NEWS
THE ATHLETIC: Bowman 2023: An Arizona rental house full of prospects, Druw Jones’ million dollar card and more
Tucked into central Phoenix this spring was a rented house, where all of the furniture had been cleared out and replaced with tables full of boxes of baseball cards to be signed by players who were in the area for spring training…
CNBC: How Fanatics and MLB are Planning to keep the trading card boom going
Fanatics made waves in the sports and collectibles industries when it pried the rights to make trading cards for Major League Baseball from incumbent Topps in August 2021, ending a partnership that dated back to 1952. The sports platform company made another huge splash last January when it acquired Topps outright for roughly $500 million.
BOARDROOM: Ken Turner Named Fanatics Collectibles’ First-ever Chief Marketing Officer
On Thursday, Fanatics Collectibles announced Ken Turner as its first Chief Marketing Officer, a position he previously held at Red Bull North America, where he additionally served as Executive Vice President.
SPORTICO: Fanatics Hires Klutch’s Wilkes to Head Athlete Relations
Omar Wilkes, one of the NBA’s most prominent agents, is leaving his post at sports agency Klutch Sports Group, founded by super-agent Rich Paul, to join digital sports platform Fanatics Inc. as the head of athlete relations at Fanatics Collectibles, the company’s trading card and collectibles business.
ESPN: Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez Named Cover Star of 2023 Topps Series One
Seattle Mariners center fielder and reigning American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez is the cover star of the 2023 Topps Series One, The Topps Company and its parent company, Fanatics, Inc., announced Tuesday.
CNBC: Fanatics to Start Livestream Shopping of Trading Cards, Collectibles
Fanatics is moving into livestreamed shopping around collectibles and trading cards, hiring a former Snap and Alphabet executive to launch its new business later this year.
FAST COMPANY: Fanatics Hires a Former Snap and Google Exec to Head its New Live-Shopping Division
Fanatics founder Michael Rubin has built his $31 billion sports retail giant by looking at potential opportunities through the lens of three questions: Is it good for fans? Is it good for Fanatics partners? Is it a big enough business opportunity?
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Alabama Opening Team Store With Official Apparel, NIL Merchandise
Alabama announced a long-term partnership with sports apparel company Fanatics on Monday.
The multifaceted partnership includes a “wide range of exclusive rights” from Alabama for Fanatics to activate across its platform.
SPORTICO: Fanatics Taps Longtime Media Exec Mike Mahan to Run Collectibles Arm
Fanatics has hired longtime media executive Mike Mahan to run its combined collectible division in a newly created role that hints at the company’s long-term vision for trading cards and NFTs.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Former Dick Clark Productions CEO Mike Mahan Tapped to Lead Fanatics Collectibles
Fanatics, the sports merchandise and collectibles giant, has hired former Dick Clark Productions CEO Mike Mahan to serve as CEO of Fanatics Collectibles…
ESPN: Fanatics and Topps announce trading card agreements for college football and basketball
Fanatics Collectables and Topps have announced comprehensive agreements to produce collegiate football and basketball trading cards -- partnerships that include nearly 150 universities and, separately, more than 200 name, image and likeness deals with athletes.
SPORTS PRO: Uefa swaps Panini for Topps in new Euro 2024 sticker partnership
Trading card company Topps has signed a deal to become an official Uefa licensing partner for the 2024 European Championships national team soccer tournament.
FAST COMPANY: Fanatics Strikes Again as Topps lands Euros 2024 and 2028 Rights
Every four years during the UEFA Euros, there is something soccer fans young and old around the world have in common. Sure, they cheer on different national teams and players in one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, but with that comes the shared experience of the Panini sticker book.
COMPLEX: Former Adidas, Yeezy Exec Jon Wexler Joins Fanatics Collectibles
With over two decades in footwear on his résumé, 17 years spent at Adidas and 10 of those working with entertainment’s biggest names, Wexler has seen sneaker culture grow from a connoisseur’s hobby to a full-fledged mainstream phenomenon.
VARIETY: WWE, Fanatics Set Long-Term Sports and Entertainment Partnership
WWE and Fanatics have partnered on a new long-term sports and entertainment deal, Variety has learned…
FAST COMPANY: How Fanatics is flipping the trading card market on its head
Fanatics already conquered sports apparel. Now the online retailer is remaking sports fandom. In August, it secured trading card rights for Major League Baseball, the NFL Players Association, and the NBA
WSJ: Fanatics Pried Baseball Cards From Topps. Now Fanatics Is Buying Topps
When news broke last summer that Fanatics Inc. was poised to upend the trading-card industry, longtime baseball fans wondered what it meant for Topps Co. The iconic company had been synonymous with baseball cards for more than 70 years, a run that seemed destined to end when Fanatics lured away Topps’ key licensees…
ESPN: Fanatics acquires Topps' trading cards and collectibles businesses
Global sports retailer, merchandiser and now sports card and memorabilia giant Fanatics has acquired Topps trading cards, the company announced Tuesday.
CNN: Fanatics buying Topps trading card business for $500 million
Trading card giant Topps — just a few months after losing out on a deal to renew its longtime licensing deal with Major League Baseball to sports apparel startup Fanatics — is now selling its collectibles and cards business to ... Fanatics.
WSJ: Fanatics Trading Cards Valuation Rises to $10.4 Billion as New Firm Aims to Expand Its Reach
The new trading card venture launched by Fanatics Inc., which just last month upended the industry with a series of surprise deals, has received $350 million in Series A funding
