@NikeVault Galaxy All-Star Release Recap

If you were the type to believe everything you read, you would think that the entire sneaker community lost control last night for a pair of sneakers. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, the overwhelming majority of the releases last night went off without even a peep. No news camera, no police, no violence, no stupidity. Last night, I attended such an event at the @NikeVault in Los Angeles, along with over 900 other people, and watched a few lucky sneakerheads walked away with the Nike Galaxy All-Star collection. Peacefully.

I knew their would be a lot of people at the Nike Vault last night, so it was no surprise to me when I drove by and saw people lined up down the street. However, this wasn’t a first come first served situation. There was no reason for you to camp. Whether you had been three weeks or three minutes, you had the same chance to get the shoes you wanted. Instead of the first come first served method that many retailers have employed, the Nike Vault decided to go with a raffle system.

The way this works is they hand out numbered wristbands to everyone that attends the release. If you number is called, you get the chance to walk in the store and buy the pair/s of shoes that you want. Last night you were limited to one of each shoe, which would have let you go home with the Nike LeBron 9 All-Star, Kobe 7 All-Star, KDIV All-Star, Galaxy Foamposite, 2 choices of the Nike Zoom Flight One, and three different Dunks. This format prevented the rogue buyers that like to rush the front of the line or cut in line, and basically gave everyone a fair chance at copping a pair of their favorite All-Star related releases.

Of course it would be wrong of me not to say that most people were there for the Foamposites, and after the 29 pairs sold out, more than 1/3 of the crowd decided to head home. However, the rest of the crowd did stick around to see if their number would be called. People were calm, no one was pushing, and those lucky enough to have their name drawn walked away with smiles on their faces.

Finally, a big shout out to all the staff at the NikeVault. It can not be easy for huge releases like these and they handled it well. Additionally, they were even kind enough to offer an escort to your car if you felt threatened in any way. That is how it should be done. It is not a secret how many people wanted these All-Star releases and they did their part to keep the peace.

Apollo

I agree. All future Nike, Jordan releases should be this way so everyone has a fair chance of copping their favorite Jordans, Kobes, Lebrons, etc.. Good job Nike Vault. I might head down to Nike Vault for the AJ 12 Playoffs.

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sneakgeek

Honestly i really don't believe that the shoe is even that anticipated except form people like you and me who want to rock on of the most OG colorways good luck buying your 12 and i hope you bid me some likewise but sceaously bro go to the closest place that's selling them.

Jay Jennings

Every location should do it this way. Violence isn't the Sneaker Head way!

Kristians7

i respect the way they handled the whole situation

L-O

just dont understand why so many people are there. do they really think Nikevault has a 1000 pair of Foams.SMH

Sneakerhead

CRAZY.. didn't realize they got such a clear pic of us.

Alex Guevara

I see myself lol man my boi one the first pair it was fckin crazy almost a 1000 people

DayLaSoul

Bittersweet system . . . I respect it but I would be soooo SICK if my number wasn't called. Like, beyond sick.

Snapplemm

What Us real sneakerheads have to deal with in the DMV, this was sent to FL HQ once i got back home: I was at the mall of Princes Georges for three days for what was supposed to be 2 different releases. I was in fact the second person to the mall area at 2 AM on 2/22. While both the gentleman who was first and myself were forced to combine the release from the 23rd to 2/24 along with many other of the All Star releases. Not a big deal to me, great spread the wealth around, however I know some were not pleased that they only could now choose one pair per person regardless All Star Package or not. But during the day of the 2/23 a group of people decided to stay and wait according to all the mall security rules and regulations till the release on the 24th. During this time we were met by the manager of the mall and head of security. We were all asked to gather around and figure the best way to do a shoe release with least opportunity for instances. All that were already in line for the 2/24 and those who stayed from 2/23 release as well the manager and head of security and I believe the manager of Footlocker had agreed on a working list. We the group were asked to help the crowd and inform them as they arrived. At a designated time tickets would be handed out in the first come first serve fashion as per your HOH blog. However this did not go as planned. Being that I was front row to the 2/23 release that was pushed back to 2/24, rightly so by your manager due to noncompliance of the crowd. Unfortunately there was not a huge police presence on 2/23 causing the forming of 1 single line process to cause up rise and outburst. Only to be multiplied by 10 fold for the 2/24 and so the dates for the All Star Package were changed. I understand safety is paramount, I assume that Footlocker takes as much action as possible to limit any instances of violence, thus the push back in dates. However "the list" approved by both managers (mall and Footlocker) as well security manager assigned first in line for the official date. I believe we should have access to be called in for the choice of shoe and size that was agreed apon till the stock is depleted as the process was to be minus the uprising of unruley people even the police cannot control. Being 20ish (prefer not to give my name, the list was circulated to the crown by e-mail) in line and defiantly having the opertunity to purchase one of the many shoes in the All Star Pack. There are many places where people are allowed to wait for shoe releases as long as they are not disturbing or troublesom. We did a great job of this until the total croud grew so large that people strated to line up at the doors even when asked to leave. The group on "the list" was docile and content, we tryed our hardest to control the crowd but it was unavoidable. All of us are trying to find the best way to release a great shoe without anything but enjoyment from the consumer. I beleve we had accomplished that up until a point. We used new mall policy incoperated just for today and modified it to work. I hope we are allowed to regain our spots for our hard work trying to find the best solutions for releasing a popular high end sneaker in a inner-city mall without incident.If you were like me keep on FL, they are going to make a policy today on their blog. Hold them to their word agreed upon on Thursday. Call, Email whatever or well all be making a break for the door and I guarantee someone is going to get hurt.

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Feb 2012

@NikeVault Galaxy All-Star Release Recap