What Is a Rally Towel?
Rally towels are a big part of sports paraphernalia. They’re commonly used as logos for professional sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS.
During league seasons, teams frequently provide rally towels. At athletic events, fans wave them in the air, especially after their team has scored, had a fantastic play, or is in a critical situation.
What Is the History of the Rally Towel?
Rally towels date back more than four decades, to the mid-1970s, when they were first distributed to supporters as a diversion for the opposing team. They were popular in schools and booster groups after that, and you may still see them today.
For good reason, rally towels have become an iconic emblem of supporters supporting their teams. Fans might feel like they’re part of an elite throng when they start waving their colorful rally towels, and this good feeling can improve their emotions and mood.
The Terrible Towel
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first football team to hand out rally towels to their fans. They referred to this rally towel as the Terrible Towel and it’s probably one of the most famous rally towels in sports history. It even initiated a whole other line of Steelers merchandise known as Terrible Stuff.
After Steelers radio announcer Myron Cope came up with the idea, the Terrible Towel made its debut in 1975. He was looking for a marketing item that his followers would enjoy.
It had to be portable and lightweight, though, so people could carry it to all of the games and show their support in a visible way. Cope had no idea he had started a treasured ritual.
The Terrible Towel’s popularity rose almost immediately after its debut in the 1975 NFL playoffs. It became so popular that stores in Pittsburgh ran out of gold and yellow hand towels, which admirers purchased when they couldn’t get their hands on the real thing.
The rally towel is a fixture of today’s sporting events, not only for Steelers and football supporters in Pittsburgh, but for sports fans all around the country. Tossing a towel in the air to show support for a team has become a tradition, and it had to start somewhere. It all started with the Terrible Towel and the Pittsburgh Steelers in this scenario.
Rally Towels in the MLB, NHL, and MLS
Rally towels made their way into the MLB after becoming famous in the NHL and NFL, where they’ve now found a place. The Texas Rangers’ American flag-colored home towels and the San Francisco Giants’ orange World Series towels are two notable baseball moments.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ promoters and management hand out towels on a regular basis on “Fan Friday,” and other clubs, like the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, and others, follow suit. The rally towels have become so popular in baseball that just three teams have yet to adopt the custom.
Although rally towels are most commonly seen among hockey, baseball, and football supporters, they are occasionally seen in other major sports leagues. For example, during the 2010 MLS playoffs, Real Salt Lake gave its fans white towels to signify their support in the semifinals.
What Are Rally Towels Used For?
Though the most common use for rally towels is for sports fans, they have also become popular in several other industries and promotions. Below are the many ways individuals and industries use rally towels today.
Rally towels for fans at sporting events: The thrill of any game is getting the crowd involved, and custom printed logo rally towels are perfect for doing just that. They help fans cheer on school teams and prompt others to do the same thing. You can distribute rally towels during pep rallies, sports, and tailgating parties to get the crowd excited and ready for the next game. They make great souvenirs as a token of pride for everybody who likes to cheer on their sports team, even when the season is over.
Professional sports teams might sell items like velour rally towels to booster fan support. However, rally towels don’t only apply to the big leagues. You can use them to boost team spirit for your community leagues, high school football, and little league teams. Choose your favorite team colors and wave the towels around to spread the word. You can even print your custom team slogan, logo, and name to them. If you are going to a professional game and don’t own one of their official team rally towels, purchase your own beforehand in your team colors.
Extremely popular and budget-friendly rally towels are the perfect handout for promoting schools, booster clubs, and sports clubs, since they can uplift community team spirit in a short period. They not only look inspiring in the stadiums and sports stands but also as displays on your patio, hallway, or in classrooms to show support for your local sports team. You can fold them up easily to fit into your purse or backpack, so students can carry them along with them to show school pride.
But it doesn’t stop there. Here are some other ways of using rally towels for sports.
- Bowling leagues: Bowlers can use these towels to clean and wipe off dirty — and sometimes a little sweaty — bowling balls.
- Gymnastics or cheerleading: Gymnasts and cheerleaders can use them as hand towels to wipe their hands or faces.
- Gym and Fitness: Fitness buffs can always use towels to clean equipment or wick away sweat.
- Marathoners and racers: Runners can use rally towels for staying cool during long runs.
Rally towels for golf: Golf towels are another favorite type of rally towel since this sport has one of the biggest fan bases in the U.S. Golf towels have an irregular and unique form — they’re smaller and more rectangular than standard towels.
Their design specifically allows golf players to keep the towel with them as they move around the course since they come equipped with a ring — or corner grommet — for players to attach to their golf bag. This feature allows golfers to keep their hands dry while playing, helping them play a better game. If you’re a golf course owner or manager, these towels are an excellent marketing item for your greens.
Rally towels for graduations: As a unique way of supporting a high school graduate or bringing the graduating class together, waving custom rally towels in the air during the commencement ceremony is an easy and exciting way of celebrating. You can choose different school colors for your towels, hand out custom school inscribed towels beforehand, and spread the word throughout the audience.
Rally towels for wedding favor: Getting ready for that special day when you’ll be tying the knot? Why not provide these wholesale rally towels to your wedding guests as a token to bring home with them to thank them for their attendance and support? Although a lot of couples like to hand out edible wedding favors, these towels provide your guests with something permanent and practical that lets you offer your thanks in a more personal way.
By giving custom rally towels to your guests as wedding favors, you’re offering a thoughtful and unique item they can use every day in their homes, and whenever they use them, they’ll remember your wedding day. Rally towels help add that extra personal touch, whether you decide to monogram your wedding date on the towels or as a reminder of meeting your spouse at a sports event. Your guests can even wave their rally towels in the air to see you off to your honeymoon.
Other Rally Towel Uses
Rally towels come in handy in many other scenarios, too.
- Personal use: Mop up spills on the spot, or use instead of paper towels for household chores.
- Equipment use: Wipe away sweat or moisture for a better grip, or remove grass or dirt stuck in a ball.
- Family reunions: Use as a giveaway at your next family reunion.
- Pet care: Absorb water after baths, or clean up muddy footprints on a rainy day.
- Nail salons: Small towels are excellent for drying off guests’ hands and feet after a manicure or pedicure.
- Vehicles: Use to clean and polish your vehicle.
- Company giveaways: Rally towels make memorable promotional items, especially when they have your logo or company name on them.
What Makes Rally Towels Different From Other Towels?
When towels come to mind, you likely think about their functionality rather than their fun. For many individuals, towels are elegant and luxurious and make useful tools for wrapping up wet hair, drying our hands, washing our face, or toweling down after getting out of a pool or shower.
There are notable differences between household and rally towels, and each has its specific uses.
- Absorbency: First, a rally towel isn’t as absorbent as a standard towel. Rally towels’ primary purpose is to promote different sports teams and events. You can, of course, use them to dry your body or clean up spills, but this isn’t their intended use.
- Size: Second, the rally towel is usually smaller than a typical towel, but there can be variations. Depending on who manufactures the towels, you may choose any model, size, pattern, or color combination you like, as well as unique designs like hemmed or fringed.
Typically, retailers commercializing rally towels offer a wide range of options for different teams and types of sports like football, golf, and rugby. The cost of rally towels is affordable for just about everyone interested in buying them, making them perfect for fans who want to show their support for their hometown team.
What Are the Different Types of Rally Towels?
Rally towels are available in several materials and sizes, including velour fingertip towels, velour rally towels, and terry rally towels.
What Are the Color Options for Rally Towels?
You can find rally towels in a variety of colors, including:
- Black
- White
- Orange
- Pink
- Gold/yellow
- Sky blue
- Lime green
- Navy blue
- Red
Most wholesale rally towels are 100 percent cotton, and you can get them in 9″ x 14″ or 11″ x 18″ sizes. You can have them printed and designed with your custom slogan, logo, and team name you’re looking to advertise.
