NFL, NFLPA renew card license with Panini
By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor
Panini America will continue to be on the gridiron.
Well, its cards that is.
The NFL and NFLPA announced on Monday that they have renewed their card deals with the Texas-based card-maker for as many as 18 sets a year.
“We’re pleased to continue our relationship with the NFL and the NFLPA,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “The NFL and NFLPA are two of our most important licensors, and these new agreements will enable us to continue producing sought after products for NFL fans for years to come.”
The first product of the year will be 2012 Prestige, which arrives in June. (Need a complete checklist for a past Prestige set or an OPG? Click here.)
“We are pleased to continue working with Panini America to offer our fans more ways to connect with the NFL and the players they love,” said Leo Kane, NFL senior vice president of consumer products, in a prepared statement. “Panini America has been – and will continue to be – a great teammate for the NFL.”
The NFLPA echoed that sentiment.
“The NFLPA is pleased to extend our partnership with Panini, a proven industry leader and innovator of NFL player trading cards. Panini football product continues to be highly pursued by hobby enthusiasts and novice collectors alike,” said Keith Gordon, President of NFL PLAYERS INC., the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFLPA. “We, along with our players, look forward to Panini’s ongoing product development, hobby enrichment programs and support of our marquee events including the NFLPA Rookie Debut and Rookie Premiere.”
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
18 sets! :(
Wow…really wished they would have lowered the amount of sets down..18 is way too high…
Heard a rumor Topps isn’t being renewed, so Panini gets 18 sets to make up for it.
I heard a rumor that Upper Deck hosed themselves by a greedy person in charge
great! more underachieving product from paninni!!!!
18 sets of the same thing.. woohoo
First, I thought it strange that only Topps had been putting previews for 2012– none yet from Panini. Also, if you think that 18 products is morethan they had in the past, they put out 18 last year also.
If Topps is done than the deal they signed in 2010 was only for 2 years– not likely.
Upper Deck will never get into football as long as they have the same CEO as he canceled their deal in 2010 after they had already agreed to a new one.
zzzz…whatever. more bland, photoshopped to death garbage….
will some league wake up and stop giving these guys everything….
they’re card designs are better than ud and topps so i’m glad they’re going to continue making football cards. plus panini boxes have more value in them than any other companies’