In anticipation of the acquisition of NBA rights in a year, and NFL rights in two, the sports card production giant Fanatics/Topps is already laying out an ambitious roadmap. With no plans of slowing down, the company recently showcased their forward-thinking strategy at the Industry Conference in Atlanta, promising a vibrant array of card releases spanning across the sports of basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1.
At the heart of the limelight is the resurrection of Topps Chrome to basketball, eyeing a summer release, the first since the 2009-10 season. Rookie sensation from NBA, Victor Wembanyama has already added to the stir by promoting an autographed card. Along with Wembanyama, Fanatics/Topps has’ve bagged exclusive autograph contracts with frontline players including LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant.
Among the highly anticipated basketball product lines are Midnight Cosmic, Chrome Finest, Motif, Royalty Collection, Collegiate Chrome, and Bowman U Chrome. However, basketball enthusiasts might have to wait a bit more as Topps won’t have access to NBA logos or team names until the official license transfer from Panini America next year.
But fret not, football fans. Topps is ready to broaden its football card landscape primarily built around college themes, as the NFL license will only attain fruition in 2026. The forthcoming football releases are slated to include Motif, Composite, Collegiate Chrome, Collegiate Royalty, Bowman U Chrome, and Bowman U Best, with the aim to launch by the third quarter of 2024.
Things are getting peppier in the soccer card arena too, with the introduction of the Champions League Dynasty product packed with all on-card autographs and match-worn gear. Adding to the excitement is a novel women’s Champions League product featuring patch autographs. Fanatics/Topps is also gearing up to introduce “The Grail” inserts across six different soccer products, with a grand prize in tow— an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final!
Alongside, the company with UFC license now in its kitty is reintroducing the Finest series. Apart from reviving old charm, Topps is also aiming to add several premium products such as Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label to its shelves.
Moreover, the F1 fans are in for a treat as well. The F1 lineup from Topps will continue to expand with the introduction of Paddock Pass, resembling the Stadium Club series but with chrome cards, and other thrilling launches like Topps Chrome Finest, and Dynasty.
This broad and daring lineup from Fanatics/Topps manifests the company’s zeal to diversify its offerings and jazz up the sports card collecting experience, seemingly steering us towards exciting times.
With the impending robust rollout of sports card products across various sports including basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1, Fanatics/Topps is not just ready for a significant engagement but also poised for exceptional growth within the dynamic territory of the trading card market.
