Cincinnati Stingers Fan Shop

The Cincinnati Stingers Collection — Royal Retros Cincinnati Stingers Fan Shop

Authentic 1975–1979 Cincinnati WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. Five Future Hall of Famers.

Royal Retros carries the deepest Cincinnati Stingers throwback collection on the open web — authentic 1975–1979 WHA-era jerseys, hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and Ohio hockey fan apparel honoring one of the most talent-dense franchises in WHA history. Mark Messier. Mike Gartner. Mark Howe. Robbie Ftorek. Five future NHL Hall of Famers wore Stingers sweaters in just four seasons. Custom name and number on most jerseys. Sizes S–5XL with no big & tall upcharge. If you're looking for Cincinnati WHA gear that respects the franchise's all-time-great roster, this is the shop.

What You Can Shop in the Cincinnati Stingers Collection

Cincinnati Stingers Jerseys — Throwback hockey jerseys spanning the WHA-era Stingers timeline (1975–1979). The original 1975 inaugural-season jerseys, the iconic 1976–77 Robbie Ftorek MVP-era designs, and the 1978–79 final-WHA-season throwbacks featuring teenage Mark Messier. Twill construction, period-correct sleeve striping, color-matched crests. Custom name and number available on most styles.

Cincinnati Stingers Hats — Snapbacks, fitted caps, dad hats, trucker styles, and unstructured caps featuring the Stingers wordmark, the iconic stinger-bee logo, and Ohio hockey graphics.

Cincinnati Stingers T-Shirts — Premium pre-shrunk soft-blend tees featuring vintage Stingers logos, Ftorek MVP-era graphics, future-Hall-of-Famer callouts, and Cincinnati hockey history designs.

Cincinnati Stingers Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Crewnecks — Heavyweight pullovers and crewnecks for vintage hockey collectors and Ohio sports fans.

Customization — Most Stingers jerseys can be personalized with your name and number. Free customization on eligible items. Pick a Stingers Hall of Famer's number — Mark Messier #11, Mike Gartner #7, Mark Howe #4, Robbie Ftorek #8 — or your own.

Sizes — Small through 5XL on virtually every product. We don't upcharge for big & tall sizes.

Why Royal Retros Is the Home of Cincinnati Stingers Throwback Gear

• WHA-era authenticity. Period-correct color values, proportions, and stitching for the 1975–1979 Stingers.
• Authentic period-correct construction. Twill stitched crests, sublimated fabrics on custom builds, period-correct sleeve striping.
• Free customization on most jerseys. Name and number at no extra cost.
• Sizes Small through 5XL. No big & tall upcharge.
• Cross-shop the broader WHA collection for related franchises.

Quick Buying Questions

What sizes do Stingers jerseys come in?

Small through 5XL on virtually every jersey style.

Can I customize my Stingers jersey?

Yes — most styles offer free customization. Custom items are final sale and made to order. Allow 7–10 business days for production.

What materials are Stingers jerseys made from?

Heavyweight twill on most replica jerseys, sublimated polyester on custom and remix styles.

How accurate is the design?

Color palettes, lettering style, sleeve striping, and crest detail match 1975–1979 game-worn references.

How fast does it ship?

Standard products ship within 3–5 business days. Custom items ship within 7–10 business days.

Gift Ideas for the Cincinnati Stingers Fan

• For the Cincinnati native who watched at the Riverfront Coliseum: A 1977 Stingers jersey from the Robbie Ftorek MVP era.
• For the Mark Messier collector: A teenage Messier #11 Stingers jersey — the legend's pre-NHL chapter.
• For the Mike Gartner fan: Custom #7 honoring one of the NHL's all-time goal-scorers in his pre-NHL Stingers years.
• For the Mark Howe historian: A Stingers Mark Howe jersey — the Hall of Fame defenseman's brief WHA chapter after the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers.
• Year-round demand. Stingers nostalgia plays year-round.

What Were the Cincinnati Stingers?

The Cincinnati Stingers (1975–1979) were a major professional ice hockey franchise that played four seasons in the World Hockey Association based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The franchise was one of the WHA's late-period expansion teams, joining the league in 1975, and lasted through the WHA's final season in 1978–79. Despite never winning a championship and playing in a non-traditional hockey market, the Stingers produced one of the most talent-dense rosters in WHA history — five future NHL Hall of Famers (Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, Mark Howe, Robbie Ftorek, and Mark Napier) all wore Stingers sweaters at various points.

The Stingers played their home games at the Riverfront Coliseum (now Heritage Bank Center) and brought major-league hockey to Cincinnati for the only time in the city's history. The franchise was initially included in the 1979 NHL merger plan before being cut at the last minute, and folded with the WHA's collapse. The Stingers' four-season run produced more future NHL stars per season than almost any other franchise in WHA history.

The Cincinnati Stingers Era-by-Era History

1975 — Founding. The Stingers were founded as a WHA expansion franchise for the 1975–76 season, joining a league that was already two years old. Owners Bill DeWitt Jr. and Brian Heekin placed the franchise in Cincinnati to compete with NHL Detroit for the broader Midwestern hockey market.

1975–76 — The Inaugural Season. The Stingers' first season was difficult. The team struggled with low attendance and a thin roster. The franchise finished out of the playoffs.

1976–77 — The Robbie Ftorek MVP Year. Robbie Ftorek — an American-born center — emerged as one of the WHA's best players. He won the WHA's Most Valuable Player award in 1976–77, becoming the first American-born player to win a major professional hockey league MVP. Ftorek's MVP season was the franchise's high-water mark.

1977–78 — The Mark Howe Year. Mark Howe — fresh from his championship years with the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers — joined the Stingers for one season. Howe was already a future Hockey Hall of Famer at age 22.

1978–79 — The Final WHA Season and the Mark Messier Era. The Stingers signed an 17-year-old Mark Messier, who would later become one of the greatest NHL players in history. The franchise also featured Mike Gartner, who would become an NHL Hall of Famer. The roster was loaded with future stars but the team didn't make the playoffs.

1979 — The Folding. The Stingers were initially included in the 1979 NHL merger plan, with Cincinnati expected to be one of the four WHA franchises admitted to the NHL. However, at the last minute the merger plan was modified to admit only Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg — and Cincinnati was cut. The franchise folded. Mark Messier was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Mike Gartner went to the Washington Capitals. The Stingers' young stars dispersed across the NHL and went on to legendary careers.

The Greatest Cincinnati Stingers Players

Mark Messier (#11, 1978–1979). Joined the Stingers as a 17-year-old. Played one WHA season in Cincinnati before being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Won six Stanley Cups (five with Edmonton, one with the New York Rangers). 1,887 NHL career points. Hockey Hall of Fame, 2007. The greatest leader in NHL history.

Mike Gartner (#7, 1978–1979). Right winger. Played one WHA season with the Stingers before being drafted by the Washington Capitals. 708 NHL career goals — 7th all-time. Hockey Hall of Fame, 2001.

Mark Howe (#4, 1977–1978). Defenseman. Played one season with the Stingers between the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers. Hockey Hall of Fame, 2011.

Robbie Ftorek (#8, 1976–1979). American-born center. Won the WHA MVP in 1976–77. 254 WHA career points. The franchise's most consistent star throughout its existence.

Mark Napier (#11, 1976–1977). Brief Stingers stint between the Birmingham Bulls and the Montreal Canadiens. Three-time Stanley Cup champion in the NHL.

Other notables: Rick Dudley, Pat Stapleton, Dennis Sobchuk, Greg Carroll, Mike Liut (goaltender, later a key Hartford Whaler), Norm Barnes.

Riverfront Coliseum — The Heart of Cincinnati Hockey

The Riverfront Coliseum (now Heritage Bank Center, capacity ~17,000 for hockey) was the home of the Stingers throughout the franchise's four-year WHA run. The building remains the primary indoor arena in Cincinnati. The Stingers' four-year tenancy is the only major-league hockey ever played in Cincinnati.

How to Identify Authentic Cincinnati Stingers Throwback Apparel

• Verify the WHA-era color values. Authentic Stingers yellow, black, and orange have specific Pantone-matched values.
• Check for the WHA-era stinger-bee logo. The 1975–1979 Stingers used a specific stylized bee crest.
• Era-specific design matters. Make sure the throwback represents the actual WHA Stingers (1975–79).
• For Hall-of-Famer customs: Period-correct WHA-era numbering used a specific font family.
• Royal Retros standard: Every product is reviewed for period accuracy.

More Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Cincinnati Stingers exist?

The WHA-era Cincinnati Stingers existed for four seasons, from 1975 to 1979.

Did the Stingers ever win a championship?

No. The Stingers never won the WHA's Avco World Trophy and didn't reach the Avco finals.

What happened to the Stingers?

The franchise was initially included in the 1979 NHL merger plan but was cut at the last minute. The franchise folded with the WHA's collapse. Mark Messier was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Gartner went to the Washington Capitals.

Did Mark Messier really start in Cincinnati?

Yes. Messier signed with the Stingers as a 17-year-old in 1978 and played one WHA season in Cincinnati before being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

Who was Robbie Ftorek?

An American-born center who played for the Stingers from 1976 to 1979. He won the WHA's Most Valuable Player award in 1976–77, becoming the first American-born player to win a major professional hockey league MVP.

Where can I find related Royal Retros collections?

The Stingers connect to multiple collections: the broader WHA collection, the Legacy Hockey collection, and our broader hockey collection.

WHA Cross-Shop

• The WHA collection — for fellow WHA franchises including Winnipeg Jets, Houston Aeros, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, Birmingham Bulls, and the rest of the league.
• The Legacy Hockey collection — for fans of other defunct franchises.

Cincinnati Stingers at Royal Retros — Authentic 1975–1979 WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. Five Future Hall of Famers.