Title: Upper Deck and NHL Alumni Association Extend Exclusive Licensing Partnership
Subtitle: Upper Deck to Expand into Digital Trading Cards, Honoring Hockey’s Legacy
Meta Description: Upper Deck renews exclusive partnership with NHL Alumni Association, offering physical and digital trading cards to celebrate hockey’s history.
Upper Deck, a leader in the trading card industry, has recently reaffirmed its commitment to hockey history and memorabilia by extending its licensing partnership with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA). This strategic move solidifies Upper Deck as the sole licensed producer of physical trading cards featuring over a thousand former NHL athletes.
The NHL Alumni Association, based in Ontario, actively supports former NHL players through various programs and initiatives. Their group licensing program, launched in 2017, allows the NHLAA to utilize its members’ collective image rights for commercial purposes, benefiting the association’s activities. Through this program, fans and collectors can enjoy trading cards and autographs of hockey’s greatest players, including Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Patrick Roy, among others.
Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, emphasizes the importance of this partnership for the company. The collaboration with the NHL Alumni Association enhances Upper Deck’s offerings, allowing them to feature trading cards and autographs of legendary NHL players, enriching the collectibles market for enthusiasts.
Glenn Healy, the Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association, shares his excitement about continuing the collaboration with Upper Deck. He emphasizes the vital role that their trading cards play 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.
In an exciting development, Upper Deck plans to expand its product line to include digital trading cards. These digital collectibles will be available through their Evolution platform, blending traditional collecting with the digital age. This expansion offers fans and collectors a new medium to connect with the history of hockey and honor its legacy.
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 but also marks their venture into the realm of digital collectibles. This expansion enriches the legacy of hockey, providing new opportunities for fans and collectors to engage with the sport’s history.
In conclusion, Upper Deck’s renewal of its exclusive licensing partnership with the NHL Alumni Association reinforces their commitment to preserving and celebrating hockey’s rich heritage. With the introduction of digital trading cards, they are poised to captivate new generations of fans and collectors, ensuring that hockey’s legacy continues to shine brightly in the digital age.
