Panini America Partners with FanOculars to Give Sports Cards a Completely New Look

March 27, 2013

Panini America FanOculars 1

A new partnership between Panini America and FanOculars LLC will ensure that sports fans start seeing trading cards a whole lot differently in the near future. FanOculars are portable, foldaway binoculars with custom team and player images printed directly on the front and back. FanOculars are not only useful to help fans enjoy a sporting event, but the unique images and custom player designs turn an ordinary pair of binoculars into a must-have collectible for fans.

FanOculars’ agreement with Panini America allows licensed sports cards of stars in the NFLNBA and NHL to be added to the end of FanOculars. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for MLBPA, NBA, NFL, NFLPA, NHL, NHLPA, FIFA, USA Baseball, Disney, Nickelodeon, Hello Kitty and Warner Bros. Panini also holds exclusive autograph and memorabilia relationships with some of the NBA’s most recognizable players, including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Panini also has an exclusive memorabilia relationship with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

This new product will be sold as a promotional item to the major sports leagues, as well as to the teams
and sponsors associated with those leagues. FanOculars will be sold and marketed by an existing network of the best marketing agencies and promotional companies in the country.

“The FanOculars product gives us a compelling platform to showcase Panini trading cards to the mass market and sports fans,” said Jason Howarth, Panini America’s Vice President of Marketing. “Incorporating Panini trading cards into the FanOculars product is also a great way of engaging sports fans in NFL stadiums, and at NBA and NHL arenas.”

“Adding an authentic sports card from Panini America to FanOculars will make for a unique and exciting new product,” said FanOculars President David Ballou. “We plan on introducing this new product immediately to all the sports leagues where Panini holds licenses. We look forward to a mutually successful partnership with one of the most innovative and creative companies in sports.”