Lock-out impact on the Hobby: Potential Glass Half-Full Theory

[gomaz]

This thread got me thinking more about something I was thinking about the other day....

With NHL players playing over in Europe now, will we see new European collectors enter the hobby once they see NHL'ers in action playing for teams?

Could this be a potential positive effect of the lock-out on the hobby? Broadening the European collector base maybe. Perhaps some new player collectors coveting the specific NHL'ers playing for their teams.

Do Upper Deck and Panini advertise in the rink boards in Europe?

 

[troyjk]

I would love to see a release like 2004/05 UD All World. One of my favorite sets. So good I actually completed it,, well the base set anyway

I just don't think the lockout will last all season,,, I hope not.

If UD or Panini went and did a European release they would have lots of changes to make though, Need more autos (No Stickers), patches, nice looking inserts etc. It can be done but I dont expect anything.

 

[Drewphoria]

Panini has a large presence in Europe due to their soccer(football) products... I'm not sure what they do in Europe for hockey though.

Did any European HI members begin or change their habits after 2004-05?

 

[iidaemmi]

Did any European HI members begin or change their habits after 2004-05?

Things always have an impact, however, is difficult to say how much it affects.
As far away as 1994, when the NHL lockout was also, we got a bright star to play here in Finland. Theo Fleury played in 10 games, making Tappara in 17 points! The Finns loved him and Theo Fleury says in his book 'I was feeling good in Finland'. For some reason , Fleury's cards still are highly collected in Finland these days.

Here is some memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IqhGNBXuU

Harri

 

[Superdoup]

I know that they will lose some collectors here for sure so maybe it's a way to even things out. I know for a fact that I won't buy any of these product without RCs in them.
but drewphoria is right...maybe Panini have a step forward with their Soccer products.

 

[99goals]

A few people already said it but the all world product was pretty good in my opinion. ITG will still be going strong and I am sure they will fill the void for many collectors.

I can def see many collectors in Europe, Russia getting into the hobby in a bigger way now that they can see our stars in action.

I think it will be good all around. I hope none of the companies suffer like Pacific did the last lock out. Fingers crossed

 

[BillInDallas]

Things always have an impact, however, is difficult to say how much it affects.
As far away as 1994, when the NHL lockout was also, we got a bright star to play here in Finland. Theo Fleury played in 10 games, making Tappara in 17 points! The Finns loved him and Theo Fleury says in his book 'I was feeling good in Finland'. For some reason , Fleury's cards still are highly collected in Finland these days.

Here is some memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IqhGNBXuU

Harri

Thanks for that info Harri! I was always trying to figure out why he sold so well there. When Captain-C came out, I sold a nice jersey/auto of Fleury to a Finnish collector.

 

[quincy]

Glass half full? Here's glass half full:

The last lockout brought a much-needed lull to the hobby. While it was devastating to lose collectors - and we did, make no mistake - the general lack of new product allowed collectors some breathing room. So what?

Collectors had money to spend on something other than this week's wax release. A HUGE amount of money got poured into older wax as well as singles. We saw a MASSIVE correction in the singles market. Prior to Crosby's debut, the first modern era ungraded RCs to top $1K were some of the Nash, Zetterberg and Spezza UD Premier RC Patch/Autos. As someone trying to chase down a number of pre-lockout insert sets, I can tell you truthfully that there are very few of the rarer singles any longer out there. They've mostly been snaffled up into collections.

That's what the lockout brings: a pause that allows the hobby metabolism to digest through all the mighty repast we've been fed, and allows our appetites to sharpen for the next meal.

 

[Fleury14]

Like some in the media have predicted, I'm guessing the lockout will end around American Thanksgiving due to the lshort-term and long-term financial implications for the league of the HBO series and the Winter Classic.

In the meantime, I hope some nice sales pop up on older wax, and that I can chase PC cards in cheaper ebay auctions. ; )

 

[bigzippy]

I don't think that the lockout will grow the market in Europe at all.

We just don't watch the game here as there is not the glitz the NHL brings. Most stadiums are small and TV coverage is minimal.

We also don't collect the same we were brought up on stickers and cards made a small incursion in the early 90's but they didn't take, neither did watching any of the North American sports (save for the Superbowl). Last year there were 0 televised NHL games in the UK ESPN having pulled the coverage after poor uptake the previous season.

A set of all the 2010 winter olympics would get some interest as this was the high point for ice hockey here buy beyond that its pretty meh!

 

[Avalanchefan21]

Panini has a large presence in Europe due to their soccer(football) products... I'm not sure what they do in Europe for hockey though.

Did any European HI members begin or change their habits after 2004-05?

I collect European soccer cards.

Panini America and Panini Europe are completely different

I went to Panini America to get some replacements for damaged EURO soccer cards. The people at Panini America had never even seen the cards before that I showed them. I bet if you showed the people at Panini Europe some of the hockey products, they'd probably be able to say the same thing

 

[echoi69]

I went to Panini America to get some replacements for damaged EURO soccer cards. The people at Panini America had never even seen the cards before that I showed them. I bet if you showed the people at Panini Europe some of the hockey products, they'd probably be able to say the same thing

Sounds a lot like Upper Deck.