I have a bit of an obsession with minifigures. As of 2006, LEGO has produced over 4,000,000,000 minifigures, and that number continues to skyrocket. Sadly, minifigures remail largely the same as they were in 1975. I get it; don’t mess with the classics, right? But what about sports nerds who want minifigures of athletes, much less ones that look like they could play a sport. Enter the OYO Sports line, a LEGO-compatible series of minifigures and playsets that caters to sports lovers! The lineup includes soccer, American football, hockey, basketball, college leagues, and more!
Above, you can see my favorite MLS team, LA Galaxy. First is their mascot Cozmo, then Sebastian Lletget, and one of the coolest goalkeepers in the game, Donovan Ricketts. I know what you’re thinking; they look like regular minifigs, right? Wrong.
Here you can see my favorite feature of these cool cats; they are very posable. Shoulders, elbows, hands, legs, and knees are all articulated. Each mini comes with a stand and some accessories. Donovan and Sebastian each came with a hat, ball, and water bottle. I love these dudes, and they look ready to play, even when stored on the shelf.
But what if you wanted more? What about stadiums and fields? OYO also has you covered. In preparation of Superbowl 50, you could snag OYO’s Gametime Set: San Francisco 49ers, and have the Levi Stadium field on display in your home! College football fan? Alabama Crimson Tide just secured the National Championship, and you can find your favorite players in stock.
My favorite stadium, though, is the Gametime Rink: Montreal Canadiens. The kit falls short of my $0.10/brick rule, but comes with three decent sized plates which assemble into a full rink. It also has two minis and full gear, including detailed helmets and interactive mitts and sticks.
I cannot tell you how much I love this set. The rink is topped with 116 4×4 clear finisher plates, which were a challenge to make smooth, but it was worth it. The rink is slick, allowing the builder to push their favorite minis around while they remain connected to their stands. Each NHL mini comes with skates, and the stand is compatible for use with (or without) wearing them.
As you can see, the doors open! Seven doors allow minis to enter and leave in style, while an eighth will let you roll in your Zamboni to care for the ice between games. Seriously, guys, this is a thing. Alas, my wife won’t let me get all the sets, but I found a sticker sheet included that allows the builder to decorate with their favorite team’s logo, which is pretty cool, too.
You might be wondering why I would consider buying a kit that costs more than my normal threshold for LEGO brand. It comes down to supply and demand. OYO makes a product I want, and LEGO doesn’t. As ever, I shy away from not-LEGO, but the pieces are good quality and the set is well designed. If a piece (or 200) ended up in my LEGO box, I wouldn’t be bothered. I’d probably not even notice, honestly, except for the 260 transparent blocks. Those I’d add to my collection intentionally.
Check them out on Amazon for ongoing sales and discounts, and find the full line-up on their website.
Thanks for your review Rory! It is very upbeat and positive! We’re grateful!