Topps and UD Lose Basketball License

[DodgerBlue]

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a new exclusive, multi-year licensing agreement with The Panini Group – the leading global publisher of collectibles. The new partnership will focus on redefining the domestic NBA trading card category by enhancing the relationship with existing NBA card enthusiasts, cultivating a new generation of collectors, supporting hobby shops and retailers, and by creating new product growth opportunities worldwide.

As the NBA’s exclusive trading card and sticker partner, Panini will produce NBA trading cards, stickers and sticker albums beginning with the 2009-10 NBA season. Together with the NBA, Panini will provide significant retail marketing and promotional support including TV, print and on-line initiatives and in-store events for both hobby shops and retailers.

“Over the years, NBA trading cards have served as an important source to connect fans of all ages with our game," said Sal LaRocca, Executive Vice President, NBA Global Merchandising Group. "As we look to the future of our trading card business, there is general consensus, including with our current partners, Topps and Upper Deck, that moving forward with an exclusive partner is the best way for us to energize the category on a worldwide basis. We are fortunate to have had three outstanding companies interested in our trading card business and believe Panini’s position as the leading global company in this industry aligns best with our global growth strategy."

LaRocca continued, “Our exclusive partnership with Panini provides us with the best opportunity to recreate the trading card market by developing the key retail channels with a variety of products and promotions geared towards all consumer segments.”

Panini will leverage the strength of the NBA as a global sports league to develop the international trading card business and establish and build a sports collectibles business in the U.S. Currently, Panini has a successful North American collectibles business with consumer brands such as Disney’s Hannah Montana and High School Musical, and Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter, as well as with the UEFA Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup sporting events. Internationally, Panini’s leadership in the sticker category will provide additional growth opportunities for the NBA.

“As the leading global sports league, the NBA provides Panini with an international platform to expand the global trading card and collectibles markets by building our business in the U.S. and attracting new collectors around the world,” said Peter Warsop, Panini Group Licensing Director.
About the NBA

The NBA reaches fans and consumers worldwide through the licensing and marketing of consumer products bearing the league’s trademarks and player attributes. More than 200 licensees manufacture, sell and market NBA-branded products that are promoted worldwide and sold in more than 100,000 retail locations, in 100 countries on six continents. Major categories include video games, apparel, footwear, sporting goods and trading cards. Thirty percent of merchandise sales are generated from outside the United States.

About Panini S.p.A.

The Panini Group, established almost 50 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe and Latin America, is the world leader in the published collectable sector and the leading multi-national publisher of comics, children’s magazines and manga in Europe and Latin America. In 2008, the Panini Group is expected to have sales of c 1 Billion US$. The company has distribution channels in more than 100 countries and employs a staff of over 700.

I started thinking about all the exclusive contracts in basketball and I wonder how Panini will deal with not being able to make game-used memorabilia cards and autographs of the following players:

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Lamarcus Aldridge, Al Horford, D-Wade, Adam Morrison, J.J. Reddick, Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Joakim Noah, Julian Wright, Corey Brewer, Brandan Wright, Greg Oden.

I'm sure Im missing a few

Lebron's Contracts Expires after this season though. In my opinion this will greatly hurt the already ailing basketball card market. Topps and UD had both cut production on most all of their late '07-'08 products as well as all the '08-'09 products released thus far. That along with the strong rookie class this year had the industry back on the right track. Now I don't know what to think. All I know is that if you have a Michael Jordan autograph from an UD basketball card product, hold on to it! I think his autograph values will rise to all-time highs!

[Geebi]

Panini? Isn't that a sandwich at Jack in the Box?

[harley2001]

Originally Posted by geebi

panini? Isn't that a sandwich at jack in the box?

lol

[Billy Kingsley]

WOW! That is a major shocker and IMO a bad, bad idea from the NBA. From 1996-2006, I collected NBA basketball cards heavily-I have over 71,000 different, I have at least one example of every major and minor NBA set until that time and something like 36 complete collections, with the oldest being 71-72 Topps. Yes, I have some from 48 Bowman and all Star sets as well. but I stopped collecting in 2006. (For a multitude of reasons-I didn't like where the hobby was going/at, my favorite company was Fleer, I was getting priced out for example) Panini only cares about stickers, and has for years. They produced stickers in the 1990s that were not distributed in the USA for the most part, I was only ever able to find two packs.

I wonder if the NBA over ruled the personal contracts the various companies had with the players-theoretically they COULD do that, as technically they own the jerseys. Previously each company liscensed indivigually with the NBA. Will be interesting to find out more...Maybe I will grab a pack of the new Panini branded cards just for old time's sake.

I had heard at one point that Donruss wanted into the NBA as well but could not get a liscence with the NBA.

[selby92]

There goes my basketball collecting...oh well. More money to spend on football I guess!

[GordonJrFan]

man thats bad does that mean no more b-ball cards?

[DodgerBlue]

Panini is setting up shop in NYC. They plan to produce a variety of products at all price levels. They are working with the NBA and Topps and UD to try to buy out the contracts of some of the exclusive names so they can produce memorabilia cards and autographs of those guys in their new products.