Chances Topps gets back into NFL cards?

[ToppsFB]

I know 2015 was their last year making an NFL set. Does anyone know when the current contract with Panini expires? Has there been any talk of Topps trying to get it back?

Hoping for the best!

[DUCKanay]

No idea, I'm ok with a company not getting a license when they don't accept expired redemptions though.

[Cavaliercards]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

I know 2015 was their last year making an NFL set. Does anyone know when the current contract with Panini expires? Has there been any talk of Topps trying to get it back?

Hoping for the best!

Slim and none. They don’t want to pony up the cost and be micromanaged. In addition, problems were caused when they left and made redemptions that they knew never would be filled.

[KevJo]

With their customer service department the answer might be hopefully never, they did Football fans dirty when they went out IMHO. It was a "This is what we have, take it or get nothing and like it" kinda thing.

Kevin

[Ferg1945]

Well...... this is happening... will football follow next fall?

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by DUCKanay

No idea, I'm ok with a company not getting a license when they don't accept expired redemptions though.

This.

[Scottish Punk]

I feel like if Topps were to get back into football in any way, they would stick to digital and Topps Now print to order products.

[rittdk01]

They went out burning bridges. I follow their non sport and wrestling releases and am not impressed. Still a bunch of redemptions and mainly sticker garbage. They can stay away if they can’t do any better than that.

[JWBlue]

The grass isn't always greener....

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

The grass isn't always greener....

Panini isn't perfect but they honor expired redemptions and their products are comparable to Topps minus a low end "Flagship".
I think variety and competition would be great, but I don't think Topps is coming back into the licensed NFL market and I have no desire for an unlicensed product.

[Siberian13]

They can come back but only allowed to make one product without it being watered down. Topps Chrome.

[taylor5877]

I think Donruss is a very worthy “low end” flagship.

It’s just weird to me to talk about donruss FB cards as a collector raised in the junk wax era.

[ToppsFB]

Wow, I didn't realize Topps was viewed like this. Given I have not been collecting anything other than one base set each year. Other than that I am a vintage football guy and long for the days of gum in packs. In 2016 I figured Score was the new official set so I have just been picking up one of those each year to continue the tradition.

Topps and the NFL had their dispute in the 60s so I gotta think Topps has got to want to get back into the football game. Would love to see just a basic set, maybe even put some gum in it

[ucLAkers]

At least they dont make airbrushed unlicensed garbage....or Justin Bieber cards

[ucLAkers]

Originally Posted by KevJo

With their customer service department the answer might be hopefully never, they did Football fans dirty when they went out IMHO. It was a "This is what we have, take it or get nothing and like it" kinda thing.

Kevin

Same could be said for ALL companies....

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1328641

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

Wow, I didn't realize Topps was viewed like this. Given I have not been collecting anything other than one base set each year. Other than that I am a vintage football guy and long for the days of gum in packs. In 2016 I figured Score was the new official set so I have just been picking up one of those each year to continue the tradition.

Topps and the NFL had their dispute in the 60s so I gotta think Topps has got to want to get back into the football game. Would love to see just a basic set, maybe even put some gum in it

Everyone has a different view. Me?
They used recycled photos more than anyone and before anyone.
They refused to address the rookie photo shoot fakes.
They allowed superfractors uncut sheets on the market.
They (along with UD) knowingly purchased an used fake GU and inserted it into cards.
The No Joe Paterno auto in Mayo was a very, very bad look.
Outside of Chrome and finest, had the worse designs and worse products for resale.
They never added much to the hobby in their later years. Just copycatted and did as little as they could, in my opinion.

[ToppsFB]

Originally Posted by marinocollector

Everyone has a different view. Me?
They used recycled photos more than anyone and before anyone.
They refused to address the rookie photo shoot fakes.
They allowed superfractors uncut sheets on the market.
They (along with UD) knowingly purchased an used fake GU and inserted it into cards.
The No Joe Paterno auto in Mayo was a very, very bad look.
Outside of Chrome and finest, had the worse designs and worse products for resale.
They never added much to the hobby in their later years. Just copycatted and did as little as they could, in my opinion.

I agree, they were a dinosaur and didn't really have any vision especially in the later years.

I don't think any of these card companies are doing it right. I bought my kid a couple hobby packs of Score a few years ago and he got a few autographs out of it. Now whenever he sees them at Walmart or Target he goes nuts over it and wants to buy it but no chance for an auto in those. Why? Horrible decision to not be able to get an auto from the flagship football set each year.

The way they release these sets is horrible too. Should have an initial release each year in April to start off one large set with several series. April could be the top 250 prospects plus another 100 cards or so to summarize the playoffs and SuperBowl, then series II could be released in August and contains most of the regular players and the rookies showing where they were drafted. Finally a series III released in January that updates trades and breakout players. In total you are at about 800 cards for the complete set. Include lots of autographs (and not just rookies) so that kids at the big box stores can have a shot. Make several inserts sets and make some much harder to get than others. I'm thinking of something like a Wonka Golden ticket type of rare and desirable. And most importantly, don't release 15 different sets that over saturates the market and no one knows what to collect.

The way you build a following is to get more people involved and if kids are willing to spend a dollar or two from the register lane at the grocery store for a pack of 10 and chance at their favorite player's auto, they are more likely to do that rather than dropping $12 on a pack in order to get a shot at something good.

[lambeauleap87]

I just want competition rather than a monopoly, but it doesn't seem like that's coming anytime soon.

[JWBlue]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

I agree, they were a dinosaur and didn't really have any vision especially in the later years.

I don't think any of these card companies are doing it right. I bought my kid a couple hobby packs of Score a few years ago and he got a few autographs out of it. Now whenever he sees them at Walmart or Target he goes nuts over it and wants to buy it but no chance for an auto in those. Why? Horrible decision to not be able to get an auto from the flagship football set each year.

The way they release these sets is horrible too. Should have an initial release each year in April to start off one large set with several series. April could be the top 250 prospects plus another 100 cards or so to summarize the playoffs and SuperBowl, then series II could be released in August and contains most of the regular players and the rookies showing where they were drafted. Finally a series III released in January that updates trades and breakout players. In total you are at about 800 cards for the complete set. Include lots of autographs (and not just rookies) so that kids at the big box stores can have a shot. Make several inserts sets and make some much harder to get than others. I'm thinking of something like a Wonka Golden ticket type of rare and desirable. And most importantly, don't release 15 different sets that over saturates the market and no one knows what to collect.

The way you build a following is to get more people involved and if kids are willing to spend a dollar or two from the register lane at the grocery store for a pack of 10 and chance at their favorite player's auto, they are more likely to do that rather than dropping $12 on a pack in order to get a shot at something good.

Is Score considered flagship for football?

[ucLAkers]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Is Score considered flagship for football?

Not the Score I remember...I consider and have always considered them to be dollar store sets. Guaranteed 1 no name scrub jersey card per box...with a fat ding in the corner.
Kinda like opening day baseball but 5 levels below that.

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

I agree, they were a dinosaur and didn't really have any vision especially in the later years.

I don't think any of these card companies are doing it right. I bought my kid a couple hobby packs of Score a few years ago and he got a few autographs out of it. Now whenever he sees them at Walmart or Target he goes nuts over it and wants to buy it but no chance for an auto in those. Why? Horrible decision to not be able to get an auto from the flagship football set each year.

The way they release these sets is horrible too. Should have an initial release each year in April to start off one large set with several series. April could be the top 250 prospects plus another 100 cards or so to summarize the playoffs and SuperBowl, then series II could be released in August and contains most of the regular players and the rookies showing where they were drafted. Finally a series III released in January that updates trades and breakout players. In total you are at about 800 cards for the complete set. Include lots of autographs (and not just rookies) so that kids at the big box stores can have a shot. Make several inserts sets and make some much harder to get than others. I'm thinking of something like a Wonka Golden ticket type of rare and desirable. And most importantly, don't release 15 different sets that over saturates the market and no one knows what to collect.

The way you build a following is to get more people involved and if kids are willing to spend a dollar or two from the register lane at the grocery store for a pack of 10 and chance at their favorite player's auto, they are more likely to do that rather than dropping $12 on a pack in order to get a shot at something good.

Wow. Good job, You are a dinosaur. Lol. Just having fun.

Truth be told it sounds like you have any a Pro Set/ Pro Line hybrid. Fact of the matter, that set with easy auto odds will never happen. Too expensive. The players won’t support it, and then Even if it jumps all the hurdles and gets made, all the adults will buy it up and the kids will never see any of it. Heck, I’m a 90s kid, and was all about the auto cards. My best three from pro line were 92 klinger, 92 Tony Dorsett, 96 Marshall Faulk. Other than that SPA and Pinnacle Inscriptions. Even at 14 years old, I knew If I wanted the good stuff I’d have to pay $5-7 a pack.
Truth be told, the cards that have held the most value and see the most gain over time, adults hated.
I wish the internet message boards existed still from 1996-1998. Everyone would be ragging on Skybox and Fleer products, claiming Pinnacle, and SP, and Finest and Chrome were the best products ever and nothing will ever be as desirable and valuable as them. That the only people who will buy fleer/skybox are kids. Well, kids grow up. Also, we all need to stop thinking kids don’t have money. Adults spend TONS on their kids. In the 90s, pokemon were $7-8 a pack and the shops couldn’t keep it in stock. The same parents who were saying sports cards are worthless and too expensive.
I don’t know how to make it better, but one thing I know for sure is not to listen to an adult on what kids like and want.

[DUCKanay]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

Wow, I didn't realize Topps was viewed like this. Given I have not been collecting anything other than one base set each year. Other than that I am a vintage football guy and long for the days of gum in packs. In 2016 I figured Score was the new official set so I have just been picking up one of those each year to continue the tradition.

Topps and the NFL had their dispute in the 60s so I gotta think Topps has got to want to get back into the football game. Would love to see just a basic set, maybe even put some gum in it

Good for you though, you got in when there weren't redemptions more than likely, times have changed though. Just pisses me off that they advertise a hit in their product, can't fulfill them on release, and when you redeem it expired they don't fulfill it unless you're extremely lucky. I do miss Topps Chrome though and Spectra, but it is what it is. Panini does have its faults too, but they at least replace redemptions.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by marinocollector

Everyone has a different view. Me?
They used recycled photos more than anyone and before anyone.
They refused to address the rookie photo shoot fakes.
They allowed superfractors uncut sheets on the market.
They (along with UD) knowingly purchased an used fake GU and inserted it into cards.
The No Joe Paterno auto in Mayo was a very, very bad look.
Outside of Chrome and finest, had the worse designs and worse products for resale.
They never added much to the hobby in their later years. Just copycatted and did as little as they could, in my opinion.

As compared to Panini who not only used fake GU, but fake autos and tried to pass off store bought for GU. On top of that, the dumbest idea ever, Panini Points. At least Topps would give dealers an allocation on every product rather than only selling them good products if they bought enough junk. I quit collecting football (and basketball) when Panini got an exclusive. They are the worst.

[Cavaliercards]

Originally Posted by ToppsFB

I agree, they were a dinosaur and didn't really have any vision especially in the later years.

I don't think any of these card companies are doing it right. I bought my kid a couple hobby packs of Score a few years ago and he got a few autographs out of it. Now whenever he sees them at Walmart or Target he goes nuts over it and wants to buy it but no chance for an auto in those. Why? Horrible decision to not be able to get an auto from the flagship football set each year.

The way they release these sets is horrible too. Should have an initial release each year in April to start off one large set with several series. April could be the top 250 prospects plus another 100 cards or so to summarize the playoffs and SuperBowl, then series II could be released in August and contains most of the regular players and the rookies showing where they were drafted. Finally a series III released in January that updates trades and breakout players. In total you are at about 800 cards for the complete set. Include lots of autographs (and not just rookies) so that kids at the big box stores can have a shot. Make several inserts sets and make some much harder to get than others. I'm thinking of something like a Wonka Golden ticket type of rare and desirable. And most importantly, don't release 15 different sets that over saturates the market and no one knows what to collect.

The way you build a following is to get more people involved and if kids are willing to spend a dollar or two from the register lane at the grocery store for a pack of 10 and chance at their favorite player's auto, they are more likely to do that rather than dropping $12 on a pack in order to get a shot at something good.

The number of sets is what the NFL and the NFLPA requires, same as with baseball, basketball, and hockey. This is on the leagues.

[The yodaninja]

Originally Posted by rats60

As compared to Panini who not only used fake GU, but fake autos and tried to pass off store bought for GU. On top of that, the dumbest idea ever, Panini Points. At least Topps would give dealers an allocation on every product rather than only selling them good products if they bought enough junk. I quit collecting football (and basketball) when Panini got an exclusive. They are the worst.

Yeah I also stopped collecting football after 2015. Topps chrome was by far my favorite product to open. Topps Fire was also cool.