Panini America joined Topps over the weekend in offering real-time trading cards commemorating specific sports moments. The company launched Panini Instant during the Copa America Centenario soccer tournament and will continue with the Euro 2016 event.
Fans and collectors will have just 24 hours to order each day’s card on a print-to-order basis, however unlike Topps’ NOW program, Panini will offer a set number of lower print run parallels of the same card numbered to 25, five and only one, respectively. Prices range from $9.99 for the base card to $249.99 for 1/1 versions that are first come, first served.
Columbia soccer player James Rodriguez was the first card offered, following his team’s 2-0 win over Team USA.
Each new Panini Instant card will be made available on iCollectPanini.com between noon and 1 p.m. CST the following day and will be available to purchase for 24 hours. The cards will be shipped to consumers within three to five days after the 24-hour ordering window expires.
“Panini Instant is a revolutionary direct-to-consumer product that allows fans to collect cards around key events and moments in sports,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “Panini Instant grants us the opportunity to capitalize on the evolving trend to collect in real-time and the ability to expand the trading card category beyond collectors to mainstream sports fans around the world.”