Fanatics/Topps, nearing its acquisition of the coveted NBA license in a year and NFL rights in two, is stepping up its game in the sports card arena. The sports merchandise company recently detailed its strategy for a broad spectrum of card releases during its Industry Conference in Atlanta. This move highlights its intent to further diversify and intensify its offerings across basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1.
Basketball enthusiasts can look forward to the return of Topps Chrome this summer – a comeback move as audacious as a buzzer-beater, marking its first release since the 2009-10 season. Exclusive autograph contracts, akin to star-studded lineups, have been inked with top players including Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant. Fans, however, will have to wait to see NBA logos or team nicknames on the cards until Topps officially takes over the reins from Panini America next year.
In the world of football, Topps—being the offensive coordinator it is—plans to expand primarily around college-themed cards, keeping in mind the NFL license kickoff in 2026. The upcoming football releases set to blitz the market include Motif, Composite, Collegiate Chrome, Collegiate Royalty, Bowman U Chrome, and Bowman U Best.
Soccer, the universally beloved sport, will also receive a boost. Topps is set to introduce the Champions League Dynasty product which will accentuate on-card autographs and match-worn gear. Women’s Champions League will also be in the spotlight with patch autographs. Topps plans to introduce “The Grail” inserts across multiple soccer products with a grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final.
The recent acquisition of the UFC license allows Topps to reintroduce the Finest series and punch in several premium products like Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label. Last but not least, Topps will stay on-track with its F1 lineup, planning to introduce Paddock Pass, comparable to the Stadium Club series but with chrome cards and other releases.
In the bustling marketplace of collectibles, Fanatics/Topps’ plans depict zealous mission not just to compete but lead, broadening its reach to the delight of sports card collecting enthusiasts. With their ambitious lineup of releases, Fanatics/Topps is sending a clear message: the game has just begun. The meticulously planned rollouts position the company to engage and accelerate growth within the trading card market, signaling thrilling times ahead for collectors.
