Panini America Gears Up for Busy Weekend at the 2011 NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere

The annual NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere is nothing less than one of the most pivotal events on the trading card calendar every year — and the 2011 edition is upon us.

A dedicated Panini America team departed for Los Angeles this morning for four full days dedicated to capturing the essential content — photographs, autographs, memorabilia, interviews, videos and lasting memories — that will drive its NFL trading card set all year long.

Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance this week for complete updates and behind-the-scenes access to the 2011 NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere that you simply just won’t get anywhere else.

For Panini America, the event begins in earnest today at the host hotel, where company officials will capture studio photography and autographs from those among the 36 invited rookies who arrive early. That process will continue tomorrow and Friday.

On Friday afternoon from 1-3 p.m., Panini America will be joined by 12 rookies — including A.J. Green, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Von Miller — for a special event at the Best Buy store on West Pico Boulevard in West L.A. During the public appearance, players will, among other things, sign autographs on special Panini America blow-up cards and help younger customers complete their official NFL Sticker Albums — all by a special section of the store devoted to Panini America products.

Friday night on the UCLA campus, NFL PLAYERS will host the Premiere League celebrity flag football game.

All of that paves the way for Saturday’s marquee event — the lights, cameras and action of the actual photo shoot inside the historic Los Angeles Coliseum. We’ll chronicle every Panini America step during the all-day affair scheduled to include:

Buckle up and stay tuned. It should be a wild ride.