Will UD lose it's NHL license?

Will UD lose its NHL/NHLPA license?

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Rraincock

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Ok...

to be fair, here is both the bad and good:


1) terrible redemption fulfillment times
2) 2012/13 RC shenanagans (UD Series and Artifacts Redemption)
3) terrible player relations
4) legal issues (MLB, NBA, NFL, Wizards of the Coast, etc)

v/s

1) cash cow for the nhl/nhlpa
2) loyal/forgiving collectors
3) new (ish) management
4) Panini, ITG, etc





My vote is that UD loses its license before the 2014/15 season starts. What say you?
 
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I'm saying "maybe" only because I didn't really think they'd lose the NFL, MLB and NBA licenses. To think the big four don't talk to one another is naive. If they don't have those licenses (granted, they do have the NCAA license) and they STILL can't get the hockey thing in order AND they have the whole game used thing on them now...maybe.

That being said, a lot of good people still work there and I'd hate to see them lose their jobs (I'm looking right at Chris Carlin).

Here's another question: Can the hobby survive without UD? The NHL/NHLPA don't seem to want to give ITG a fair shake, people aren't buying into Panini as much as I thought they would be and I doubt there are any more upstarts that can get a foothold with collectors even with UD missing (besides Topps, but ask the baseball people, they're a NIGHTMARE to deal with).
 
Panini making horrible products so I wish not anytime soon. Hopefully they'll get their NBA-license back.
 
I certainly hope they do not lose their license. Looking at the alternatives it would be a serious blow to the hobby.
Seriously if UD goes i am sure i am done too.
I have little use for the alternatives and i doubt Topps or any other player will
fit the bill.
 
I hope for the sake of competition that UD doesn't lose their license. The current format of two licensed manufacturers and ITG has provided me a good balance of choices for PC cards. Less options is always a bad thing and the state of basketball cards is a perfect example.
 
There is no way UD would lose their NHL license. I would say you'll find them with an exclusive before they'd lose it. No one else has proven that they come close to the interest in their products like people love UD.
 
joecoolio said:
There is no way UD would lose their NHL license. I would say you'll find them with an exclusive before they'd lose it. No one else has proven that they come close to the interest in their products like people love UD.
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People thought the same thing about UD and basketball, and they had two of the biggest athletes in the world, Jordan and LeBron, to push producs. Money talks, Panini has it and UD doesn't.
 
Where card licensing is concerned, the NHLPA seems to pretty much run the show. UD threw its support unstintingly behind the NHLPA in 2005 and were rewarded with a five-year exclusive. Panini has been allowed into the fold not because of any disappointment with UD, but because the NHLPA seemed to realize finally that they were leaving money on the table.

I don't see UD losing this license. I see the NHLPA perhaps exploring other vendors to increase their revenue.
 
My contacts tell me that the NHL licenses are over at the end of the 2013-14 season.

We will apply again only because we don't want anyone to say that they would have given us a license if only we applied.

In my opinion, if UD is in position to continue making trading cards, they will get their license renewed. They have been in the business of making hockey cards for over 20 years and have a large collector following.

Without them in the hockey card market, the hobby would suffer badly.

We would love to join them in that market on a level playing field and give them a true run for collector loyalty. Give us back all the assets we had work with in 2002-03 and let's see how it goes.

Brian Price
 
Thanks for the info and great answer Dr Price.

I hate to see anyone forced out when they have the ability to stay. I think the best thing the NHLPA can do is make a pay to play program. Set a price and anyone who can pay it can make cards.
 
As Brian has mentioned, Upper Deck (love them or hate them) is a strong presence in the hockey collecting world.

I don't want to see a hobby without them.

I want this hobby to be strong and I find it ironic in my selection, I have a chose of 2 yes, 1 maybe and 1 no (because money talks)...

I'll add another - NO - they belong in this hobby.

For future references, so does ITG and Panini. Regardless of our opinions, these companies have devoted millions to this hobby. The products are just a piece of the puzzle. The jobs the provide. the taxes. and no matter what you think of a product - there is someone who justs loves it.
 
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HelloDestiny said:
not sure but i wish they would get their nfl license back. i hate seeing the players in only their college uni's.
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I couldn't of said it better. I would never buy a $400 pack of Exquisite football with all the cards being in College uni, so gross looking. I dont collect football anymore, but would never brake any of those college only products they are putting out.
 
gratzi said:
Anyone care to explain this to me? I must have missed something.
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I would assume its in reference to bad baseball memorabilia (Jeter being one of the players) being sold to UD and Topps, with the companies perhaps knowingly played a role in the deal. To this point it's only corroborated by a defendant in that case.

If the poster was referring to something else, I'd love to know!
 
Bill - The implication, as I understand it, is that UD/Topps set their "buy prices" completely out of step with market value, which has been interpreted by one of the accused as an exhortation to forge good to meet demand.
 

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