Title: Upper Deck and NHL Alumni Association Extend Exclusive Partnership
Subtitle: Upper Deck reaffirms commitment to hockey history with renewed licensing agreement
Meta Description: Upper Deck’s exclusive partnership with the NHL Alumni Association cements its role as the sole producer of physical trading cards featuring former NHL athletes. Expansion into digital trading cards offers new opportunities for fans and collectors.
Upper Deck, a prominent player in the trading card industry, has recently extended its licensing agreement with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), solidifying its commitment to preserving hockey history and memorabilia. This strategic move reaffirms Upper Deck’s position as the sole licensed producer of physical trading cards showcasing over a thousand former NHL athletes.
The president of Upper Deck, Jason Masherah, emphasized the importance of the NHLAA in enhancing the company’s offerings. By featuring trading cards and autographs of hockey’s greatest players, the partnership enriches the collectibles market and caters to the passionate fan base.
Operating from Ontario, the NHL Alumni Association has been actively supporting former NHL players. Their group licensing program, launched in 2017, allows the NHLAA to utilize the image rights of its members for commercial purposes, benefiting various programs and initiatives. This program boasts participation from numerous hockey legends, including Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, Patrick Roy, Steve Yzerman, Jean Beliveau, Mats Sundin, Teemu Selanne, Johnny Bower, and nearly one hundred Hall of Famers.
Upper Deck is one of several enterprises collaborating with the NHLAA, highlighting the association’s broad commercial appeal. Beyond trading cards, the NHLAA engages in player appearances, professional-amateur tournaments, career transition programs, an annual stick auction, and other activities aimed at celebrating the sport and its legacy.
Glenn Healy, the Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association, expressed enthusiasm about the extended partnership with Upper Deck, emphasizing how Upper Deck trading cards capture and preserve the heritage of hockey. This renewed agreement ensures that fans and collectors from different generations can continue to cherish and celebrate the revered NHL Alumni who have shaped the game.
In a thrilling development, Upper Deck has announced plans to expand its product line to include digital trading cards, available through its Evolution platform. This venture marks a significant step towards blending traditional collecting with the digital age, providing new opportunities for fans and collectors to connect with hockey’s history.
In conclusion, the extended licensing agreement between Upper Deck and the NHL Alumni Association solidifies Upper Deck’s exclusive rights to produce and distribute physical trading cards of former NHL players. The inclusion of digital trading cards signals a progressive move towards embracing the digital era and enriching the legacy of hockey for a new generation of fans and collectors.
