DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License?

blowoutcards · 03-24-2010, 12:44 PM

DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License?

Well, I have some bad news for football collectors, news that I have been expecting for a few weeks now. I got word from the peanut gallery that Upper Deck has lost their football license due to non-payment on the fees. Although this news is speculative at this point, and very much unconfirmed, I have a feeling we will get the news later this month or early next month. After recent troubles, speculation on lack of funds has run rampant, and this should only add fuel to the fire.

With UD leaving football for the foreseeable future, it leaves an open spot for Topps to return to the fold, which should be the other side of the announcement. It may also spell the end of a company who has produced the best looking cards of anyone in the football market in the last few years. With their baseball and basketball arms all but severed, Im not sure how much longer they will be able to stay viable. Football was a profitable brand, and Exquisite is looking to be one of the best products in a long time. As this news would suggest, it’s the last product they will make in the football market, something that makes me a very sad panda.

I cant really fault anyone but the top brass over at Upper Deck, as the management of the company has been so piss poor lately. Where UD had finally started to build a good reputation among people, that construction was destroyed with the news of the Konami lawsuit. Though Topps will return with fan favorites like their base set and the Chromes, we are also going to have a hole where Upper Deck's MO of great looking cards and on card sigs usually fit. Its rare that a company has as many problems as Upper Deck has had in the last few months, especially with so many of them stemming from unethical and unsound financial behavior. I guess this is the nail in the coffin.

For me, if this situation turns out to be true, im pretty much done buying current football cards unless Panini and Topps change their tendencies to match my tastes. I doubt that will happen, so that makes me feel extra cynical about the future of what I will buy in the upcoming years.

Hopefully, I am wrong.

Sports Cards Uncensored: DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License?

Zerokruel · 03-24-2010, 12:51 PM

So Hockey and some Non-Sports is all they will have left (speculative of couse)? Very interesting if this actually happens.

davebo · 03-24-2010, 01:16 PM

Donruss survived on football only for a few years.

Grid · 03-24-2010, 01:28 PM

I'm hoping they start dumped their autographed memorabilia on the cheap to raise cash. They have to be sitting on a pile of it and their "normal" prices are just insane.

Jacquo1972 · 03-24-2010, 01:28 PM

UD dug their own hole. If this is true, I'm going to miss SP Authentic. I loved this years one redemption card on average in each box promotion.

Brad · 03-24-2010, 02:01 PM

From the story:

Quote:

NOTE: LET ME STRESS THAT THIS IS AN UNCONFIRMED RUMOR.

While SCU is in UD's pocket, there is a chance that this story is false. Lots of "fake" UD stuff going down this week...

deltapi1049 · 03-24-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

From the story:

While SCU is in UD's pocket, there is a chance that this story is false. Lots of "fake" UD stuff going down this week...

Im love that you think that I am in their pocket, that makes me laugh. As for the second part its definitely a possibility. This came from a source that tends to get all sorts of rumors, most being correct. Right now, its just that - a RUMOR.

bmc398 · 03-24-2010, 04:01 PM

People are going to cry and whine about them losing their license...but its the same reason they lost their baseball license....if you don't pay the fees associated with the license then you don't deserve it. Sure, they do the best job in high end football out there but thats no excuse for fulfilling your obligations.

ghost · 03-24-2010, 04:18 PM

Not much of an UD fan, but Topps never seems to do well with football. They put out lots of sets that seem extremely similar to each other. Topps and Bowman. Then chrome. Finest, and platinum are very alike. Chicle and mayo seem similar as well. The early releases are the worst for them, look at the draft set they try to tweak every year. Then they try higher end, Sterling which is a bunch of rookie event used, some scrub autos, and a nicer auto per box. They almost had it with Paradigm. It seems like the most successful set fo higher end is Triple Threads, which is getting quite pricey to pull a ramses barden auto triple jersey.

I do not bust UD more than once a year, but I sure enjoy seeing and trading for it more than I do for Topps....

mightbe · 03-24-2010, 04:20 PM

OMG!!! Last Exquisite EVER!!!
Until they release a super secret 2010 Exquisite next month using their NCAA rights.

sportster2827 · 03-24-2010, 04:35 PM

I think I might get a RISE if Upper Deck loses it's license and Topps regains it's. That would definitely hurt my in the pants though.

deltapi1049 · 03-24-2010, 05:17 PM

UD has responded

Sports Cards Uncensored: Upper Deck Responds To Rumors Of Loss of License

Jacquo1972 · 03-24-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltapi1049

UD has responded

Sports Cards Uncensored: Upper Deck Responds To Rumors Of Loss of License

UD isn't losing their license. Bill Clinton didn't have sex with that woman. Mark McGwire didn't use steroids. Tiger Woods told his wife he was staying in and watching TV while on the road. . . . . . . . . . .

benshobbies · 03-24-2010, 08:58 PM

In a way I am happy to hear this news. It brings joy into my heart knowing I have a chance at a Bowman Chrome hobby box next year. Chrome is a product I looked forward to every year in football, and at the end of last year it was looking not as good to break Topps & Bowman football products. I like my hits guaranteed and not on average. I really think this is a positive action in the hobby as I can't stand upper deck products.

The Madbacker · 03-24-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltapi1049

Im love that you think that I am in their pocket, that makes me laugh. As for the second part its definitely a possibility. This came from a source that tends to get all sorts of rumors, most being correct. Right now, its just that - a RUMOR.

** EDITED BY MOD**

Zerokruel · 03-24-2010, 11:53 PM

Didn't UD also say they weren't going to lose their MLB license? I seem to remember a certain someone calling it long before it happened. But we had haters back then too.

cactus27 · 03-25-2010, 04:36 AM

That's gonna suck. I always liked their designs and quality for football.

flipxneo0 · 03-26-2010, 06:34 PM

i hope they don't lose their license i like UD's products, i was a fan of Triple threads so it would've been nice to see topps get their license back but UD products in general were always well designed. just my two cents

mightbe · 03-26-2010, 07:12 PM

UD (and Panini) was renewed for 2010 AND 2011, at least by the NFL Players group.

frankmcdee · 03-26-2010, 08:31 PM

Personally, I prefer Panini... and quite honestly, people complaining about the loss of Exquisite seems sort of ludacris to me...the loss of the Exquisite brand affects me about as much as if Ferrari were to go out of business...

03-24-2010, 12:44 PM	#1
blowoutcards Administrator Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 9,050 blowoutcards	DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License? DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License? Well, I have some bad news for football collectors, news that I have been expecting for a few weeks now. I got word from the peanut gallery that Upper Deck has lost their football license due to non-payment on the fees. Although this news is speculative at this point, and very much unconfirmed, I have a feeling we will get the news later this month or early next month. After recent troubles, speculation on lack of funds has run rampant, and this should only add fuel to the fire. With UD leaving football for the foreseeable future, it leaves an open spot for Topps to return to the fold, which should be the other side of the announcement. It may also spell the end of a company who has produced the best looking cards of anyone in the football market in the last few years. With their baseball and basketball arms all but severed, Im not sure how much longer they will be able to stay viable. Football was a profitable brand, and Exquisite is looking to be one of the best products in a long time. As this news would suggest, it’s the last product they will make in the football market, something that makes me a very sad panda. I cant really fault anyone but the top brass over at Upper Deck, as the management of the company has been so piss poor lately. Where UD had finally started to build a good reputation among people, that construction was destroyed with the news of the Konami lawsuit. Though Topps will return with fan favorites like their base set and the Chromes, we are also going to have a hole where Upper Deck's MO of great looking cards and on card sigs usually fit. Its rare that a company has as many problems as Upper Deck has had in the last few months, especially with so many of them stemming from unethical and unsound financial behavior. I guess this is the nail in the coffin. For me, if this situation turns out to be true, im pretty much done buying current football cards unless Panini and Topps change their tendencies to match my tastes. I doubt that will happen, so that makes me feel extra cynical about the future of what I will buy in the upcoming years. Hopefully, I am wrong. Sports Cards Uncensored: DEVELOPING STORY: Upper Deck Loses Their Football License? __________________ Sign Up For Blowout Emails To Get The Latest Hobby Info And Exclusive Savings!

03-24-2010, 12:51 PM	#2
Zerokruel Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Amarillo, Texas Posts: 6,529 zerokruel	So Hockey and some Non-Sports is all they will have left (speculative of couse)? Very interesting if this actually happens. __________________ Currently looking for the following comic Books: United Comics: 21,22,23,24,26 Tip Top: 173 & 184 Peanuts 1 (1953) Peanuts: 1-4 (1963-64)

03-24-2010, 04:35 PM	#11
sportster2827 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 2,651 sportster2827	I think I might get a RISE if Upper Deck loses it's license and Topps regains it's. That would definitely hurt my in the pants though. __________________ RIP CLETUS 01/25/2010 I collect any & all Warrick Dunn cards and 1995 Warren Sapp cards. PM me please. CMB! 1995 Warren Sapp Collection (37/118) 31% Complete! http://s575.photobucket.com/albums/ss198/sportster2827/

03-24-2010, 11:53 PM	#16
Zerokruel Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Amarillo, Texas Posts: 6,529 zerokruel	Didn't UD also say they weren't going to lose their MLB license? I seem to remember a certain someone calling it long before it happened. But we had haters back then too. __________________ Currently looking for the following comic Books: United Comics: 21,22,23,24,26 Tip Top: 173 & 184 Peanuts 1 (1953) Peanuts: 1-4 (1963-64)

03-26-2010, 06:34 PM	#18
flipxneo0 Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 387 flipxneo0	i hope they don't lose their license i like UD's products, i was a fan of Triple threads so it would've been nice to see topps get their license back but UD products in general were always well designed. just my two cents __________________ ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SANCHEZ AND SHONN GREENE, AND THE FELLOW J-E-T-S Check out my bucket http://s931.photobucket.com/albums/ad155/jmanna84/ Also looking for Baseball legends particularly Brooklyn Dodgers and Yankees.

03-24-2010, 01:16 PM	#3
davebo Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bridgewater, NJ Posts: 1,930	Donruss survived on football only for a few years.

03-24-2010, 01:28 PM	#4
Grid Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 12,870 Gridiron-Gladiators	I'm hoping they start dumped their autographed memorabilia on the cheap to raise cash. They have to be sitting on a pile of it and their "normal" prices are just insane.

03-24-2010, 01:28 PM	#5
Jacquo1972 Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 463 Jacquo	UD dug their own hole. If this is true, I'm going to miss SP Authentic. I loved this years one redemption card on average in each box promotion.

03-24-2010, 04:01 PM	#8
bmc398 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,046	People are going to cry and whine about them losing their license...but its the same reason they lost their baseball license....if you don't pay the fees associated with the license then you don't deserve it. Sure, they do the best job in high end football out there but thats no excuse for fulfilling your obligations.

03-24-2010, 04:18 PM	#9
ghost Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,279	Not much of an UD fan, but Topps never seems to do well with football. They put out lots of sets that seem extremely similar to each other. Topps and Bowman. Then chrome. Finest, and platinum are very alike. Chicle and mayo seem similar as well. The early releases are the worst for them, look at the draft set they try to tweak every year. Then they try higher end, Sterling which is a bunch of rookie event used, some scrub autos, and a nicer auto per box. They almost had it with Paradigm. It seems like the most successful set fo higher end is Triple Threads, which is getting quite pricey to pull a ramses barden auto triple jersey. I do not bust UD more than once a year, but I sure enjoy seeing and trading for it more than I do for Topps....

03-24-2010, 04:20 PM	#10
mightbe Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,625 MasterShake	OMG!!! Last Exquisite EVER!!! Until they release a super secret 2010 Exquisite next month using their NCAA rights.

03-24-2010, 05:17 PM	#12
deltapi1049 Banned Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,801 deltapi1049	UD has responded Sports Cards Uncensored: Upper Deck Responds To Rumors Of Loss of License

03-24-2010, 08:58 PM	#14
benshobbies Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Berkshire County, MA Posts: 7,547 benshobbies benshobbies	In a way I am happy to hear this news. It brings joy into my heart knowing I have a chance at a Bowman Chrome hobby box next year. Chrome is a product I looked forward to every year in football, and at the end of last year it was looking not as good to break Topps & Bowman football products. I like my hits guaranteed and not on average. I really think this is a positive action in the hobby as I can't stand upper deck products.

03-25-2010, 04:36 AM	#17
cactus27 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 489 CSTally	That's gonna suck. I always liked their designs and quality for football.

03-26-2010, 07:12 PM	#19
mightbe Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,625 MasterShake	UD (and Panini) was renewed for 2010 AND 2011, at least by the NFL Players group.

03-26-2010, 08:31 PM	#20
frankmcdee Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,403	Personally, I prefer Panini... and quite honestly, people complaining about the loss of Exquisite seems sort of ludacris to me...the loss of the Exquisite brand affects me about as much as if Ferrari were to go out of business...