Panini America, Basketball Hall of Fame Ink Multi-Year Exclusive Agreement
Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company and the exclusive manufacturer of NBA trading cards, announced on Friday that it has reached a multi-year agreement with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, extending the exclusive relationship that began in 2009 when Panini first entered the U.S. market.
As part of the agreement, Panini America will maintain exclusive rights to use Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame marks and logos on its trading cards and collectible stickers. The relationship also incorporates a number of new enhancements and an expanded presence around Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame events including Enshrinement Weekend, Hoophall Classic and Tip-Off Tournament. In addition, the Basketball Hall of Fame and Panini America will work to conduct youth Skills Clinics annually at the Hall of Fame. Panini America also will produce special autographed trading cards honoring members of each new class of enshrinees.
“Our exclusive relationship with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been extremely important to us since we entered the U.S. market in 2009, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many more years,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members represent the most collected basketball fraternity in the world and remain a vital part of our officially licensed NBA trading card and sticker collections.”
“We are excited to continue our relationship with Panini America. Over the last three years, the level of commitment to showcasing Hall of Famers on trading cards has been refreshing,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc. “We look forward to the continued partnership between Panini America and the Basketball Hall of Fame.”