-based Oaksterdam University<\/a> to donate a portion of every merch sale to the cannabis education organization\u2019s Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education (ONE)<\/a> as well as emblazon \u201cOaksterdam\u201d on the back of the team\u2019s on-field jerseys where \u201cOakland\u201d usually appears.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a fun alternate identity or a clever name; it\u2019s a celebration of the culture, resilience, and innovation that define The Town. From the early days of Prop 215 to today\u2019s ongoing fight for sensible policy, Oakland has always led the way.\u201d \u2014 Dale Sky Jones, Executive Chancellor, Oaksterdam University<\/p>\n

The hats ($29.99 to $39.99) and jerseys ($69.99), all in a colorway described as \u201cGreen Haze \/ Granddaddy Purple \/ Orange Blaze,\u201d are available now for a limited-time-only preorder at shop.oaklandballers.com<\/a>. Pratt said he expects orders placed today to ship in five to 10 weeks, but noted \u201cit\u2019ll get much faster as production ramps up.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for when the Blazers might make their on-field debut, Pratt said plans were \u201cnot fully baked yet\u201d (his words, not mine) but said the team was considering two already scheduled theme nights at Raimondi Park as contenders: June 26 \u2014 Possum! (Phish night)<\/a> when they square off against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds and July 31 \u2014 Grateful Dead Night<\/a> when they face the RedPocket Mobiles.<\/p>\n

With the first of those two Friday games just nine weeks and four days away, if you place your order today, chances are pretty good you\u2019ll be rocking your Blazers merch by the time the team takes the field at Raimondi Park \u2014 no miracle needed.<\/p>\n

This article is from an external, unpaid contributor. It does not represent High Times\u2019 reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.<\/p>\n