We've got a new baseball stadium, a new team name and eureka! … a new reason to shop.

It's time to retire all your Wizards paraphernalia, folks.

Replace it with hats, T-shirts and hoodies sporting a bright red apple with slightly menacing eyes and a wicked smile.

The TinCaps have arrived.

Team merchandising is important for many reasons, said Karen Schieber, merchandise manager for the TinCaps.

Most notably, it's profitable for the franchise. “Tickets, food and merchandise - those are your three moneymakers,” she said. In 2008, the Wizards sold more than $79,000 worth of merchandise.

Aside from the profits made from selling team gear, merchandising is particularly important this year with the introduction of a new team name and logo. Seeing people wearing TinCaps apparel helps grow interest in and support for the team, Schieber said.

TinCaps merchandise is selling well, said Brian Schackow, vice president, sales and finance for the team.

In fact, “we're already at about 33 percent of our total merchandise sales from last year. Pretty remarkable considering we haven't played a game yet.”

From a total sales standpoint, they didn't reach the current level of sales until Memorial Day weekend last year.

A new souvenir shop or “team store” at Parkview Field is three to four times bigger than the one at Memorial Stadium, Schieber said.

Called “The Orchard,” it will be open on game days, of course, but also daily Monday-Friday during the baseball season and beyond, although it won't likely be open in December during minor-league baseball's winter meetings.

Since this is the first season for the downtown store, Schieber is still unsure of its hours, but said it likely will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. “It kind of depends on how things go,” she said. “We're not sure how much traffic we're going to have.”

A TinCaps merchandising store that was set up at Glenbrook Square during the holiday season did quite well, she said.

The store will sell everything from key chains, bat pens and tattoos for a few bucks to hoodies and jerseys at more than $50.

Apparel will be available in men's, women's and children's sizes.

In addition to The Orchard, the TinCaps also sell some shirts, caps and jerseys online. Go to http://store.tincaps.com/store to order.