Sources: Fanatics Acquires Topps for $ 500 Million

Global sports retailer, merchant and now sports card and souvenir giant Fanatics has acquired Topps trading cards, the company announced Tuesday.

The deal includes Topps’ collectibles arm, both physical and digital.

The value of the deal is in the range of $ 500 million, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

“As business cards and collectibles are an important pillar of our long-term plans to become the leading digital sports platform, we are excited to add a leading business card company to develop our business,” said the CEO. of Fanatics, Michael Rubin, in a statement. “Its iconic brand, its commitment to product excellence and its passionate employees around the world will allow us to immediately serve our league and player association partners and our fans.”

All of Topps’ approximately 350 sports and entertainment employees around the world will change and seamlessly integrate into Fanatics Trading Cards.

The move was suspected for some time, specifically since August, when Fanatics cemented a deal with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association for exclusive licenses to produce baseball cards, ending Topps’ ability to produce them after roughly 60 years. of being one of the most recognized brands in the sport and most important hobbies of the hobby.

The agreement means that Fanatics Trading Cards’ MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards, originally scheduled to begin in 2026, will begin immediately.

Topps also holds the rights of fans to burgeoning hobbies like Formula 1, UEFA, Major League Soccer and the Bundesliga, significantly increasing the reach of the Fanatics Trading Cards, released last year.

Fanatics also has long-term rights agreements with the NBA, the National Basketball Players Association, and the NFL Players Association.