By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
NFL Players, the NFLPA's marketing and licensing arm, has agreed to renew the trading card licenses for Panini and Upper Deck for the '10 and '11 seasons. The organization formerly had issued four licenses to Panini, Upper Deck, Topps and Press Pass, but it made a conscious decision to reduce the number of licenses because of "the saturation of the trading card industry," said NFL Players President Keith Gordon. "There are too many products out there," he added.
Gordon would not reveal financial terms of the deals but said the license deals for the '10 and '11 seasons would increase even though there are two fewer licenses that were granted. Gordon: "The deals are structured so there is an increase in overall revenue, which means license fee and overall player compensation."
The NHLPA and NHL earlier this week also announced multi-year trading card licensing agreements with Panini and Upper Deck.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Upper Deck Renews Trading Card License
Upper Deck Renews Trading Card License
with the NHLPA and the NHL®
Multi-year, co-exclusive licensing agreement is reached,
keeping Upper Deck atop the hockey trading card world
Carlsbad, CA (March 25, 2010) – The Upper Deck Company is excited to announce that it has reached a multi-year, co-exclusive trading card licensing agreement with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and National Hockey League (NHL®) today. This much-anticipated accord maintains Upper Deck’s longstanding partnership with both entities and keeps the Carlsbad-based hockey card manufacturer producing the industry’s most sought-after hockey cards.
“Upper Deck is very pleased to continue its 20-year trading card partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s Founder and CEO. “Since 2005, through its exclusive partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL, Upper Deck has taken the category and Upper Deck’s hockey brands to unimaginable levels. For the past 20 years, Upper Deck has been the only licensed company consistently producing NHL trading cards. We will continue to deliver high-end excitement and innovation and I am happy to say, our best is yet to come.”
"We moved to an exclusive model in the NHL player trading card category five years ago and Upper Deck was the right partner to undertake that responsibility," said Adam Larry, NHLPA Director of Licensing. "Working with Upper Deck, we have seen a steady growth of the hockey card category during that time. The current stability of the category now enables the NHLPA to grant a license to both Upper Deck and Panini as the NHLPA feels this is the best way to meet the growing demand and needs of collectors."
“The NHL is pleased to extend our longstanding relationship with Upper Deck,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, NHL. “Throughout their tenure as a trading card licensee and more recently as the exclusive manufacturer of NHL trading cards they have created ‘must-have’ products, encouraged a new generation of collectors and have been a fully engaged business partner on every level. We look forward to continuing to build this fan-favorite category as we move forward.”
For Upper Deck, the announcement marks a new chapter in the company’s 20-year partnership with the NHL and the NHLPA, one that saw Upper Deck operate as the exclusive NHL player trading card manufacturer since the 2005-06 NHL season. The innovative releases Upper Deck has brought to market, along with engaging marketing programs like “Biography of a Season,” “Hockey Card Heaven” and its annual “National Hockey Card Day” initiative have helped re-energize the NHL trading card division. Young stars like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Steven Stamkos and John Tavares have helped showcase the great sport of hockey while encouraging fans to collect rookie cards of their favorite players.
The 2010-11 NHL trading card season is scheduled to launch with Upper Deck’s Victory line in August followed by more outstanding products on the horizon.
with the NHLPA and the NHL®
Multi-year, co-exclusive licensing agreement is reached,
keeping Upper Deck atop the hockey trading card world
Carlsbad, CA (March 25, 2010) – The Upper Deck Company is excited to announce that it has reached a multi-year, co-exclusive trading card licensing agreement with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and National Hockey League (NHL®) today. This much-anticipated accord maintains Upper Deck’s longstanding partnership with both entities and keeps the Carlsbad-based hockey card manufacturer producing the industry’s most sought-after hockey cards.
“Upper Deck is very pleased to continue its 20-year trading card partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s Founder and CEO. “Since 2005, through its exclusive partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL, Upper Deck has taken the category and Upper Deck’s hockey brands to unimaginable levels. For the past 20 years, Upper Deck has been the only licensed company consistently producing NHL trading cards. We will continue to deliver high-end excitement and innovation and I am happy to say, our best is yet to come.”
"We moved to an exclusive model in the NHL player trading card category five years ago and Upper Deck was the right partner to undertake that responsibility," said Adam Larry, NHLPA Director of Licensing. "Working with Upper Deck, we have seen a steady growth of the hockey card category during that time. The current stability of the category now enables the NHLPA to grant a license to both Upper Deck and Panini as the NHLPA feels this is the best way to meet the growing demand and needs of collectors."
“The NHL is pleased to extend our longstanding relationship with Upper Deck,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, NHL. “Throughout their tenure as a trading card licensee and more recently as the exclusive manufacturer of NHL trading cards they have created ‘must-have’ products, encouraged a new generation of collectors and have been a fully engaged business partner on every level. We look forward to continuing to build this fan-favorite category as we move forward.”
For Upper Deck, the announcement marks a new chapter in the company’s 20-year partnership with the NHL and the NHLPA, one that saw Upper Deck operate as the exclusive NHL player trading card manufacturer since the 2005-06 NHL season. The innovative releases Upper Deck has brought to market, along with engaging marketing programs like “Biography of a Season,” “Hockey Card Heaven” and its annual “National Hockey Card Day” initiative have helped re-energize the NHL trading card division. Young stars like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Steven Stamkos and John Tavares have helped showcase the great sport of hockey while encouraging fans to collect rookie cards of their favorite players.
The 2010-11 NHL trading card season is scheduled to launch with Upper Deck’s Victory line in August followed by more outstanding products on the horizon.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
It's Official - Panini will produce Hockey Cards in 2010/11!
The NHLPA is excited to renew our long-term partnership with Upper Deck and to welcome Panini into the hockey trading card marketplace,” said Adam Larry, NHLPA Director of Licensing. “We look forward to working with both of these companies to provide quality NHL player products and exciting new choices for fans and collectors of all ages.”
“Having considered the input from all stakeholders, we have concluded that a semi-exclusive model would bring customer choice, revive legacy brands and add new and innovative products and marketing initiatives that appeal to all consumer segments,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, NHL.
“Upper Deck is very pleased to continue its 20-year trading card partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s Founder and CEO. “Since 2005, through its exclusive partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL, Upper Deck has taken the category and Upper Deck’s hockey brands to unimaginable levels. For the past 20 years, Upper Deck has been the only licensed company consistently producing NHL trading cards. We will continue to deliver high-end excitement and innovation and I am happy to say, our best is yet to come.”
“Panini is delighted to be extending its partnership with both the NHLPA and NHL to produce trading cards; this further establishes Panini’s strategy to rapidly become the most comprehensive publisher of trading cards domestically and enhance the presence of North American sports,” said Mark Warsop, CEO Panini America, Inc. “We are extremely excited about growing hockey trading card sales through our extensive marketing programs, and by bringing back heritage brands such as Zenith, Score and Crown Royale.”
“Having considered the input from all stakeholders, we have concluded that a semi-exclusive model would bring customer choice, revive legacy brands and add new and innovative products and marketing initiatives that appeal to all consumer segments,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, NHL.
“Upper Deck is very pleased to continue its 20-year trading card partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s Founder and CEO. “Since 2005, through its exclusive partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL, Upper Deck has taken the category and Upper Deck’s hockey brands to unimaginable levels. For the past 20 years, Upper Deck has been the only licensed company consistently producing NHL trading cards. We will continue to deliver high-end excitement and innovation and I am happy to say, our best is yet to come.”
“Panini is delighted to be extending its partnership with both the NHLPA and NHL to produce trading cards; this further establishes Panini’s strategy to rapidly become the most comprehensive publisher of trading cards domestically and enhance the presence of North American sports,” said Mark Warsop, CEO Panini America, Inc. “We are extremely excited about growing hockey trading card sales through our extensive marketing programs, and by bringing back heritage brands such as Zenith, Score and Crown Royale.”
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Panini Gets Hockey License?
Breaking News: Panini to Join Upper Deck in Hockey Card Market
By Chris Olds
3/24/2010 11:06:34 AM
According to multiple sources close to the situation, the National Hockey League and NHL PA are expected to announce today that Panini America will join Upper Deck as licensed trading card manufacturers for the 2010-11 season and possibly beyond.
The move has been rumored for months and is another in a long line of licensing decisions that has dramatically reshaped the sports trading card industry in the last 14 months.
Panini taking the trading card ice shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, seeing as how the Italian-based company has been producing licensed NHL stickers and sticker albums for years.
It’s interesting to note that the Panini America brand portfolio includes popular, hockey-related brand names from the defunct Pacific Trading Cards as well as its own Score and Donruss lines.
By Chris Olds
3/24/2010 11:06:34 AM
According to multiple sources close to the situation, the National Hockey League and NHL PA are expected to announce today that Panini America will join Upper Deck as licensed trading card manufacturers for the 2010-11 season and possibly beyond.
The move has been rumored for months and is another in a long line of licensing decisions that has dramatically reshaped the sports trading card industry in the last 14 months.
Panini taking the trading card ice shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, seeing as how the Italian-based company has been producing licensed NHL stickers and sticker albums for years.
It’s interesting to note that the Panini America brand portfolio includes popular, hockey-related brand names from the defunct Pacific Trading Cards as well as its own Score and Donruss lines.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Upper Deck Unveils 'Prominent Cuts' Set
Sports card leader packs plenty of unusual finds inside latest release;
look for at least one cut signature card in every hobby box, on average!
Carlsbad, CA (March 23, 2010) - Smack dab in the middle of the Men's NCAA Basketball
Tournament, baseball's spring training schedule and less than three weeks away from
the start of the 2010 Masters and the return of Tiger Woods, Upper Deck has released
its latest sought-after trading card set: Prominent Cuts. A real smorgasbord of
red-hot collectible trading cards - autographs, Hollywood memorabilia and even cut
signatures of deceased celebrities - Upper Deck's Prominent Cuts provides the
ultimate thrill in chase-card opportunities.
"Our 'Prominent Cuts' set provides some incredible finds for collectors," said Jason
Masherah, Upper Deck's director of Sports Brands. "We've succeeded in putting
together a pretty compelling lineup that includes autographs and cut signatures from
well-known celebrities ranging from Colin Farrell, Christie Brinkley and Clint
Eastwood to Doris Day, Bob Newhart and Angie Dickinson. And we've even included
Hollywood History Material cards that feature swatches of clothing worn by the likes
of Sammy Davis Jr., Greta Garbo and Bruce Lee."
The 60-card base level set includes 22 politicians from JFK to Barack Obama; 26
sports icons from Michael Jordan to Randy Couture; and 12 celebrities, ranging from
Kim Kardashian to Mickey Rourke. But it's the phenomenal assortment of insert cards
that will keep collectors coming back for more. In fact, rabid fans can look for
premium-sized swatch and dual-piece memorabilia cards featuring items worn by the
biggest names in Hollywood!
Beyond its base-level cards, the set's inserts includes autograph cards in its "Cage
Fighters Signature" collection from MMA superstars like Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz
and Randy Couture, as well as movie star memorabilia cards in its "Hollywood
History" array from legends like Farrah Fawcett, Halle Berry and Patrick Swayze. And
in its "Prominent Cut Signatures" collection, some lucky collectors will pull
beauties from former U.S. Presidents like Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and George H.
Bush, as well as from historical figures like Sigmund Freud and Harriet Beecher
Stow.
Upper Deck's Prominent Cuts (four cards per pack, five packs per hobby display box)
is currently on store shelves. Every box of Prominent Cuts will yield, on average,
at least one cut signature card, two autograph cards and two Hollywood History
memorabilia cards.
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