Nearly 13 months after buying the company, Fanatics announced Tuesday it would be dropping the PWCC brand and relaunching a new trading card platform called Fanatics Collect that will serve as an auction house, fixed place market and also offer peer-to-peer trading. The company also revealed a new partnership with Sotheby’s in which the two will collaborate on high-end … [Read more...] about PWCC to Become Fanatics Collect While Fanatics Inks High-End Auction Deal with Sotheby’s
Fanatics Trading Cards
Notes: Bedard Day; Fanatics Strategy; Sesame Street and 1972 Topps Football; Simms, Florio Talk Memorabilia
Connor Bedard Young Guns mania is off and running. Upper Deck Series 2 boxes arrived at hobby shops across North America on Wednesday and the foil was flying. Steel City Collectibles found one in the first box they opened. Bedard may play in Chicago, but in Canada, hockey cards are king and Bedard chasing was in full swing Wednesday. "Interest has been … [Read more...] about Notes: Bedard Day; Fanatics Strategy; Sesame Street and 1972 Topps Football; Simms, Florio Talk Memorabilia
Report: Fanatics Trading Cards in Deal with High School Star Darryn Peterson
Fanatics has reportedly signed a 16-year-old high school basketball player from Ohio to a trading card deal. Opportunities have opened for Darryn Peterson, one of the top recruits in the class of 2025, who now has two NIL deals under his belt at age 16. He signed with Fanatics Trading Cards after moving from Ohio to West Virginia to take advantage of NIL rules that allow … [Read more...] about Report: Fanatics Trading Cards in Deal with High School Star Darryn Peterson
Former NFL Card Maker Knows What It’s Like to Lose a License
One of the most prominent people in sport card history says the recent events in the hobby can be summed up in one word. Greed. Mike Cramer, who was the founder, President and CEO of Pacific Trading Cards, says that what happened to Panini this week is nothing new to the industry. “We went through the same thing,” Cramer said of Pacific's exodus from the NFL card … [Read more...] about Former NFL Card Maker Knows What It’s Like to Lose a License
Panini Still Selling Football as Uncertainty Prevails for Retailers
In spite of a letter sent by the NFLPA’s licensing and marketing arm on Monday indicating it was “terminating” its contract with Panini America and turning those rights over to Fanatics Collectibles, outwardly it seemed to be business as usual. Panini continued to promote upcoming 2023 branded NFL products on its website including Wednesday’s release of … [Read more...] about Panini Still Selling Football as Uncertainty Prevails for Retailers
NFLPA Tells Agents It’s Terminating Contract with Panini, Moving to Fanatics
If you once thought there would be a peaceful transition of power from Panini America to Fanatics, think again. Just 17 days after Panini filed an antitrust suit against Fanatics over its lame duck licensing deals for trading cards with pro leagues and athletes, the NFL Players Association's licensing and marketing arm distributed a letter to player agents … [Read more...] about NFLPA Tells Agents It’s Terminating Contract with Panini, Moving to Fanatics
Panini Files Federal Suit Against Fanatics Over “Anticompetitive Conduct”
They still own the rights to produce basketball and football cards for at least two more seasons but Panini America says the company that's scheduled to eventually take over those licenses is making things difficult. Panini filed a 56-page federal antitrust lawsuit against Fanatics on Thursday, alleging Fanatics has interfered with its existing contracts for trading card … [Read more...] about Panini Files Federal Suit Against Fanatics Over “Anticompetitive Conduct”
Fanatics Live Officially Launches at NSCC
Fanatics launched its live streaming platform on Wednesday, just ahead of the National Sports Collectors Convention. Fanatics Live is the company’s first foray into livestream ecommerce for sports cards, although the company plans to expand to memorabilia and other items. It’s currently available in North America on Apple devices, with web and Android support coming … [Read more...] about Fanatics Live Officially Launches at NSCC
Panini Takes Fanatics to Court Over Employee Departures
Panini America is fighting back against Fanatics' recent pillage of its employees but a judge ruled Monday that unless those former workers try to recruit their Panini colleagues, Fanatics can continue hiring them if it wants to. The company filed suit in Texas District Court late last week, seeking a temporary restraining order that would have put a halt to Fanatics hiring … [Read more...] about Panini Takes Fanatics to Court Over Employee Departures
Fanatics Building New Dallas Office
Fanatics is building an office for its Collectibles division in Dallas. CEO Michael Rubin says it will “open shortly” for the company’s “rapidly growing Collectibles team.” The company continues to hire for jobs that are listed as based in that area, including positions on the trading card side. View this post … [Read more...] about Fanatics Building New Dallas Office