Topps/Fanatics forges forward towards a broadened horizon in the realm of sports card collections as they anticipate the acquisition of the NBA license next year, and the NFL rights two years down the line. The company pulled the curtain on an elaborate plan during a recent Industry Conference in Atlanta, promising an expansive scope of card releases that cross boundaries of basketball, football, UFC, soccer, and F1.

Basketball is coming back stronger on the Topps Chrome platform. Ringing the bell of excitement among enthusiasts is the planned release of an autographed card from NBA rookie phenomenon, Victor Wembanyama. The Topps/Fanatics wax isn’t cooling down any time soon, as it has cuft exclusive autograph contracts with other NBA luminaries including LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant. This flurry of activity in basketball circles is further heightened by the launch of an array of product lines such as the Midnight Cosmic, Chrome Finest, high-end Motif, Royalty Collection, Collegiate Chrome, and Bowman U Chrome. One caveat here: lovers of NBA logos or team nicknames will have to wait until the official license transfer from Panini America next year.

On the gridiron, Topps is pepping up its football card offerings. The focus is primarily on college themes, as NFL license will only kick-off in 2026. Fans can look forward to hot football releases including Motif, Composite (echoing Panini’s Chronicles series), Collegiate Chrome, Collegiate Royalty, Bowman U Chrome, and Bowman U Best. These offerings will hit the market in the third quarter of 2024.

Soccer isn’t left out of the party. The Champions League Dynasty product is soon to be in the mix, featuring all on-card autographs and match-worn gear. The house of cards gets richer with the addition of a women’s Champions League product featuring tantalizing patch autographs. The Grail inserts is another novel concept that’s being introduced across six different soccer products. The jackpot: an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024-25 Champions League Final. Unique 1/1 MLS Debut Patches will be punctuating the Renaissance, Finest, and Chrome collections.

The thrills of the UFC ring are getting a fresh set of Topps cards, thanks to the UFC license that’s now in their corner. Topps is bringing back the Finest series and adding a hearty list of premium products like Royal, UFC Midnight, Knockout, and Gold Label.

Formula One racing is also getting a revamp in the Topps universe. The F1 lineup will include Paddock Pass, reminiscent of but an upgraded version of the Stadium Club series with chrome cards. Other high-octane releases will include Topps Chrome Finest, Dynasty (fitting in booklet cards, and Michael Schumacher cut signatures).

This elaborate rollout by Topps/Fanatics draws attention to their commitment to widening their reach and enhancing the sports card collecting experience. The horizon of sports card collectors looks brighter, given the dynamic lineup set to roll out in the near future. The company’s robust strategy is finely tuned to tap into increasing engagement and growth within the trading card market. With an immersive list of innovative releases across different sports, collectors are set for interesting times ahead. The show is only warming up, and there’s enough sports confetti to go around.

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