Results – Christie’s and Stadium Goods partnered sale, Original Air: Michael Jordan Game-Worn and Player Exclusive Sneaker Rarities, achieved a total of $931,875 with 82% sold by lot with all but two lots finding a buyer. The sale witnessed high levels of global attention and 72% of registered bidders were new to Christie’s. There was unprecedented online engagement with over 90,000 unique visitors to related sale pages from 126 countries.

Caitlin Donovan, Head of Sale, VP of Handbags & Accessories, remarks, “We are delighted with the results of Christie’s inaugural Sneaker sale and excited to see an unprecedented amount of engagement from around the world with online visitors from over 120 countries. Additionally, the virtual event surrounding the sale was among the highest attended online events Christie’s has hosted since lockdown. As we embark on this new category, we are encouraged with the interest from not only new buyers but also from established Christie’s clients who purchase across other sale categories. We look forward to our future partnered sales with Stadium Goods which will take place later this year.”

John McPheters, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Stadium Goods, comments, “We’re thrilled at the strong results for ‘Original Air’ and to again be part of a new height achieved for sneakers at auction. The new mark reached with the “Shattered Backboard” Air Jordan 1 is special for Stadium Goods because that model occupies such a singular place in sneaker culture. This sale once again confirms that sneakers are cultural artifacts and deserve to be listed alongside other luxury items in the collectibles marketplace. We’re tremendously appreciative of Christie’s partnership on ‘Original Air’ and honored to share this achievement with them.”

The top lot of the sale was the momentous Air Jordan 1 High “‘Shattered Backboard’ Origin Story,” Game-Worn Signed Sneaker, Nike, 1985, which reached a final price of $615,000, an unprecedented achievement for sneakers as an auction category.  Other notable highlights included the very pair of the Air Jordan 7 “Olympic” worn in the Dream Team’s gold medal game in 1992, which sold for $112,500; a pair of Air Jordan 1 TYPS, MJ player exclusive signed sneakers from 1985, that sold for $62,500; and a pair of Air Jordan 4 “Fire Red,” player exclusive, game-worn signed sneakers from 1989 that realized $27,500. Additionally, a portion of proceeds from a game-worn pair of Air Jordan 11 “Concord” from the legendary 1995-96 season that realized $56,250, are designated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). The full list of Original Air results can be viewed here.