Goodbye Topps Football.....

ndleo

I just saw on the Topps website that there will be no more football products after Wed. As a football card fan, I will miss Topps products. I enjoyed building sets, especially the chrome camo sets. I like some Panini products, but I have never built a set.

I picked up a few boxes of the 2014 Translucent went they went on sale. I see that they are now all gone. I wonder if these boxes will show up at the large distributors.

vintagefun

So unfortunate. Will Prizm generally be the RC Registry standard?

HaveLearned

Topps should exist for all 4 major sports forever. If another company some year soon puts out 'Topps' sets, but it isn't Topps, I'll dislike them even more than how I do regarding Panini buying Donruss, then putting out fake Donruss product. I do NOT dig at all the Panini thing, just can't. Topps rules forever.

Estil

I don't understand why they didn't do basketball from 1982-91...I guess Magic/Bird and later Jordan and the Bad Boy Pistons weren't popular enough?

ndleo

I knew this day was coming but held out hope that maybe Panini and Topps could strike a deal for Topps to continue at least base Topps and Chrome.

Too many of Panini's products are basically the same set in a different wrapper. I should probably thank Panini for doing this since I will be saving money by not buying as much new product. I will be probably buy a couple boxes of the high end product and call it a day.

alnavman

Must be behind the eight ball news wise but Topps is not making football cards anymore???

Dboneesq

BTW ... I have no idea if the products/prices are any good, but on their website they are advertising Football Cards up to 60% off.

epatmythes

Originally posted by: alnavman
Must be behind the eight ball news wise but Topps is not making football cards anymore???

That is correct. Panini was awarded the exclusive card contract with the NFL beginning with the 2016 football season.

Topps has stated they won't go after producing cards without official team logos. Not sure if they are serious... or just taking a back handed swipe at Panini for how they deal with baseball cards with Topps having the exclusive MLB license!

epatmythes

For me personally... I'm done with collecting any modern football because of this. I expect this will hold true until either Topps gets a contract again to produce football cards or the Packers win another Super Bowl... and my collection forces me to assemble a PSA 10 team set... which ever happens first.

I, too, will be curious to see how PSA handles this for Registry purposes... what Panini product will be used for team sets and basic player sets, and whatever else requires a specific brand... going forward!

VitoCo1972

It's a super bummer and yes, I think Prizm is generally the RC going forward.

ndleo

Originally posted by: epatmythes

Originally posted by: alnavman
Must be behind the eight ball news wise but Topps is not making football cards anymore???

That is correct. Panini was awarded the exclusive card contract with the NFL beginning with the 2016 football season.

Topps has stated they won't go after producing cards without official team logos. Not sure if they are serious... or just taking a back handed swipe at Panini for how they deal with baseball cards with Topps having the exclusive MLB license!

It's just not logos, but with the NFLPA as well. The 2014 Topps Translucent had no logos or player names on the card (they did have the players in uniforms). I guess Topps was testing to see how collectors would react. It started at $99.99 per box and Topps was still blowing it out at $35/box as of last week. So a product with no logos or no names didn't seem like a viable option.

prgsdw

Pass on a product with no logos or player names on the card. The airbrushed cards of the 1970's are a big turn off to me. Shame for Topps.

baz518

I hate to see this, but the bigger downer is that Panini is who got the exclusive license. Bowman, Topps and Fleer all battled for NFL cards back in the day... I think it'll work itself out again eventually. It's more like shame on NFL Properties for going this route (because of the other major sports having the same).

flcardtrader

Sorry for not doing any research on the topic....is this a matter where the NFL decided to award only a single contract to produce cardboard with NFL assets on them - or - did Panini leverage an over the top proposed fee to the NFL to include exclusivity to produce the product?

craig44

I'm not sure why the major sports are going with exclusives. Competition leads to better products. If they are concerned about market oversaturation, the leagues could limit the amount of releases by each company per year. I think that if there were many fewer products, the ones released would have a longer shelf life, and each product would be more memorable/historic. As it is, each product has about a week shelf life, then is forgotten in favor of the new flavor of the week.

rexvos

Originally posted by: epatmythes
For me personally... I'm done with collecting any modern football because of this. I expect this will hold true until either Topps gets a contract again to produce football cards or the Packers win another Super Bowl... and my collection forces me to assemble a PSA 10 team set... which ever happens first.

I, too, will be curious to see how PSA handles this for Registry purposes... what Panini product will be used for team sets and basic player sets, and whatever else requires a specific brand... going forward!

I am done with it as well, with the exception of a big time QB rc in PSA 10 for whatever trash Panini sandwich brand the registry decides to go with.

baz518

Here's a few quotes I seen/read... first one being from when the news originally broke.



Keith Gordon, the president of NFL Players Inc., which is the marketing side of the NFLPA, explained the process for the decision. "In the last four years, we have had discussions about extensions and kicked around the idea for an exclusive deal. We became more receptive to the idea based on the conditions of the market. We also looked at other leagues and associations. This wasn’t a quick decision. We have to plan in advance to not disrupt the current deals, make sure the exclusive partner can take over the reigns, and make sure the other partner can land the plane so to speak."



Leo Kane, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products for the NFL, says “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Panini America in order to better serve NFL fans, from children opening their first packs to long-time hobby collectors. Since entering the U.S. market in 2009, they have proven to be leaders in product development, innovation and marketing, and we look forward to working together to continue to grow the football trading card category.”

ndleo

Originally posted by: prgsdw
Pass on a product with no logos or player names on the card. The airbrushed cards of the 1970's are a big turn off to me. Shame for Topps.

The lack of 1970s logos doesn't bother me that much. In some ways I prefer it since we had a lot more pictures of players faces with no helmets. I don't think a logo would improve the 1976 Payton RC.

ndleo

Originally posted by: baz518
Here's a few quotes I seen/read... first one being from when the news originally broke.

Keith Gordon, the president of NFL Players Inc., which is the marketing side of the NFLPA, explained the process for the decision. "In the last four years, we have had discussions about extensions and kicked around the idea for an exclusive deal. We became more receptive to the idea based on the conditions of the market. We also looked at other leagues and associations. This wasn’t a quick decision. We have to plan in advance to not disrupt the current deals, make sure the exclusive partner can take over the reigns, and make sure the other partner can land the plane so to speak."

Leo Kane, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products for the NFL, says “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Panini America in order to better serve NFL fans, from children opening their first packs to long-time hobby collectors. Since entering the U.S. market in 2009, they have proven to be leaders in product development, innovation and marketing, and we look forward to working together to continue to grow the football trading card category.”

Translation - Panini wrote us a big fat check.

Panini and Topps were licensed to produce 17 products each per year. Get ready for Contenders Stickers and 10 different versions of Prizm.

ElvisP

Haven't collected, bought or kept up with new stuff for years but Topps should always produce cards for the 3 major sports.

heritage

I don't think its good for the hobby either.

Estil

Originally posted by: craig44

I'm not sure why the major sports are going with exclusives. Competition leads to better products. If they are concerned about market oversaturation, the leagues could limit the amount of releases by each company per year. I think that if there were many fewer products, the ones released would have a longer shelf life, and each product would be more memorable/historic. As it is, each product has about a week shelf life, then is forgotten in favor of the new flavor of the week.

It's not just cards, video games have been done like that as well. Madden has been an NFL exclusive for years now and you can guess it was not a popular move. Thing is though as fascinating as that game is, it seems like in order to play it right you practically have to be a coach...I mean how else do you know which plays/formations to call and when? I'm guessing even if you're the defending Super Bowl champ and your opponent is among the worst teams of the previous year, you'll probably still get clobbered if you don't know how to call plays/formations right.

dfr52

Originally posted by: VitoCo1972
It's a super bummer and yes, I think Prizm is generally the RC going forward.

I think it would be Prism with Chrome gone but when a player lacks a Topps Chrome football rookie the choice has been to go with Elite or Rookies and Stars. I would rather see Prism than those other brands since it is not a brand that does not limit there rookie print run and more available to all.collectors.

dfr52

Originally posted by: ndleo

Originally posted by: prgsdw
Pass on a product with no logos or player names on the card. The airbrushed cards of the 1970's are a big turn off to me. Shame for Topps.

The lack of 1970s logos doesn't bother me that much. In some ways I prefer it since we had a lot more pictures of players faces with no helmets. I don't think a logo would improve the 1976 Payton RC.

I have to agree, quality sets can still be produced without logos.

baseballfan

sad news, maybe they will be back

ndleo

Here is the license situation for each sport:

MLB - Topps Exclusive thru 2020
MLBPA - Upper Deck and Panini, unknown for how long. I don't think Upper Deck has released a new product under the MLBPA license. I believe they cannot use colors or airbrushed images in their products due to a settlement with MLB properties over unpaid royalties. Since UD also lost the college license, I don't think we will be seeing any new UD baseball products unless they go with players in hoodies pics.

NFL/NFLPA - Panini, I think until 2020. 30 products/year.

NHL - Upper Deck

NBA - Panini thru 2017, however the NBA deal allows for exclusives, which why Lebron and Jordan will never be in Panini products.

College - Panini
----------------------------------------------
The way I see it, the crown jewel is MLB. Topps also has an exclusive with Harper, that combined with logos, will basically relegate Panini to the second shelf for baseball for a while.

I think Topps should make a run for the NBA license in 2017. Topps Chrome and base Topps would be very popular for basketball. If anything just to drive the price up for Panini.

I have a feeling that the NHL license will be up for grabs again soon. I don't see how Upper Deck can stay in the card business with just NHL products and a couple of exclusives. I think Panini would end up taking that license since it fits with their Euro business.

seebelow

Off the top of my head,,,,,the fewer the number of sets each year, the more likelihood i may return to collecting modern cards. Just too many, which is his true RC?, etc.

perkdog

I'm way out of the collecting scene but gotta say I'm sad to hear Topps is done with Football. I leaned towards Bowman but did enjoy the Topps issues

Cakes

Originally posted by: seebelow
Off the top of my head,,,,,the fewer the number of sets each year, the more likelihood i may return to collecting modern cards. Just too many, which is his true RC?, etc.

I agree. BTW what is the best way to look up prices for moderns, do they still make Beckett?

softparade

Bummer

estang

I'm a big Topps collector and fan. However, I could see how the NFL left them for Panini. It would be fascinating from a business case perspective to see first hand the presentation and sales strategy they used to win this account away from Topps.



Panini dominates in soccer stickers and produces a ton of them; creating great collecting fun for families. Topps cannot claim the same for its products. I see gaps in Topps having too high a price point for its base product, inability to distribute it at CVS or Walgreens (how do these chains not sell sports cards??), antiquated/fat distribution model of dealers that inflate cost, and just poor marketing.



While it's disappointing Topps doesn't have a product, there's likely some strong reasons why Panini won the account and Topps lost it.

sportscardtheory

The leagues are killing this hobby. Exclusive deals in all 4 major sport leagues now? It's pathetic and it's suffocating the hobby by way of apathy. These companies have zero reason to do good when they are the only game in town. This is a low point for the hobby as a whole. Buy vintage and don't look back.

ndleo

I just saw the presell for 2016 Topps Chrome Baseball. I wonder if Topps is going to release more baseball products or crank up the presses to make up for the loss of football?

baz518

I think Topps has said they're doubling down on digital trading cards for NFL (Topps HUDDLE), so I think that's where they'll "reinvest" a lot of their former football card budget.

miwlvrn

Originally posted by: estang

I'm a big Topps collector and fan. However, I could see how the NFL left them for Panini. It would be fascinating from a business case perspective to see first hand the presentation and sales strategy they used to win this account away from Topps.



Panini dominates in soccer stickers and produces a ton of them; creating great collecting fun for families. Topps cannot claim the same for its products. I see gaps in Topps having too high a price point for its base product, inability to distribute it at CVS or Walgreens (how do these chains not sell sports cards??), antiquated/fat distribution model of dealers that inflate cost, and just poor marketing.



While it's disappointing Topps doesn't have a product, there's likely some strong reasons why Panini won the account and Topps lost it.

Panini might be the #1 soccer company world wide but Topps/Merlin's does have a widely successful market share in soccer as well, between regular cards, stickers, and the Match Attax game.



Edit to add: Panini might be holding the 1-spot but Futera makes a much nicer product by comparison.

VikingDude

Originally posted by: craig44
I'm not sure why the major sports are going with exclusives

I would guess the almighty dollar.

psu92

Since Topps is no longer producing football cards, what would be considered the Panini equivalent of the Topps base set?

lwehlers

I live and breathe football but I do not collect football at all. the last time I bought any football cards was in 2003. it is too bad that topps is not printing football anymore. I notice that most of the main rookies are the contenders and panni football cards now.

psu92

Originally posted by: psu92
Since Topps is no longer producing football cards, what would be considered the Panini equivalent of the Topps base set?

Would Score football be most like base Topps?

PowderedH2O

Ok - I had the same attitude. I have all of these binders set up with tons of Topps sets. Now it is going to look different. But, I bought some boxes of Panini Prestige and Legends to check them out. Honestly, the Prestige is a beautiful set and the Legends are also quite nice. The only negative is that with Topps I could always buy an end of the year set. Not the case now. BTW, if anyone needs any, I have a lot of duplicates in both sets, including many rookies.

49ersGuy

Luckily there is still plenty of vintage football around!

miwlvrn

Originally posted by: lwehlers

I live and breathe football but I do not collect football at all.

I'm with you on that one. However, I am a Saturday football fan as opposed to a Sunday one, which I suppose translates to collectibles relative to what is available anyway.

dfr52

Originally posted by: psu92

Originally posted by: psu92
Since Topps is no longer producing football cards, what would be considered the Panini equivalent of the Topps base set?

Would Score football be most like base Topps?

Yep, it moves into the longest running product with Topps leaving.