The trading card game seems to be revving in high gear, with Fanatics/Topps not only acquiring the NBA license, soon to be operational next year, but also snapping up the NFL rights, set to kick in two years from now. But the company isn’t resting on these laurels; it’s actively amping up the sports card production across different sports, as was made clear during their recent Industry Conference in Atlanta.
The comeback of the Topps Chrome to basketball, slated for a summer release, represents a big triumph as it hasn’t happened since the 2009-10 season. The anticipation has already started snowballing with the promotion of an autographed card from the NBA rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. The company has also managed to seal exclusive autograph contracts with stalwarts like LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant who are the who’s who of NBA. Upcoming basketball line products will include Midnight Cosmic, Chrome Finest, and Motif to name a few.
For football fanatics, Topps is widening its football card panorama around college themes, thanks to the NFL license commencing in 2026. The football offerings are bound to be a treat for collectors with releases like Motif, Composite (a Panini’s Chronicles series likeness), Collegiate Chrome, and Bowman U Chrome, among others, slated for release in the third quarter of 2024.
The soccer card landscape is in for a treat with the debut of Champions League Dynasty product enriched with authentic match-worn gear and all on-card autographs. The Grail inserts across multiple soccer products coupled with a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final adds to the excitement.
Assembling the UFC license in its portfolio, Topps is set to usher back the Finest series, supplementing it with other high-end products such as Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label, promising a knockout experience for UFC fans.
The F1 lineup isn’t being left behind, with the introduction of Paddock Pass and further releases like Topps Chrome Finest and Dynasty, which will also feature Michael Schumacher cut signatures.
In essence, Fanatics/Topps venture into revamping the sports card collection landscape paints a promising and exciting future for card collectors, signaling a dynamic era that marries tradition with innovation. As the curtain falls on the past and rises on an ambitious new era, collectors worldwide can look forward to a more diverse and thrilling trading card marketplace, courtesy of Fanatics/Topps’ daring expansion plans.
