Panini Peek: 2011 Crown Royale Football

After a slow start in the polls, the world premiere sneak peek at 2011 Crown Royale Football made a stirring comeback early Saturday and, at the time of this posting, sits at No. 3 on the list. So, what can collectors expect from the second edition of the reimagined die-cut deity?

As one of the top three vote-getters in our Knight’s Lance Readers Choice Weekend poll, this story is being brought to you by . . . well . . . you. Stay tuned throughout the weekend for the additional content that you voted for, including your top two choices: More first looks at 2010-11 National Treasures Basketball and a gallery of some of our redemption prizes for the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention.

After a slow start in the polls, the world premiere sneak peek at 2011 Crown Royale Football made a stirring comeback early Saturday and, at the time of this posting, sits at No. 3 on the list. So, what can collectors expect from the second edition of the reimagined die-cut deity?

Next to Rick Reilly, my all-time favorite writer ever is famed “Canterbury Tales” poet Geoffrey Chaucer. What can that possibly have to do with 2011 Crown Royale Football? Well, nothing except this: There’s a certain Chaucerian quality to the product’s aesthetic that wins me over every time.

But the 2011 version — a hobby-only blockbuster due out October 5 — is about so much more than just a uniquely pretty facade.

  • It’s about the return of the awe-inducing Rookie Silhouettes, arguably last season’s most impressively styled rookie designs bolstered this season with on-card autographs instead of stickers.
  • It’s about new packaging still delivering considerable value with one autograph or memorabilia card in every pack and four Rookie Cards, one parallel numbered to 100 or less and seven inserts in every four-pack box.
  • It’s about every insert set incorporating larger pieces of memorabilia than in 2010.
  • It’s about a dramatically improved insert-set lineup that includes the introduction of brand new sets like Calling All Captains, Crown Jewels, Kings of the NFL and Net Fusion.
  • It’s about two of those inserts — Calling All Captains Autographs and Kings of the NFL Autographs — honoring the most collectible superstars in the game with autographed memorabilia cards numbered to 50 or less.
  • Did we mention Rookie Silhouettes?

“The Rookie Silhouettes design that debuted in Crown Royale Football last year really helped re-launch the brand with a huge bang,” said Ben Ecklar, Panini America’s Director of Product Development. “When the 2010 product season ended, those cards stood tall as some of the most striking of the entire year – not just in football, but across all sports. This year we’ve managed to significantly improve on what many collectors thought was pretty close to perfection.

“Last year, Rookie Silhouettes were inserts in football. This year they will be the Rookie Cards of all 36 NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere rookies, numbered to 299 or less. In addition, they will all be signed on-card. These developments simply can’t be oversold as it relates to this product and its importance in 2011.

“We understand that a hit-per-pack product like Crown Royale must deliver value at both the pack and box levels, and the on-card autograph and prime-memorabilia content we’ve crammed into this product will be a huge part of this product delivering in a big, big way this season.”

Enjoy the following 2011 Crown Royale Football preview gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for all product updates.

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23 Replies to “Panini Peek: 2011 Crown Royale Football”

  1. Glad Crown was chosen for a sneak peek this weekend. This product looks awesome! Great designs for the overall product.

  2. Tracy, i would do ANYTHING to pull that Aaron ROdgers!!!!! I have been busting boxes all last year and this year trying to pull an Aaron Rodgers auto and havent done it yet. Ive pulled alot of sweet cards of other players though. I cant wait for Crown Royale to come out, this is going to be the product of the year right next to Treasures! Wish me luck on the Aaron ROdgers auto. Im still going to keep busting.

  3. OHYEA, love that the silhouettes sound more attainable this year, and that jersey # die cut is a huge improvement over usual # die cuts.

    Are the net fusions gonna have actual nets like htey did 10 years ago?

  4. Tracy, thanks for finally showing off a Rodgers auto. It would go great with my Rodgers Panini autos I got last year… especially the 1/1 Green Crown Royale auto. Take a look at my website, you will notice some familiar cards near the top.

    1. Wow you put my Aaron Rodgers collection to shame! Me and my two daughters are going to the National next month hoping to extend my Rodgers collection. Hopefully i can find some of his autos i’ve been trying to pull last year and this year. All of his autos from Panini are very low numbered and hard to pull but im still going to keep busting because when i do eventually pull one it will be that much SWEETER!!!!!

  5. LOVE that Rodgers!!! Can you look into whether or not any releases will feature Packers players in their retro Blue/Gold throwback jerseys from 2010 for me? I can’t help but notice that retro uni photos were already used in Colts, Bears, Pats and other teams but no old-school Packers love yet.

    Also curious, what’s in store for the XLV pylons you posted on here back in March? 🙂

      1. I definitely will. 🙂 Any confirmation that photos from the Packers Retro game with Blue/Gold jerseys will make the cut for your upcoming products?

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