Changes in Hockey Card Licensing?

[thehamiltonian]

http://www.hockeycardblog.com/?p=814

Full disclosure? What I have written in my post is all I currently know. My gut says it isn't an exclusive, but that's just my opinion.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Anything to continue to etch away at Upper Deck will make me happy.

Base Upper Deck has always been a great product, but I'd love the shot at an open market.

 

[jeff550]

woot woot, cant waitto see what this brings

 

[thehamiltonian]

Anything to continue to etch away at Upper Deck will make me happy.

Base Upper Deck has always been a great product, but I'd love the shot at an open market.

I agree. I don't dislike UD products, but I would love to see someone else's take on hockey. With rookie cards being so sought after in hockey, I am interested to see what a non-traditional hockey manufacturer comes up with.

 

[KC37]

I'd like ITG back. I also liked the 03-04 Bowman Chrome product.

But things like Playoff Contenders and Leaf Limited for hockey? The drool begins...

 

[G $MONEY$]

I personally will be very upset if its a Panini exclusive. Although i would welcome competition (another manufactuer), i wouldn't want Panini making the only licensed NHL cards. Panini have made a couple nice sets in the other sports since entering the market, but i have been mostly unimpressed with their products for the most part.

 

[pghbuccos]

I too would like to see ITG back

 

[Sly]

I think Panini would be interesting. Can you imagine an Elite-style product coming out soon after the Rookie Draft?? Of course, that's assuming it'd be an NHLPA license and NOT an NHL license.

I don't defend UD often, but I do like SOME of their Hockey products...I'm becoming much more familiar with what I do like of theirs (Base, SP Authentic) and what I don't like of theirs (SPx, Black Diamond).

Competition is a very good thing in the sports-card industry.

Ultimately, I think what will be REALLY interesting is to see what happens with the MLB/UD lawsuit...if somehow UD can win, that would almost allow ANY company to enter the hockey market if they can get a NHLPA license...

 

[jarcar]

If it means more competition that would be great, if it's just Panini and no one else like UD... that would be bad.

 

[lumm0x]

I feel the same way about every sport and the manufacturers. Allow anyone an opportunity to make cards under the license. My ideal world would have tiers of price points where prospective manufacturers bid for the right to a release under each price point with a maximum number of spots per tier available for tender. If one company chooses to bid the highest then so be it and they will own the most right for product releases but there should be a rule that no one manufacturer can hold every position in each tier.

I am all for an open competition on the products. It will elevate everyone's level of quality, design and pricing.

 

[ru4scuba]

Does anyone know the details of UD's exclusive license? Is it with the league and players or just one of the entities? When does their contract expire? Etc.

 

[thehamiltonian]

Does anyone know the details of UD's exclusive license? Is it with the league and players or just one of the entities? When does their contract expire? Etc.

Currently, UD has an exclusive with both the NHL and NHLPA. When exactly that expires isn't really a sure thing, but the best guess is around July 1, 2010. Things were kept quite quiet.

 

[ru4scuba]

Does anyone know the details of UD's exclusive license? Is it with the league and players or just one of the entities? When does their contract expire? Etc.

Currently, UD has an exclusive with both the NHL and NHLPA. When exactly that expires isn't really a sure thing, but the best guess is around July 1, 2010. Things were kept quite quiet.

Hmmm.... just found that it is a five year contract which started in 2005 which adds plausibility to the rumor.

 

[ru4scuba]

.

 

[cgilmo]

go ahead, squash it


*whistle*

 

[braden]

I'd love for Panini to get a shot and I've missed Topps a great deal. I know I'm in the minority (and I'd never post this at HI lest the fanboys hunt me down) but I've always found ITG to be among the most boring and predictable companies on the market. Ooh, a jersey and 23 packs of base cards; someone pinch me.

 

[thehamiltonian]

Basically confirmed by an NHL executive here: http://blogbeckett.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... -decision/