Fanatics/Topps, on the brink of securing the NBA license in a year and the NFL rights in two years, refuses to take their foot off the pedal when it comes to sports card creation. The blueprint drawn up at their latest Industry Conference in Atlanta radiates with their forward-looking strategy to widen their range of offerings across basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1 platforms.
A spectacular comeback of Topps Chrome to the basketball court awaits us. Last seen during the 2009-10 season, this entrancing relic is slated to hit the stands this summer. The anticipation is already at fever pitch, thanks to a promotional maneuver featuring an autographed card from the NBA rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. A stellar autograph lineup includes industry stalwarts like Wembanyama, LeBron James (who broke ties with Upper Deck recently), Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant.
The basketball lineage to be unrolled comprises Midnight Cosmic, Chrome Finest, Motif—a high-end entrant, Royalty Collection, Collegiate Chrome, and Bowman U Chrome. However, it’s worth noting that the absence of NBA logos or team nicknames will persist until next year when the formal license is transferred from Panini America.
Football, despite the NFL license being two years away, is not far behind. The offerings are primarily centered around college themes. The product launch includes Motif, Composite—a kin to Panini’s Chronicles series, Collegiate Chrome, Collegiate Royalty, Bowman U Chrome, and Bowman U Best. Football enthusiasts, mark your calendars for the third quarter of 2024 for these launches.
The soccer card sector is also witnessing an upward thrust. The Champions League Dynasty product comes to the fore with the promise of all on-card autographs and used-in-match gear. A fresh twist will be the introduction of a women’s Champions League product featuring patch autographs. Moreover, Topps’ “The Grail” inserts across six different soccer products promise a grand prize—an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final. Also, exclusive 1/1 MLS Debut Patches will grace the Renaissance, Finest, and Chrome collections.
Riding high on its UFC license acquisition, Topps is bringing back the Finest series and adding a few deluxe products to its realm: Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label.
The F1 card series from Topps is gearing up to speed with the introduction of Paddock Pass (similar to the Stadium Club series but with chrome cards). Other races in the lane include Topps Chrome Finest and Dynasty, the latter featuring booklet cards and Michael Schumacher cut signatures.
This wide-ranging and ambitious armada of card sets from Fanatics/Topps is reflective of the company’s commitment to widen its spectrum and uplift the sports card collecting journey. These exciting moves signal thriving times ahead for collectors. Armed with a thoughtful concoction of legacy and innovation, Fanatics/Topps is setting the stage for a dynamic expansion of sports card products across a myriad of sports. It promises a salad of familiar favorites and fresh surprises, positioning the company for significant engagement and growth within the trading card market.
