This Bay Area ‘Ugly’ Sweater Once Sold Out in 40 Minutes

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The race is on to secure one of the Bay Area’s hottest drops of the season: BART’s famous ugly sweater is available for presale today.

According to BART communications officer Anna Duckworth, this year’s sweater is the most elaborate to date.

It features a light-up, moving BART map and a working train horn — perfect for transit enthusiasts hoping to make a bold fashion statement and loud noise.

The 2023 design is based on feedback BART received on past designs, when the sweaters were decorated with more traditional holiday images such as snowflakes.

According to Duckworth, reception of previous sweater releases has been overwhelmingly positive — they all sold out. One year, a particular design sold out in under an hour.

In 2021, BART ordered only 150 sweaters and sold out within 40 minutes, according to a past Twitter post. In 2022, Bay Area public transit enthusiasts quickly bought 800 fuzzy sweaters. This year, 1,500 are up for grabs.

The sweaters are priced at $60 and are available in adult sizes S–4XL. It’s the third year in a row the transit agency has released a holiday sweater, and just like the last two years, they’re expected to sell out.

Unlike previous years, though, you’ll be able to match with your canine friends: For the first time ever, BART is releasing matching holiday dog sweaters for $25 and holiday beanies for $15. All the products can be preordered online starting today or at the Lake Merritt BART station.