In the thrilling world of sports card trading, one name stands out – Fanatics/Topps. One eye on the horizon and the other firmly on the ground, Fanatics/Topps has no intentions of hitting the pause button on its sports card production, even with a lucrative NBA license acquisition a year away and the NFL rights two years in the future. During their recent Industry Conference held in Atlanta, the company spread out its elaborate blueprint promising a panorama of exciting card releases across basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1.
Let’s start with basketball. Topps Chrome is all set for a triumphant return at the height of this summer, marking its first comeback since the 2009-10 season. The industry is buzzing with anticipation, thanks to a glimpse of an autographed card from NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama. Plus, the cherries on the cake are the exclusive autograph contracts inked with NBA A-listers such as Wembanyama, the new free-agent LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant. With product lines including Midnight Cosmic, Chrome Finest, Motif, Royalty Collection, Collegiate Chrome, Bowman U Chrome, the basketball section sparkles with promise, despite Topps’ official transfer of NBA logos or team nicknames from Panini America only due next year.
Shifting focus to football, Topps plans on expanding card offerings around college themes, a smart choise considering the NFL license will only kick in by 2026. The third quarter of 2024 promises to teem with newly released products such as Motif, Composite, Collegiate Chrome, Collegiate Royalty, Bowman U Chrome and Bowman U Best.
The soccer card scene isn’t left out either. With the launch of the Champions League Dynasty product, complete with all on-card autographs and match-worn gear, the stage is set for a major uplift. “The Grail” inserts, to be introduced across six different soccer product, offer a tantalizing grand prize – an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final! Besides, 1/1 MLS Debut Patches will make a unique appearance in the Renaissance, Finest and Chrome collections.
With the UFC license tucked securely under its wings, Topps plans on reintroducing the Finest series, and supplementing it with premium products like Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label.
Finally, in the F1 sector, the introduction of Paddock Pass promises to bring a new dynamism, along with other exciting releases like Topps Chrome Finest and Dynasty.
Certainly, the diverse and ambitious lineup of releases from Fanatics/Topps speaks volumes about the company’s dedication to broadening its horizons and enhancing the sports card collecting experience. Collectors, brace yourselves for interesting times ahead; Fanatics/Topps is here with a vibrant palette of sports card products across various genres, and they’re just getting started.