Upper Deck Exclusive NHL Agreement

[Cartophilium]

Not sure if this is the right forum but I am looking for the financial details of the agreemnet between The Upper Deck Company and the NHL that gave Upper Deck exclusive rights to the NHL marks starting in 2005-06.

Specifically I would like to now the amount of guaranteed dollars that the NHL will receive as well as percentage royalties. Similar information about the NHLPA side of the agreement would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[jaywings19]

And I'd like to know tomorrow night's lottery numbers, but somehow I don't think either of us will get the information we want.

Even if you were able to find these details, they wouldn't include the numbers that were (most likely) exchanged under the table to get said exclusive agreement.

 

[DarkHorse]

I'm with Jay, I doubt that that information is required to be made publicly available.

 

[cards-gotta-go]

Jay is right... planning a class action suit?

 

[es_19]

Press Release from NHLPA.com

figures UD wrote the press release

 

[kmitchel]

I realize that the press release is dated March of 06, but when did the exclusive actually start? I was on the impression that it was the 04-05 season was the first year, as I remember that Pacific 04-05 came out in August of '04 and then they folded up shop fairly quickly. I always believed it was 5 years from September of 04.

I remember the speculation during the season, due to the ITG releases like Franchises, on the Beckett boards that there was an exclusive but it wasn't confirmed by anyone.

Kevin

 

[kmitchel]

From ITG's website (Dr. Price's letter regarding the ITG Draft Redemption)

"In June 2004, In The Game was informed that our NHLPA license would not be renewed because Upper Deck would be granted an exclusive license with the NHLPA. I wrote to Ted Saskin of the NHLPA in July 2004 and informed him that although I was extremely disappointed that the NHLPA determined that they did not want to renew the In The Game license, the Draft Redemption Program had to be addressed. "

Dr. Price's letter

 

[Cartophilium]

Thank you

I thought it was something like $25 million over 5 years, but they didn't detail the specifics.

Those were the numbers making the rounds but it was never very clear if the NHL and NHLPA split or each received the amount in question. Suspect it was $25M each as $2.5M each per year over five years translate to anticipated primary market annual sales in the $25M per year which would be rather meager for all of the issues that are produced.

Also the amount in question would be the guarantee against royalties which would be in the 8 - 12 % range to each party.

Finally I doubt the amount would cover promotional issues such as McDonald's or others, cross category issues - card with die-cast, estore, etc.

Thank you and keep the data coming.