The Official Panini America Blog
Right this very moment, an international audience of fans, collectors and media eagerly awaits tonight’s tip off of Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals, a must-see rematch of last season’s epic battle between the defending-champion Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. And trust us when we tell you: iCollectPanini.com is ready with the triumphant return of its championship-worthy trading card promotion from last season.
Show-goers making their lists and checking them twice in advance of this weekend’s 2014 Toronto Spring Expo are no doubt also keeping one eye fixed on the weather forecast for later this week, which calls for highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Not to worry, Panini America is packing plenty of its trademark Texas heat for the trip to help warm up the Toronto International Centre all weekend long.
Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today that it has signed former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to an autograph trading card agreement that will include Bridgewater’s first NFL-licensed Rookie Cards and autographed trading cards.
LAS VEGAS — Beginning tomorrow during the Panini America GTS Distribution Ultimate Case Break at the 2014 Industry Summit, the collecting world will get the first glorious glimpses of 2013 National Treasures Football when some of the industry’s top group breakers crack the first case of the product during a special sneak peek event. It is then that collectors will start to find out what many of us inside Panini America HQ already know: 2013 National Treasures Football is one of the greatest renditions of the high-end, well-heeled hobby heavyweight ever created.
In November, we unveiled yet another benefit of membership: The Panini Roundtable Hobby Shop of the Month. Our inaugural winner was Legacy Sports Cards in Las Vegas. Today, we’re thrilled to congratulate Brian Jadzak and his four Chicagoland-area The Baseball Card King stores. Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to discuss with Jadzak The Baseball Card King’s Panini Roundtable Hobby Shop of the Month award, and his keys to running four successful shops and a weekly collecting radio show. Jadzak also shared some great images from his stores.
Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard was the talk of the NBA last season en route to winning 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year honors. But no matter how blazing-hot he was in collecting circles as a result, it’s safe to say that he’s even hotter this season — especially in the month of December. In leading the Blazers to 10 wins in their 12 December games so far, Lillard has averaged 23.8 points and 5.9 assists per game, highlighted by a 101-point outburst in his last three games.
Just as we do every year, we’ve had many collectors ask how they can get involved in the Panini America Black Friday phenomenon if there are no participating brick-and-mortar hobby shops in their area. Well, just like we do every year, we’ve got you covered. Starting now and until supplies last, collectors who purchase selected products on iCollectPanini.com will receive the equivalent number of 2013 Black Friday packs with their order.
The release earlier today of Panini America’s 2012-13 Immaculate Basketball has been met with all the pomp, circumstance and buzz that you’d expect from one of the most anticipated products of the year. From feverish Twitter chatter to seemingly unending message board threads to eye-popping opening bids, it’s safe to say that Immaculate has made an immediate impact.
Can’t make it to Canada for this weekend’s 2013 Toronto Fall Expo that begins in earnest this afternoon? Don’t fret. Now, as always, Panini America and iCollectPanini.com have you covered. Starting today, collectors who purchase select products on iCollectPanini.com will receive the same wrapper-redemption packs that will be distributed this weekend at the Toronto Fall Expo.
This time next week, Panini America officials will be smack dab in the middle of Canadian collecting bliss, buzzing through the second day of the 2013 Toronto Fall Expo and no doubt filling one industrial-sized trash can after another with the shredded remnants of the company’s always-popular wrapper-redemption program.