Topps and Major League Soccer will be trading card partners for at least a few more years. The two entities announced a “multi-year” extension of their exclusive partnership for both physical and digital cards and collectibles on Thursday. The move came on the day America’s top pro soccer league announced it was putting its 25th anniversary season on hold because of … [Read more...]
Topps, WWE Extend Partnership
The Topps Company has reached a multi-year agreement that extends its global partnership with WWE for licensed trading cards. Topps has featured WWE Superstars since 2005. “We’re excited to see how far we can push the WWE license to bring new and exciting products to fans around the world,” said Topps General Manager and Vice President David Leiner. Specific … [Read more...]
NBA Trading Card License to Remain with Panini
The NBA is sticking with Panini. The league and the trading card maker announced what they called a “long-term, multiyear extension” of the exclusive trading card contract first signed in 2009. The deal means Panini won’t be facing any competition from other trading card makers for at least the next several years. It’s the second renewal of the agreement … [Read more...]
Panini Wins NFLPA Award
Panini America has been named one of the NFLPA’s Licensee of the Year award winners. The announcement came during the recent Licensing Expo 2016. Panini America won for Hardlines Licensee of the Year, EA SPORTS won for Digital Licensee of the Year and 500 Level for Apparel Licensee of the year. The NFLPA, via its licensing and marketing arm, NFL Players Inc., launched … [Read more...]
Topps Will Bring Football Brands to Digital Deal
They won’t be making pro football cards you can hold but on Monday, Topps announced long-term agreements with the NFL and the Players Association to continue publishing digital cards in its Topps NFL Huddle app. The deals allow Topps to continue to deliver some of its most popular brands in digital form. In other words, you can still collect Chrome and Inception—but only on … [Read more...]
NFLPA, Panini Create Football Index
Trading card manufacturers have generally avoided referencing card values or secondary market sales when promoting their products or initiatives. Panini America and the NFLPA are doing just that as their exclusive licensing arrangement kicks in. On Wednesday, the two entities unveiled the first NFLPA Trading Card Index, a new quarterly report which will rank the … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Time to Cut the Auto-Relic Cord?
It seems almost impossible to fathom now, but back in the 1970s collecting sports cards meant piecing together one main set. Topps did football, baseball, basketball and hockey. You bought packs (boxes or complete sets if you were an adult) and that was was pretty much it. If you lived in the right area, you could buy something like the 1970 or ’71 Supers,’72 Posters or '77 … [Read more...]
NFL, Panini Make Exclusive Football Card Deal Official
Topps' 60-year run of producing football cards is indeed coming to an end. Panini America and the NFL announced a "long term" exclusive partnership Thursday, with the deal starting next spring. Panini will be the only company making physical cards and sticker products starting early next spring. Topps, which has produced pro football trading cards since 1956, will retain its … [Read more...]
Topps Talks Redemption Cards, Customer Service, NFL, NBA
Topps reiterated plans to continue producing football cards in 2016, despite the loss of its NFLPA license following the upcoming season. Company officials also discussed redemption cards, customer service and other issues with a few dozen collectors, shop owners and others who turned out for its annual Q&A session/trivia contest at the National Sports Collectors … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Lands CFL Trading Card Deal
Upper Deck is bringing game-used jersey cards and autographs to collectors of the Canadian Football League. The company announced late Thursday that it had entered into an exclusive, multi-year agreement with the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) to become the CFL’s first official trading card partner. Upper Deck … [Read more...]