What set will fill the SPA void?

[Shi Guy]

So with SPA out, or at least not featuring pro uniforms, what set do you think will step in to fill the premium RC void?

My guess is that Contenders will be even more popular this year without the competition from SPA. Topps is clearly hoping that Platinum can step in, with its combination of chrome-like parallels and RPA's, but honestly, I just don't see it becoming as successful as SPA was.

 

[rymflaherty]

If there's anything - imo we haven't seen it yet.

Topps is going to have to step there game up and release something, with preferably on-card auto's that doesn't look like every other set their releasing if their going to fill that void.

So at this point I'm going to have to say it's NT.
I know it's "high-end", but at least at a singles level the rookie pricing has been closer to SPA than Exquisite.
So if there is no new product, I have to imagine those rookie cards will get a bump and serve as the premium rc.

 

[Card Magnet]

I'm saying NT...although NT and Contenders will probably look like the same product, just two sub-sets.

(see 2009 below)

 

[Gellman]

SPA will never be replaced. The other two companies couldnt care less about creating products with on card autos of BOTH veteran and rookies, and Panini's design team is a bunch of dolts that couldnt design their way out of a paper bag.

I think that some of the stuff Topps is going to try may come close because of lack of options, but from this point forward Chrome and Flagship Topps are the only things worth buying.

 

[detox]

I for one will miss spa.

 

[rymflaherty]

I'm saying NT...although NT and Contenders will probably look like the same product, just two sub-sets.

(see 2009 below)

Hey these look nothing alike . :lol:
Hartline may be worse. I thought it was the same pic until I recently picked up the NT.

 

[HoustonTeams4Me]

I agree with several of the above member's opinion in that SPA will not be replaced & if in fact there is something that comes close to a "filler" for SPA, we haven't seen it yet!

 

[pigskincardboard]

Rather than trying to replace it with all the patch autos and junk, just make a product like Bowman Chrome. A card with an hard signed autograph. The end. Nice, simple rookie card.

I really see no need for rookie premiere materials anyways, but that's just my opinion. Some people really like patches but I'd trade a *sick* patch for a nice design any day of the week.

 

[Gellman]

Rather than trying to replace it with all the patch autos and junk, just make a product like Bowman Chrome. A card with an hard signed autograph. The end. Nice, simple rookie card.

I really see no need for rookie premiere materials anyways, but that's just my opinion. Some people really like patches but I'd trade a *sick* patch for a nice design any day of the week.

Having a Topps chrome hard signed rookie like they do Bowman in baseball, I wouldnt buy anything else.

 

[Card Magnet]

There is no Bowman Chrome this year. Well, they will be making a Bowman Chrome insert set inside of Topps Chrome, but no Bowman Chrome product.

 

[schmidtfan20]

IMO neither company is equiped to replace SPA. Upper Deck could do few things right but
one of them was SPA. Beautiful patches with on card autograph at a decent price. Where
else could you find that? NT should be 10 times better, but it isn't. Contenders is great and
going the on card auto direction is a big improvement, but it is weak if the ink comes off.
Topps only want to make money and will use stickers to get it done. Chrome MIGHT
be on card, but it might be the only one for the year with topps.

KEvin

 

[Card Magnet]

IMO neither company is equiped to replace SPA. Upper Deck could do few things right but
one of them was SPA. Beautiful patches with on card autograph at a decent price. Where
else could you find that? NT should be 10 times better, but it isn't. Contenders is great and
going the on card auto direction is a big improvement, but it is weak if the ink comes off.
Topps only want to make money and will use stickers to get it done. Chrome MIGHT
be on card, but it might be the only one for the year with topps.

KEvin

Contenders still did sticker autos as well. Just like with all of the Brands, some guys had on card, some guys had stickers.

 

[TheSportsCardFile]

If Panini can manage not to produce multiple parallel versions of the rookie auto patches and would go to the trouble of having the autos on card, the NT cards could fill the void left by not only SPA, but also Exquisite.

Am I the only one hauntly disturbed by Gellman's new found love for Topps? It's like we are in bizarro land or something.

 

[UDFootball]

I know what will replace SPA.......SPA will......!! Ok, college uni's..yes, but still great patches and hard signed...College Football popularity is growing every year, no reason why this set can't be as popular as before. If anything it will be even more unique and colorful. We were still at the photo shoot so we still have memorabilia. Sweet Spot hits in a few weeks and there will be zero redemptions and all hard signed!

 

[deceptikon1978]

I know what will replace SPA.......SPA will......!! Ok, college uni's..yes, but still great patches and hard signed...College Football popularity is growing every year, no reason why this set can't be as popular as before. If anything it will be even more unique and colorful. We were still at the photo shoot so we still have memorabilia. Sweet Spot hits in a few weeks and there will be zero redemptions and all hard signed!

Nice.

I for one am very excited about the college releases. Sweet Spot and SPX look great and I'm sure SPA will look good as usual.

College Exquisite?

 

[UDFootball]

College Exquisite......hmmmm......maaaaybe

 

[Card Magnet]

I know what will replace SPA.......SPA will......!! Ok, college uni's..yes, but still great patches and hard signed...College Football popularity is growing every year, no reason why this set can't be as popular as before. If anything it will be even more unique and colorful. We were still at the photo shoot so we still have memorabilia. Sweet Spot hits in a few weeks and there will be zero redemptions and all hard signed!

First of all, it's great to have a voice from UD here on the FCB boards.

Second, that's great news. I'm a little shocked that Sweet Spot will be all hard signed with no redemptions. That's fantastic news!

 

[UDFootball]

I am surprised as well , but we felt it important....the helmet cards look fantastic and there should be a few "A"signatures per case

 

[SouthSideSluggers]

I know what will replace SPA.......SPA will......!! Ok, college uni's..yes, but still great patches and hard signed...College Football popularity is growing every year, no reason why this set can't be as popular as before. If anything it will be even more unique and colorful. We were still at the photo shoot so we still have memorabilia. Sweet Spot hits in a few weeks and there will be zero redemptions and all hard signed!

But its still College.....this will still feel like a Draft issue...nobody wants to see there favorite Pro rookie featured in his college uniforms...or very few will. Why will a Denver Broncos fan want a Florida card of Tebow? Some might but most want to see the Pro Teams colors, and Rookie Photoshoot jerseys??? Bring the game used college jerseys at least so there is some value there. Sorry to say that the loss of SPA will not be filled with college stuff...

 

[UDFootball]

I know what will replace SPA.......SPA will......!! Ok, college uni's..yes, but still great patches and hard signed...College Football popularity is growing every year, no reason why this set can't be as popular as before. If anything it will be even more unique and colorful. We were still at the photo shoot so we still have memorabilia. Sweet Spot hits in a few weeks and there will be zero redemptions and all hard signed!

But its still College.....this will still feel like a Draft issue...nobody wants to see there favorite Pro rookie featured in his college uniforms...or very few will. Why will a Denver Broncos fan want a Florida card of Tebow? Some might but most want to see the Pro Teams colors, and Rookie Photoshoot jerseys??? Bring the game used college jerseys at least so there is some value there. Sorry to say that the loss of SPA will not be filled with college stuff...

but in that same argument, wouldnt a Florida Fan want to see Tebow in a Gators uni? remember that is a market not really touched yet.....soon all your favorite NFL players will have more jersey cards and photographs of them in pro jerseys then you could need.....but there will never be many in college uniforms.........