Title: Upper Deck and NHL Alumni Association Extend Partnership for Hockey Trading Cards
Subtitle: Upper Deck secures exclusive licensing agreement for physical and digital trading cards
Meta Description: Upper Deck renews its partnership with the NHL Alumni Association, allowing them to produce physical and digital trading cards featuring former NHL players.
Upper Deck, a prominent name in the trading card industry, has recently reaffirmed its dedication to preserving hockey history and memorabilia by extending its licensing agreement with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA). This partnership solidifies Upper Deck’s position as the sole licensed producer of physical trading cards featuring over a thousand former NHL athletes.
According to Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, the renewal of this partnership is a strategic move for the company. The NHLAA plays a crucial role in enhancing Upper Deck’s offerings by allowing them to feature trading cards and autographs of many of hockey’s greatest players, ultimately enriching the collectibles market for enthusiasts.
The NHL Alumni Association, based in Ontario, actively supports former NHL players. One of their significant developments is the group licensing program launched in June 2017. This program enables the NHLAA to utilize the collective image rights of its members for commercial purposes, benefiting various programs and initiatives of the association. It includes participation from hockey legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, and nearly a hundred Hall of Fame inductees.
Upper Deck is just one of several companies engaging in business with the NHLAA, highlighting the broad commercial appeal of the association. In addition to trading cards, the NHLAA’s initiatives extend to supporting its members through player appearances, professional-amateur tournaments, career transition programs, and an annual stick auction, all aimed at celebrating the sport and its legacy.
Glenn Healy, the Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association, expressed his enthusiasm about continuing the collaboration with Upper Deck, a partnership focused on ‘Honoring the Past’. He emphasized the significant role that Upper Deck trading cards have played in capturing and preserving the heritage of hockey. This renewed agreement promises to allow fans and collectors from different generations to cherish and celebrate the revered NHL Alumni who have shaped the game.
Excitingly, Upper Deck revealed its plans to expand its product line to include digital trading cards, which will be made available through its Evolution platform. This addition represents a significant step towards merging traditional collecting with the digital age, offering a new medium for fans and collectors to connect with the history of hockey.
In summary, the extended licensing agreement between Upper Deck and the NHL Alumni Association not only solidifies Upper Deck’s exclusive rights to produce and distribute physical trading cards featuring former NHL players, but also marks their entry into the realm of digital collectibles. This expansion enriches the legacy of hockey for a new era of fans and collectors, ensuring that the history of the sport continues to be celebrated and cherished.
