Stanley Cups: Worth the Hype?

The Stanley Cup is growing more and more popular with each passing day. Take Monmouth for instance; you can’t walk around campus without seeing several Stanleys adorning students’ backpacks or held stylishly in people’s hands. The bottle is so highly coveted that it was even given away to a Monmouth student during the men’s basketball game against the Hampton Pirates.

Fact of the matter is, the Stanley Cup is no ordinary reusable water bottle— it embodies trendiness and, to a degree, elitism. According to FOX 10 News, a 9-year-old girl was bullied by her classmates for using a different reusable bottle than the Stanley Cup. Also as shocking, NBC News reported a woman in California who allegedly stole 65 Stanley Cups worth 2,500 dollars.

The phenomenon surrounding the Stanley Cup obsession begs the question: what exactly makes this water bottle so special? “The Outlook’s” editors seem to agree, nothing in particular.
Some of the editors believe social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, are largely responsible for the cup’s success.

One editor explained, “I genuinely don’t understand the allure of having a Stanley Cup. I think it stems from social media influencers and their effect on consumerism, overconsumption, and materialism. Stanley was never a popular brand name before it went TikTok viral, similar to Hydro Flask back in 2019/2020.”

Another editor added, “I think people obsess over this cup because it’s aesthetically pleasing and keeps drinks cold for a long time. Plus, Stanley’s come in every color imaginable!”

“It started as a trend, but now people feel the need to make Stanley Cups, and similar items, a part of their lifestyle to feel included,” elaborated an editor.

Hydro Flask had a similar trajectory of popularity back in late 2019 to early 2020. The editors considered how long the Stanley Cup will be able to sustain its stardom.

One editor predicted, “Every 2-3 years women find another cup to obsess over. From Yetis, to Hydro Flasks, to SWELL bottles, there are never too many ways to hold one’s liquids.”
Similarly, another editor responded, “There will still be the hardcore Stanley users in a few years, but most of them will die out.”

“The Stanley Cup trend will die, and so many people will have these $40 cups sitting on their shelves while they go out to buy the ‘next best thing,’” added a different editor.

To wrap up their discussion, the editors asked each other how they would respond to people’s criticism over not owning a Stanley Cup.

“If I was in a situation where people bullied me because I didn’t have a Stanley Cup, I would start by reminding myself that something materialistic should not determine how others treat me and probably speak up about how someone should not be treating someone else based on something they do or do not have,” explained the editor.

A different editor agreed, saying, “My first thought would be ‘Really? You’re bullying me over a cup?’ I don’t want to spend $45 on a 40oz cup, so I wouldn’t take the bullying personally.”

To conclude this editor said, “As a society, we should be well past bullying people because they (1) cannot afford the same things as everyone else, or (2) simply don’t have the same likes and interests as others.”