Title: Upper Deck and NHL Alumni Association Renew Exclusive Licensing Partnership
Subtitle: Upper Deck extends licensing agreement with NHLAA for physical and digital trading cards
Meta Description: Upper Deck reaffirms its commitment to hockey history by extending its exclusive partnership with the NHL Alumni Association, allowing for the production of physical and digital trading cards featuring former NHL players.
Upper Deck, a leading name in the trading card industry, has recently announced the renewal of its licensing partnership with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA). This agreement solidifies Upper Deck’s position as the sole licensed producer of physical trading cards featuring over a thousand former NHL athletes.
The CEO of Upper Deck, Jason Masherah, sees this partnership as a strategic move for the company. The NHL Alumni Association enhances Upper Deck’s offerings by allowing them to feature trading cards and autographs of hockey’s greatest players, thus enriching the collectibles market for enthusiasts.
The NHL Alumni Association, based in Ontario, actively supports former NHL players. Their group licensing program, initiated in 2017, allows the NHLAA to utilize the image rights of its members for commercial purposes, benefiting various programs and initiatives. This program includes participation from hockey legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, and Patrick Roy, among others.
Upper Deck joins a number of enterprises engaging in business with the NHLAA, showcasing the association’s broad commercial appeal. In addition to trading cards, the NHLAA supports its members through player appearances, 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 excitement about continuing the collaboration with Upper Deck. He highlighted the significant role that Upper Deck trading cards play in capturing and preserving the heritage of hockey. This renewed agreement promises to allow fans and collectors of different generations to cherish and celebrate the revered NHL Alumni who have shaped the game.
In an exciting development, Upper Deck revealed plans to expand its product line to include digital trading cards, available through its Evolution platform. This move represents a significant step toward blending traditional collecting with the digital age, providing 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 of former NHL players but also marks a foray into the realm of digital collectibles. This partnership enriches the legacy of hockey for a new era of fans and collectors, allowing them to participate in the storied history of the sport.
